It is getting close to the midway point of both the College Football and NFL seasons. As both seasons continue 2022 NFL Draft picture becomes more clear. The nation’s top prospects are becoming household names and are solidifying their status as the top of this year’s class. Multiple prospects are already emerging as potential first-round picks showing how deep this draft class could be. It feels like the perfect time for a 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
While that is happening the 2022 NFL Draft order is slowly forming. There is a lot of season left to be played so it’ll be extremely interesting to monitor how this order will change the rest of the year. It only takes a couple of wins or losses to drastically change where a team could be selecting come this April.
This time of year is great to be to see which prospects could fit with which teams. This could be determined by scheme fit, obvious needs on a roster, and also looking ahead at impending free agents that a team could lose during the offseason. Associating college players with NFL teams this early in the season is a great way to learn more about a player and expose a potential need of a team.
The teams are listed in order of Tankathon‘s protected draft order based on current team records and strength of schedule. For those who aren’t aware, the strength of schedule is the winning percentage of the opponents a team has faced. If two teams have the same record the higher draft pick is awarded to the team with the lower strength of schedule. Here is a brand new 2022 mock draft.
2022 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Corral is the future for Atlanta
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge Rusher, Oregon
After extending their losing streak to 20 games the Jaguars find themselves with the first overall pick for the second straight season. New head coach Urban Meyer has learned in his first couple of games in the NFL that it is a lot harder to win at this level compared to in college. Jacksonville has a lot of needs across their roster. Jacksonville could use their first-round selection on the best player available and it will likely fill a need.
It appears that regardless of whoever lands the first overall pick there is a great chance the team takes Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux with the selection. Thibodeaux has been limited to two games this season because of an ankle injury. But his resume from the prior two seasons speaks for itself. His dominant play could result in him joining Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett as the third pass rusher to be taken first overall since 2014.
Jacksonville has invested two first-round picks in edge rushers since 2019 in Josh Allen and K’Lavon Chaisson. The Jaguars would still take Thibodeaux if he is available when they pick not only because of his elite talent but because they have not been shy about replacing players added to this team by the previous regime. New general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Urban Meyer have already replaced C.J. Henderson with Tyson Campbell and attempted to replace James Robinson with Travis Etienne. Chaisson could very well be the next player added to that list considering he is already playing less than 50% of the snaps.
Thibodeaux could supplant the hybrid linebacker Chaisson in the lineup to create a potentially elite pass rush duo with Josh Allen. He would be a fantastic addition to one of the league’s worst defenses.
2. Detroit Lions: Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Last year the Detroit Lions took Penei Sewell in the first round despite having a great left tackle in Taylor Decker. It created a lot of questions for where he would play because Sewell played left tackle at Oregon and struggled when he trained to potentially play right tackle before the draft. Decker has not played a snap this season yet because of a finger injury. But the plan is for Decker to resume playing left tackle and Sewell to move over to the right side once he returns.
If Detriot is not in a position to take Kayvon Thibodeaux they should consider doubling down at the tackle position and take Alabama tackle Evan Neal with their first-round pick. Neal has by far been the best offensive tackle in college football this year and has a case to be the best offensive player overall. If Neal continues to play this way he could be considered a generational tackle prospect.
It would be against everything that Detriot has built their culture around to bypass Neal with the second overall pick. New general manager Brad Holmes is an outstanding evaluator of talent who believes in taking the best player available. While new head coach Dan Campbell believes a team’s strength comes from the play in the trenches. Campbell’s offense is centered around a strong running game which would increase production if Neal was added to their elite offensive line.
One trait about Neal that Sewell didn’t possess was the versatility to play all over the offensive line. Neal began his college career at left guard. Then he replaced 2020 first-round pick Jedrick Wills at right tackle. This season is the first time that Neal is starting at left tackle for Alabama now that the Raiders took Alex Leatherwood in the first round of this past draft.
