2022 NFL mock draft: Broncos get new QB in two-round predictions

The Denver Broncos are one of a handful of teams to land a QB in the latest 2022 NFL mock draft. Where do other top prospects land?

The 2021 NFL season is just underway and with a 17-game marathon regular season still to go, the 2022 NFL Draft seems like a lifetime away. As always, though, time is going to fly and mock drafts will be coming in hot and heavy. This 2022 NFL mock draft scenario will be the last before all of the 32 NFL teams have played at least one game, and it features some wrinkles from what we’ve seen through the first two weeks of college football action.

Will there be any quarterbacks drafted in the top four picks?

How many QBs will go in round one anyway?

Let’s just say it’s not a bad year to not need a quarterback.

This early in the football season — college or NFL — any 2022 NFL mock draft scenario is primarily going to serve as a way to look at where prospects are ranked. Using the NFL Mock Draft Simulator as well as a composite big board from a variety of talent evaluators, here’s the latest prediction.

2022 NFL Mock Draft: 1st round

The Houston Texans will be a fascinating team to watch leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft. Many 2022 NFL mock draft scenarios up to this point have had them going with a quarterback to replace Deshaun Watson, who has demanded a trade and found himself in a horrible legal situation this offseason.

Houston is an absolute mess right now as a franchise with very little to build on or look forward to. A player like Kayvon Thibodeaux would be a true building block for this team off the edge defensively, though I’m sure Houston would love for a quarterback to really distinguish themselves and prove to be worthy of this draft slot.

New head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes declared the Detroit Lions as a rebuilding squad when they traded Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for a bunch of draft capital and Jared Goff.

Kyle Hamilton out of Notre Dame would be a really fun chess piece for the Lions who would obviously have some interesting options here.

Hamilton showed off his outstanding range in Notre Dame’s season opener and with his combination of size, instincts, and athleticism, he could make a case as the best overall player in this class.

Stingley’s play took a bit of a dip last season compared to the outstanding season pretty much everyone had at LSU in 2019, but he’s still an elite prospect at one of the game’s most crucial positions.

The Jets heavily emphasized offense in the first draft for Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh, so they start off this 2022 NFL mock draft with one of the class’s best defensive players.

This might be the best-case scenario for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Even after spending a second-round pick on Walker Little this past offseason, it would be hard to argue against the athletic behemoth Evan Neal, who is settling in nicely early in the 2021 season and looks like a future Pro Bowl NFL left tackle.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 5-8

The Philadelphia Eagles get on the board with one of three first-round picks in this 2022 NFL mock draft scenario with Sam Howell, the QB out of Notre Dame.

Howell did not look good in the season opener for the Tar Heels, but there’s a very large sample size from his first two seasons at UNC that NFL teams really like.

If the Eagles finish with a top-five pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the QB position will almost undoubtedly be addressed.

Kenyon Green is expected to make a huge leap in 2021 going from guard to tackle.

He just looks the part, too.

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The Cincinnati Bengals can’t do enough at this point to better protect Joe Burrow. If Kenyon Green is able to break out this season (and it looks like he will) as a tackle, he should be an obvious candidate for the top 10 picks.

The Las Vegas Raiders would probably love their own version of a Bosa brother, and that’s what Hutchinson looks like.

His burst off the edge and combination of speed and power is just a treat to watch as a football fan.

This might seem high for him right now but Hutchinson is going to be absolutely beloved by NFL teams and his 2021 tape is off to a roaring start. He’s balling.

It’s safe to say that Spencer Rattler wasn’t rattled by his season opener against Tulane.

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The next Lincoln Riley product will still be viewed as a potential top-10 potential prospect by the NFL despite his relatively poor week one performance.

Even though he didn’t meet expectations right away, and even though Western Carolina is a tune-up game if I’ve ever seen one, there’s still a good chance Rattler will wind up being a high draft pick in 2021.

The Giants will only be picking in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft if Daniel Jones stinks, and if that’s the case, they could roll the dice on a playmaker like Rattler.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 9-12

The Atlanta Falcons could be in the quarterback market in the 2022 NFL Draft (more on that later) but for this pick, they are going with the top player on the board in Texas A&M defensive tackle DeMarvin Leal.

Leal might be a more refined run stuffer at this point than pass rusher but he’s still ascending and his athletic talent is off the charts.

He’s going to post some ridiculous numbers at the Scouting Combine and should be a borderline lock for the top-10 picks if he stays healthy.

The Carolina Panthers went all defense in the 2020 NFL Draft from start to finish. They opened the 2021 NFL Draft with defense in cornerback Jaycee Horn.