Drafting Neal with the second overall pick could clear the log jam at the left tackle position. Neal has shown that he is extremely capable of playing left tackle. However, he was outstanding at right tackle last year. So the Lions would have two options with their offensive line if they took Neal. They could play Neal at right guard and have an elite offensive line that features four first-round picks including Decker, Sewell, and Frank Ragnow. The other and more likely possibility is that the Lions could play Penei Sewell at left tackle, play Evan Neal at right tackle, and trade Taylor Decker.
Evan Neal is the same caliber of prospect as Sewell they are both potentially perennial Pro Bowlers and All-Pros. While Decker an extremely solid left tackle that could be a Pro Bowler if he played elsewhere. However, Decker has not made a Pro Bowl five seasons. He would be able to land the Lions some extremely valuable draft capital. The left tackle position is extremely important and a talent like Decker isn’t available frequently. Teams like the Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and Washington Football Team would be willing to trade a pick to add Decker to their struggling offensive lines.
By taking Evan Neal in the first round the Lions could give themselves an upgrade at left tackle, right tackle, and acquire a first-round pick in the process.
3. Houston Texans: DeMarvin Leal, Defensive Lineman, Texas A&M
The Houston Texans could find themselves in an interesting situation if they do not land the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, which is the case in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Last offseason the Texans essentially blew up their roster and put band-aids over all the holes on their roster. So this offseason the Texans could potentially look completely different from how they look right now.
A popular pick for them could be a quarterback in the first round. However, since this quarterback class has not looked super impressive Houston may try to wait another season before potentially addressing that position in the first round. The Texans would need a quarterback who can contribute right away.
If Houston goes with the recommended best player approach from this spot they have a difficult decision to make. They can choose between LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton, and Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal. In this scenario, the Texans go with the in-state prospect Leal because normally pass rushers are valued higher earlier in drafts rather than the other positions.
What makes Leal so impressive as a prospect is not only how talented he is but his versatility. Leal can play anywhere across a defensive line in any scheme. In recent years there have been a few players versatile to play multiple positions across offensive lines including Stephon Tuitt, Arik Armstead, Solomon Thomas, and Marlon Davidson. Tuitt and Armstead have had more success than Thomas and Davidson because their coaching staff figured out where to line them up and how to use their versatility as an advantage rather than playing the player at one position whether they play well there or not. Leal has a higher projected ceiling than all of them, including Thomas who was taken third overall in his respective draft.
Houston would be drafting a foundational piece for their defense in Leal that could set the framework for how defensive coordinator Lovie Smith builds their front seven going forward. Wherever he lines up will already be a strength for this Texans defensive front.
4. New York Jets: Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
This season may already be lost for New York. But that is okay because they are still in the middle of a full rebuild. Jets fans may struggle with the idea of taking a safety with a top-10 pick after how things ended with Jamal Adams. However, as it currently stands the Jets appear to be winning that trade by a mile. That being said, if they have the opportunity to take Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton in the first round, like in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, they should pounce on it.
Outside of signing pass rusher Carl Lawson, Jets general manager Joe Douglas primarily focused on building the offensive side of the ball last offseason. They signed veterans like Corey Davis, Tevin Coleman, Morgan Moses, and Keelan Cole. New York also drafted Zach Wilson, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Elijah Moore, and Michael Carter to name a few notable offensive rookies on the team.
The feeling surrounding what New York could do this offseason is starting building on the defensive side of the ball, especially in the secondary. This draft class is extremely deep at cornerback so since they have the Seahawks first-round pick the Jets could bypass a cornerback and take Hamilton in the first round.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Kyle Hamilton has been the best player in College Football this season. Every week Hamilton adds to his long highlight reel with outstanding plays from the safety position. Safeties may be undervalued in the draft process but Hamilton is different than a lot of safeties. He is a do-it-all player that can be a foundational piece to a defense. Unlike Jamal Adams, Hamilton is outstanding in coverage and is a ball hawk. On top of that, he is a great tackler who plays the run extremely well.
New York can possibly pair Kyle Hamilton with their Pro Bowl-caliber safety Marcus Maye. However, Maye’s future with the team is uncertain. He is in the last year of his deal and both parties have not been able to agree on an extension. On top of that, he could be facing charges after getting arrested for a DUI he had in February according to ESPN Jets reporter Rich Cimini. Maye’s uncertainty with the team is another reason why New York should take Hamilton with their first of their two first-round selections in the 2022 NFL Draft.
5. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): Derek Stingley Jr., Cornerback, LSU
As it currently stands the Philadelphia Eagles could have three picks in the top-10 in this upcoming draft. Philadelphia was involved in a blockbuster trade before last year’s draft that involved the Miami Dolphins trading the 12th overall pick that they acquired from San Francisco and their first-round pick in this upcoming draft to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 6th overall pick.
Depending on how they finish the season Philadelphia could attempt to rebuild their team, retool their roster, or potentially trade some of their draft capital for a star that would put them over the top. If they retain all their selections they may go with the best player available approach with their draft picks. That is also dependent on how they feel about current starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. If they believe that a quarterback from this year’s class has a higher upside than Hurts they could target one early.
This is a great scenario for Philadelphia because not only do they land the best player available, they address a need by taking LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Coming into the season the player with the most hype around him in college football was Derek Stingley Jr. despite Kayvon Thibodeaux being the consensus number one player. He has been a lockdown cornerback which is rare at the college level. He is the best cornerback prospect since Jalen Ramsey was drafted in 2016. If it wasn’t taboo to take a cornerback with the first overall pick Stingley would be in the conversation with Thibodeaux.
Philadelphia lands the lockdown cornerback they thought they acquired in Darius Slay. Since the Eagles traded for him after the 2019-20 season Slay has been solid, but not the elite player he was in Detriot. He has shown a slight decline which is expected considering he is 30 years old. However, Slay would be a well above average second cornerback to Stingley and could look elite covering opposing teams’ secondary receivers. Stingley could finally fill the Eagles’ need for a cornerback that could cover the elite receivers in their division, which they’ve seemingly had for almost a decade.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts): Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher, Michigan
The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the clock after making the pick before. Once again they could go with the best player available approach and fill a need. This pick comes from the Indianapolis Colts which they acquired in the Carson Wentz trade. If Wentz plays 75% of the team’s snaps or 70% of the team’s snaps and the Colts make the playoffs the Eagles will receive their first-round pick.
Philadelphia’s defense has not played great despite the mix of veterans and youth scattered along that side of the ball. It may be time to replace some of the older players with some young talent in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Fan-favorite Brandon Graham is a free agent after this season. Philadelphia gave him a one-year extension last offseason. At the age of 33, it appears Graham is slowing down and may not be the same pass rusher he was earlier in his career. His season ended early after suffering a ruptured achilles. This feels like it could be a transition point where the Eagles move on from Graham. Even if the Eagles decide to bring him back, it would be on a one-year prove-it deal on a reduced salary.
Philadelphia could explore replacing former Michigan Wolverine Brandon Graham with current Michigan Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson. Through the first six weeks of the College Football season, Hutchinson has been the best pure edge rusher in the nation. According to Clayton Sayfie, Hutchinson has a 93.3 PFF grade which is the highest among pass rushers in the entire country.
The dynamic pass rush duo of Aidan Hutchinson and recently extended Josh Sweat would play outside Philadelphia’s deep group of defensive tackles Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, and 2020 third-round pick Milton Williams. Adding to their deep defensive line group at the top of the 2022 NFL Draft would continue to give the Eagles a dominant front four that could make any quarterback uncomfortable any given Sunday.
7. New York Giants: Kenyon Green, Offensive Guard, Texas A&M
Expectations were not high for the New York Giants this season. However, they are falling short of expectations for different reasons. The New York Giants team that was led by their production in trenches, especially on the defensive side of the ball, have struggled this season. Their average at a best offensive line from a season ago has regressed to one of the worst in the league. Also surprisingly the Giants defense is not playing great despite the additions they’ve made on that side of the ball. Third-year quarterback Daniel Jones looks like he could be the team’s future at quarterback after playing well the first few games and limiting his turnovers.