Why not keep it going in the 2022 NFL Draft?

Christian Harris has tremendous range at the linebacker position and loads up the stat sheet in every single game. He can play all three downs and would give the Panthers another stud to load up on that side of the ball.

Death.

Taxes.

George Karlaftis getting pressure on the quarterback.

This guy is relentless and the Giants need some consistency off the edge. There have been very few players who are as consistent — when healthy — as the star pass rusher out of Purdue.

If you want to talk about an aggressive cornerback with impressive closing speed, look no further than Andrew Booth Jr.

This guy made a huge impact on the game against Clemson and even in defeat, he was one of the best players on the field for either team.

That’s saying something in that particular matchup.

The Steelers will have a huge need at cornerback in the 2022 offseason and Booth would be a huge coup for them.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 13-16

The Arizona Cardinals should be one of the league’s most entertaining teams in 2021, but they also have some major roster questions beyond this season.

In particular, the defense is a question mark.

Considering there are needs at all three levels of the defense, Drake Jackson and his ridiculous athletic talents off the edge would be a fun fit here.

The Washington Football Team made just one big move at QB in the 2021 offseason — signing Ryan Fitzpatrick. There is nothing set in stone over the long-term here and Malik Willis would be a fascinating fit with the rest of the offensive skill talent in Washington.

Arguably the best dual-threat QB in this class, Willis needs to continue to play consistently in 2021 to see his stock ascend this high.

I think he can eventually get there and he’s already exciting as it is.

Don’t look now, but Matt Corral could be the 2021 version of what we saw from Zach Wilson in 2020.

In this 2022 NFL mock draft, the Denver Broncos get themselves a young QB of the future to help compete with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

If the Broncos finish with the 15th pick, it means they will have missed the playoffs which could indicate a coaching change and undoubtedly a QB change.

Corral has it.

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Jalen Catalon is one of the hottest players in college football right now at just creating turnovers.

He’s got five interceptions and two forced fumbles in his last 11 games to go along with 110 total tackles.

He’s making plays all over the field and could be a major difference-maker for a team like the Eagles, which is obviously rebuilding a bit.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 17-20

One of the smoothest route runners in all of college football, Olave would join one of the league’s best young playmakers in Justin Jefferson.

Adam Thielen isn’t getting any younger and the Vikings are a little thin at the receiver position.

Olave is not only a strong route runner, but he’s got the ability to make big plays downfield with strong hands and vertical speed.

Ultimately, Wilson might edge out his teammate Olave for WR1 status in this class. There will be other players that have something to say about that distinction as well.

Wilson has outstanding speed and he’s gotten into the habit of making defensive backs look flat out bad, no matter if he’s lined up in the slot or out wide.

He plays with a level of confidence that is a lot of fun to watch.

For the Chargers, he would essentially replace Mike Williams.

The New Orleans Saints and Michael Thomas are not on the greatest of terms.

Even if the Saints and Thomas are able to repair their relationship, they are about to get a bit of a rude awakening of what it looks like to go into the regular season without their WR1 and with very little behind him.

Treylon Burks is a big-bodied receiver with huge YAC potential at the next level.

Linderbaum has the look of a player that’s going to spend the next 15 years as one of the best centers in pro football.

Snapping the ball to Mac Jones in New England makes a ton of sense.

Bill Belichick and Kirk Ferentz go way back, and although the Patriots haven’t been going over the top to tap into the Hawkeye pipeline, this is a fit that makes a ton of sense.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 21-24

After adding to their secondary with Jalen Catalon a few picks earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles get some more reinforcements here with Trent McDuffie.

This guy is not only outstanding in coverage, but he also is going to be an asset early on special teams.

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The Dallas Cowboys land somewhat of a steal here in Zach Harrison, a player who has outstanding length off the edge and could be really fun to add to this young defensive unit.

After a dominant performance against Minnesota, Harrison cooled off a bit against Oregon.

Still, the potential is clear with this young edge prospect and at this point of the 2022 NFL mock draft, he’s a nice value.

The New York Jets signed Carl Lawson to be a premiere pass rusher for them in 2021, but he unfortunately suffered a season-ending injury.

After investing so much on offense in the 2021 NFL Draft, Robert Saleh gets some young talent for his defense with Derek Stingley Jr. up top and Nik Bonitto here with the selection they own of Seattle’s.

Bonitto has 9.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss over his last 11 games.

Even after trading for Julio Jones this offseason, the Tennessee Titans could still use a bit more depth at the wide receiver position.