This offense has been limited by injuries and their atrocious offensive line. The only player along this offensive line that should have a confirmed role on this team next season is the 2020 fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas. New York’s left tackle has made a great jump from year one to year two. Unfortunately for New York, this draft class is not top-heavy at offensive tackle. After Evan Neal, there is a massive decline in talent at the tackle position. However, this class is deep with interior offensive linemen.
One of the top interior offensive linemen in this year’s class is Texas A&M tackle Kenyon Green. He has been the Aggies’ starting right tackle this season after playing at right guard during his freshman year and left guard last season. That versatility could benefit the Giants who have needs at both guard and right tackle.
New York has not been able to find a steady left guard this season. Will Hernandez, who is solid, not great, is a free agent after this year. On top of that Nate Solder has been brutal at right tackle and Matt Peart needs to prove that he is a starter instead of a swing tackle.
New York could take Green early in the 2022 NFL Draft and figure would how to align their offensive line afterward. He could fill one of the multiple voids across their offensive line that needs a lot of work.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Corral, Quarterback, Ole Miss
The first quarterback finally comes off the board! This is the lowest the QB1 of a draft class has been selected since E.J. Manuel was taken 16th overall by the Buffalo Bills in 2013. At this point, it is no secret that this quarterback class is extremely disappointing. There is a conversation about who is the QB1 of this draft class, but that has more to do with the fact that none of the top prospects at the position have solidified their status as such. There is a belief that this class could be treated by the league similarly to how the 2013 draft class went down. However, there are too many teams in need of a quarterback, that could finish near the top of the draft, for that to happen.
Last season the Atlanta Falcons had an outstanding opportunity to draft their quarterback of the future with the fourth overall pick. The Falcons could have chosen an Atlanta native in Justin Fields that has the potential to be a superstar at the next level. Instead, they passed on Fields to take Florida tight end Kyle Pitts. This move signaled that the Falcons were going to try to win-now being led by their elite group of pass-catchers. But shortly after the draft Atlanta sent Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans for a second-round pick.
The selection of Pitts was criticized much more after they traded Jones because it is hard to imagine the new regime feeling they have a better chance at winning without Jones than with him. On top of that Atlanta had the opportunity to take this year’s top wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and took a tight end instead. Pitts however is not just a tight end. He is a freak athlete and was a generational prospect at the position.
Since Atlanta’s awful start to the season against Philadelphia, Matt Ryan has played well. From Weeks 2-5 he is averaging 292 passing yards a game and completing 71% of his passes. He has a 10-3 touchdown to interception ratio and an 8-0 touchdown to interception ratio over the past three games. But Ryan is 36 years old and cannot be expected to be the team’s starter for much longer. If Atlanta continues to ignore their need for an heir to Matt Ryan they could end up like the Pittsburgh Steelers, except Atlanta’s defense is nowhere near the elite unit Pittsburgh is and cannot carry the team.
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral could be a perfect fit in Atlanta, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Out of all of the quarterback-needy teams, Atlanta has the least amount of pressure to have a pro-ready rookie. Over the last two years, Corral has shown flashes of potentially being a star quarterback at the next level. But he has also had some brutal games that make people question his status as a potential first-round pick.
Two weeks ago against Alabama was extremely telling for how Corral could look at the next level. The Alabama Crimson Tide defense is the closest thing in college football to an NFL-level defense and at times could be more talented than the worst defensive units in the league. It may have been disappointing that Corral only threw one touchdown pass against the Crimson Tide. But his stats were actually extremely impressive. He completed 72.4% of his passes for 213 yards and had zero turnovers. That stat line looks very similar to what the 2021 NFL Draft class of rookie quarterbacks have put up every week this season. This confirms that Corral has the potential to be a starting quarterback at the next level.
In Atlanta, Corral could sit behind former league MVP Matt Ryan, get up to speed on the playbook, and get used to seeing NFL-level defenses. It is very likely that Atlanta holds onto Ryan next season and possibly the year after that. It’ll give the Falcons enough time to groom Corral into an NFL quarterback. He came into the season with questions about turnovers and has zero interceptions at this point of the season. An accurate quarterback with a strong arm like Corral could get outstanding production out of Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts in Atlanta’s offense.
9. New England Patriots: Christian Harris, Linebacker, Alabama
After all the major additions the New England Patriots have made this offseason the team had decently high expectations that involved a potential playoff birth. It has been a tough few weeks for New England. At this point of the season, the Patriots would land a top-10 pick if the season ended today which is worse than last season.
Defensively the Patriots have taken a slight step back, but are an extremely talented unit. While on offense the Patriots look lethargic. They made major additions adding tight ends Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry to the roster. New England also signed Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne to give their receiving core some speed. The Patriots still aren’t getting great production from their pass catchers. Despite that rookie quarterback Mac Jones has played well this season and has played arguably the best out of all of them.
Despite their offensive woes, New England could very well address the defensive side of the ball in this upcoming draft. Head Coach/General Manager Bill Belichick prides himself on his defense. They also could have a few holes at safety, cornerback, and linebacker at the end of the year.
Donta Hightower, Ja’Wuan Bentley, and Kyle Van Noy are all free agents after this season. New England has drafted a couple of outside linebackers with high draft picks including Josh Uche and Ronnie Perkins. But the Patriots are lacking a young player who can play inside linebacker and could replace one if not all of them.
Belichick may contact his good friend Alabama head coach Nick Saban about linebacker Christian Harris. New England has a long history of taking Alabama players because of the Bill Belichick-Nick Saban connection. Christian Harris looks like he could be the next great Alabama linebacker. For over a decade the Crimson Tide has been able to produce elite talent at the linebacker position.
After an outstanding sophomore season, Harris looked like he could be the clear cut number one linebacker in the 2022 NFL Draft class. It seems the rest of the class has caught up. However, he is still a very talented player who could take over the void at linebacker for this Patriots defense next season.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Jaxson Kirkland, Offensive Lineman, Washington
The last of the Philadelphia Eagles’ first-round picks come here to finish out the top-10. If this scenario plays out they could take a quarterback. But instead, here they opt to add an extremely talented offensive lineman whose versatility could be a major help to the long-term future of the Eagles offensive line.
Last year in the second round the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Alabama center Landon Dickerson. The Eagles could take an offensive lineman in back-to-back drafts because they are trying to rebuild the interior of their offensive line.
This past offseason Philadelphia shopped three-time Pro Bowler Brandon Brooks who missed all of last season with a torn achilles. This season Brooks is already on Injured Reserve and has been replaced in the lineup by Dickerson. Former All-Pro Jason Kelce is a free agent after this year and appears to be slowing down at the age of 33. He has lost his status as one of if not the league’s best center. It seems unlikely that Kelce will take a pay cut to stay with the Eagles. Another former All-Pro, Lane Johnson, is in the conversation for the best right tackle in the league when healthy. But over the last couple of seasons has not been able to stay on the field.
So Philadelphia may let go of both Brooks, Kelce, and Johnson and will have at least two voids on this offensive line. Taking Jaxson Kirkland in the first round of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft would give the Eagles a versatile offensive lineman who can begin his career at guard replacing Brandon Brooks, shifting Dickerson to center, and eventually replace Lane Johnson. He has the nastiness that scouts love to see out of right tackles and could be a great starter at the next level.
11. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Tyler Linderbaum, Interior Offensive Lineman, Iowa
The Miami Dolphins did trade away their first-round pick for this year’s draft prior to the 2021 NFL Draft. However, they did that after acquiring the San Francisco 49er’s first-round pick for the next three seasons in a blockbuster that sent the 49ers from pick #12 to the third overall pick.