This is a team without a ton of pressing needs, and Metchie would be a unique addition anyway in that he brings an element of speed at the position that could provide a nice contrast with the other receiver options.

After watching so many other receivers go to the NFL as high draft picks in recent years, it’s now John Metchie’s turn.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 25-28

What a comeback story this would be.

Justyn Ross missed the entire 2020 season after he was clearly on the fast track to first-round status in 2018 and 2019.

The 6-foot-4 receiver has been slowly working his way back and got a tough test in week one against Georgia. He scored his first touchdown of the 2021 season in week two and it was his first TD since December 2019.

The Cleveland Browns have such a deep roster on both sides of the ball and not a lot of pressing needs. They could afford a luxury like this and they might get a future WR1 out of it.

Trevor Penning is 6-foot-7, nearly 330 pounds, and he buries dudes.

The Northern Iowa program had Spencer Brown picked by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Penning might go in the first round.

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This team has been searching far and wide for a right tackle of the future and although he’s on the left side here, he could make the switch at the next level.

Undoubtedly built with first-round size and athleticism, Kaiir Elam would be a gift from the football gods to the Baltimore Ravens.

He plays physical and knows how to get his hands on the football.

He’ll be tested week in and week out with the outstanding receiver talent in the SEC and he’s already shown well in his first two games of 2021.

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Green Bay Packers decided to trade Aaron Rodgers and draft a receiver in 2022?

There’s a chance both Davante Adams and Rodgers could be gone in 2022. If that’s the case, the Packers are going to need to make sure they get some weapons for Jordan Love.

With his 6-foot-5 frame, London is tough to beat at the catch point and he is versatile. He isn’t clunky for a longer receiver and he can do work from the slot or split out wide.

2022 NFL mock draft: Picks 29-32

Even after passing on the quarterback position early on, it might be tough for the Detroit Lions to pass on Carson Strong at this point.

Strong could wind up heating up and getting drafted a lot higher than this, to be honest.

It’s hard to gauge at this point where NFL teams are with Strong but if he keeps making big throws like he did in week one of the college football season, nobody is going to be able to get him this late.

The Buffalo Bills have one of the most loaded rosters in the league right now and adding a dynamic presence at the running back position like Isaiah Spiller would be icing on the cake.

Spiller is an outstanding receiver and one of the most physical runners in college football as well.

Imagine having this guy with all of the other weapons in the Bills’ offensive stable.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers only brought nine players onto their roster in 2021 that weren’t on the team in 2020. That’s insane for any team, much less a Super Bowl Champion.

One area this team is a little thin is at the cornerback position, and Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner could be a really outstanding value here at the bottom of round one.

He has the length and ball skills to take advantage of the Buccaneers’ outstanding pass rush.

To close out the first round of this 2022 NFL mock draft, the Kansas City Chiefs get another speedy receiver.

Jahan Dotson has been blowing the top off of defenses and I am a little surprised we didn’t see the Chiefs make this position more of a priority in the 2021 NFL Draft.

They tried to bring in JuJu Smith-Schuster, so we know they had big-time interest in upgrading here, but they are waiting for something specific.

I like Dotson’s fit in this offense at the next level. Opposing defensive coordinators will hate it.

2022 NFL Mock Draft: 2nd round

33. Houston Texans: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

34. Detroit Lions: Adam Anderson, EDGE, Georgia

35. New York Jets: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

37. Philadelphia Eagles: Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA

38. Cincinnati Bengals: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OL, Ohio State

39. Las Vegas Raiders: Ikem Ekwonu, OL, North Carolina State

40. New York Giants: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

41. Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

42. New York Jets: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

43. Chicago Bears: Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky

44. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

45. Arizona Cardinals: Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon

46. Washington Football Team: Bryan Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma

47. Denver Broncos: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

48. Indianapolis Colts: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

49. Minnesota Vikings: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

50. Los Angeles Chargers: Perrion Winfrey, DL, Oklahoma

51. New Orleans Saints: Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama

52. New England Patriots: Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

53. Miami Dolphins: Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State

54. Dallas Cowboys: Jaxson Kirkland, OL, Washington

55. Seattle Seahawks: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

56. Atlanta Falcons: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

57. Cleveland Browns: Kingsley Enegbare, EDGE, South Carolina

58. San Francisco 49ers: David Bell, WR, Purdue

59. Baltimore Ravens: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

60. Green Bay Packers: Haskell Garrett, DL, Ohio State

61. Los Angeles Rams: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

62. Buffalo Bills: Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Alabama

63. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

64. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State