Miami felt comfortable doing that because they felt they would be similar if not better than the 49ers this season. That has not been the case. The Miami Dolphins have been extremely disappointing this season. The offense looks terrible despite adding receivers Jaylen Waddle and Will Fuller. Also, the Dolphins’ defense has not been the near-elite unit that they had last season.
Their offensive woes can be blamed on two things. Having Jacoby Brissett start because Tua Tagovailoa is in Injured Reserve with a rib injury is going to limit an offense. The biggest reason for Miami’s struggles is their offensive line. This comes as a shock because the Dolphins have invested three top-64 picks in their offensive line over the last two years.
After two seasons of struggles, it appears that Miami feels that 2019 first-round pick Austin Jackson may not be the team’s long-term answer at left tackle. The Miami Herald reported that head coach Brian Flores feels that transitioning Austin Jackson to left guard and Liam Eichenberg to left tackle may help mend this line, but they still need help.
Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum was considered a first-round pick coming into the year. However, after a dominant start, the previously regarded late first-round pick is shooting up draft boards. Linderbaum has now allowed a sack or pressure this season from the center position.
Linderbaum could play guard or center at the next level. He is extremely pro-ready and the type of talent that could be a Pro Bowl player in year one or two similar to Ryan Kelly. Miami needs a major upgrade over Greg Mancz who is the team’s starting center after Matt Skura did not make the final roster. They could very well find their the best offensive lineman on this unit and the glue that brings this young group of talent together by the end of the year by taking Linderbaum in the 2022 NFL Draft.
12. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Andrew Booth Jr., Cornerback, Clemson
No one ever roots for an injury, especially to a fan favorite like Russell Wilson. But the New York Jets are a huge benefactor to the injury Wilson suffered that will hold him out to likely six to eight weeks because they have Seattle’s first-round pick. If they get a top-15 pick from Seattle they could land an extremely talented cornerback prospect to bolster that position group.
Coming into the season the New York Jets cornerback group was the weakest overall position group in the league. Statistically, the Jets cornerbacks are not the worst in the league. But they are lacking a notable cornerback who can cover a team’s number one receiver on a given week. It is imperative that the Jets draft cornerbacks early and often in this extremely deep cornerback group.
One of the more exciting prospects coming into the season was Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. He is extremely raw as a player, but has shown great flashes when he’s been on the field. Booth Jr. is a playmaker. Last season Booth Jr. only started four of the eleven games he played in. He had 30 tackles, four pass breakups, two interceptions, a sack, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
This season Booth Jr. may not have turnovers he had last season (yet). But he has shown that he is capable of being a starting cornerback at the next level and a potentially great one. Booth Jr. would be going to New York who is coached by a great defensive mind in Robert Saleh. He could be relied upon to cover Stefon Diggs and Jaylen Waddle twice a year. On top of that this would be the second playmaking defensive back the Jets would be adding from this 2022 NFL Draft class.
13. Washington Football Team: Sean Rhyan, Offensive Tackle, UCLA
Coming into the season the Washington Football Team appeared to be the favorite to repeat as NFC East champions. The NFC East has not had a repeat champion since the Eagles did it in 2003 and 2004. They added talent to one of the best defenses in the league from a year ago and upgraded at quarterback by signing veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. So far that has completely backfired for Washington. Their defense is near the bottom of the league in every statistical category despite having multiple former first-round picks and Pro Bowlers. Also, Fitzpatrick was placed on Injured Reserve after week one for a hip subluxation. This has left Taylor Heinicke to be the team’s starting quarterback going forward.
Washington could consider taking a quarterback if they feel one of the prospects from this year’s class could be a better fit long-term than Heinicke. But as it stands the belief is that Washington could let Heinicke ride the season out as the starter and be the long-term starter going forward. After quarterback Washington’s biggest need is their offensive line. Both Charles Leno Jr. and Brandon Scherff are free agents after this season. Washington will do everything in their power to retain Scherff but Leno could leave the team opening a void at left tackle.
During the 2020 NFL Draft Washington traded away Trent Williams to the San Francisco 49ers opening a void at left tackle. In last year’s draft, Washington took Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi in the second round. At first glance, this appeared to fill their void at left tackle. But instead, Washington cut veteran Morgan Moses, moved Cosmi to right tackle, and signed Charles Leno Jr. to be their left tackle.
If Leno leaves in free agency they’ll once again have a need at left tackle. Over the past few weeks, UCLA tackle Sean Rhyan has emerged into first-round conversation. Washington could take Rhyan in the 2022 NFL Draft to be their left tackle for the next 10-15 years.
14. Minnesota Vikings: George Karalaftis, Edge Rusher, Purdue
Minnesota signed a couple of veterans on the defensive side of the ball including Dalvin Tomlinson, Patrick Peterson, Everson Griffen, Bashaud Breeland, Sheldon Richardson, and Nick Vigil. Even after adding all of those players Minnesota’s defense isn’t that great. They need to continue building through the draft and Mike Zimmer needs to develop more young talent.
The Vikings reunited with Everson Griffen this offseason after they cut him and he spent one season with the Cowboys and Lions. They brought him back because they wanted to have a pass rusher in house who could start in case third-round pick Patrick Jones II couldn’t fill the void. This offseason they are going to once again try to find a pass rusher to play opposite Danielle Hunter.
One player in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft who could fill the pass rusher role opposite Hunter is Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis. The massive defensive end is outstanding a creating pressure and could get the quarterback often at the next level.
Minnesota has a great long-term foundation for their defensive line featuring Hunter, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Michael Pierce. Karlaftis would be the missing piece for a defensive line that could be one of the best units in the league if this was to happen.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty
One of the major headlines this season has been that the Pittsburgh Steelers offense looks awful this season. Pittsburgh lost a couple of important players to the team’s success last season due to lack of cap space. One of the reasons for the limited cap space was because quarterback Ben Roethlisberger refused to take a large pay cut.
Roethlisberger is 39 years old and has quickly declined since his elbow injury from a couple of years ago. The future Hall of Famer has lost what made him great which was his cannon of an arm. On top of that Pittsburgh lost four of their offensive line starters this offseason as well.
Even though Pittsburgh has seen Roethlisberger decline over the last couple of years the most they’ve done to address the quarterback position is draft Mason Rudolph in 2018 and sign 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins last offseason. It seems extremely unlikely that either of them could be Pittsburgh’s franchise quarterback or can be trusted as the team’s starter for an extended period of time. If that was the case Pittsburgh would have explored benching Roethlisberger for one of them a few weeks ago.
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis has emerged as a candidate to be the first quarterback taken in this upcoming draft. The former Auburn quarterback is a dual-threat quarterback that could be a star in the NFL, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Willis’ mobility would buy Pittsburgh time to rebuild their offensive line over the next two offseasons. It also would add an element to Pittsburgh’s offense that they’ve never had before. In a division with multiple star quarterbacks taking Willis gives Pittsburgh a chance of winning the division.
Pittsburgh can put together read-option offense focused on Malik Willis and Najee Harris that could skyrocket Pittsburgh back into playoff contention. On top of that Willis would be joining a team with multiple young star pass catchers including Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, and Pat Freiermuth.
16. Kansas City Chiefs: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida
The Kansas City Chiefs find themselves among the middle of the pack this season due to a couple of reasons. Offensively the Chiefs have been extremely sloppy. Opposing defenses have seemed to figure out how to limit the production of this offense by forcing them to play slow-paced. Defensively the Chiefs have been one of the worst in the league. They are one of the worst teams in the league at defending against the run. Kansas City is even worse at defending against the pass. The Chiefs have been forced to play in shootouts every week and they have struggled to win against teams who look like legitimate contenders.
This offseason the Chiefs need to spend premium assets on defense and have them hit if they want to be competitive next year. Kansas City has ignored improving their pass defense for the last couple of seasons. They are fortunate 2020 fourth-round pick L’Jarius Sneed has become a starting-caliber cornerback this early in his career. Outside of Sneed, their cornerback group is made up of Charvarius Ward, Rashad Fenton, and former first-round picks Mike Hughes and Deandre Baker. That group should not be responsible for defending Super Bowl contenders in AFC playoff games.
Kansas City could benefit from having one bad season because they could reap the benefits of picking earlier in the draft and adding higher-level talent in the draft. One player who could be a major help to this team is Flordia cornerback Kaiir Elam. He is the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, has been a lockdown corner for Florida’s defense, and has only allowed 8 reception on 20 targets this year.
The Chiefs traded Marcus Peters away and let Steven Nelson, Kendall Fuller, and Bashaud Breeland walk in free agency over the years. They cannot afford to have this weak of a secondary if they want to continue to be a dominant force in the AFC. Drafting Kaiir Elam in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft would give them a number one cornerback that could be trusted covering the talented receivers in this division including Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Henry Ruggs, and Bryan Edwards.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Darian Kinnard, Offensive Lineman, Kentucky
One of the more pleasant surprises of the league this season has been the Cincinnati Bengals. They have started off the season 3-2 and were a missed field goal in overtime away from defeating the Green Bay Packers and getting to 4-1. Their game last week against the Packers has solidified their status as a potential playoff contender.
Cincinnati now has a lethal offense with the addition of Ja’Marr Chase to an offense with Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon. They’ve also have played extremely well on defense. Their free-agent additions on the defensive side of the ball have played well for them this season. It appears this team will go as far as Joe Burrow will take them. So far he has validated why Cincinnati took him first overall.
As great as they’ve played their roster isn’t perfect. The Bengals still could improve their offensive line. Cincinnati could look for upgrades for Riley Reiff and Quinton Spain. Kentucky offensive lineman Darian Kinnard is versatile enough to potentially upgrade either position, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Kinnard would likely start at guard and potentially move over to right tackle for the Bengals. He could be the piece that finally takes the offensive line off the top of the list of needs. At the next level, he could develop into a Pro Bowl guard.
18. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
A wide receiver hasn’t been taken this low in the NFL draft since the Carolina Panthers took D.J. Moore with the 24th pick in 2018. One season after three wide receivers were taken in the top-10 the first wide receiver comes off the board with the 18th pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. This year’s draft class has some talented receivers but this year’s class has so many great defensive players and offensive linemen that teams will target early.
Throughout the first five weeks, it is very clear that the New Orleans Saints need to add not only depth at the wide receiver position, but they also need a true number one receiver. Former All-Pro Michael Thomas’ long-term status with the team is uncertain. There has been some conflict between him and management in the last year. At his salary, it may not be worth it to New Orleans to keep Thomas around especially since he hasn’t been healthy over the last couple of seasons. If they have Michael Thomas or not they need another wideout. They go there in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Ohio States’ Chris Olave would be the perfect weapon in this offense. A year ago he was the second-best receiver in the country behind DeVonta Smith. This season it is hard to argue that he is not the best. Olave could be used as a deep threat that compliments Michael Thomas’ route tree well. He could stretch out the field much better than Thomas. That would be a huge boost to Jameis Winston who had his best season when he was airing the ball out to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa Bay.
When Winston plays dink-and-dunk and goes for the check down this offense does not produce. Winston needs playmakers like the Olave to succeed in Sean Payton’s offense next season and beyond.
19. Tennessee Titans: Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Guard, NC State
The Tennessee Titans definitely benefit from playing in one of the weakest divisions in football. They have a lot of talent on their roster but have been hot and cold throughout the season. This may be because this team is very different from the one Tennessee had last season and extremely different from the team that made the AFC Championship two years ago. Out of every team in the league Tennessee has the largest amount of different players starting for them than the year prior. Defensively Tennessee changed their philosophy by tearing down their secondary to pay for a new better pass rush. While on offense they traded for Julio Jones to help replace Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith.
One unit for Tennessee that has not played great this season is their offensive line. In five games Ryan Tannehill has been sacked 20 times which is the most in the league. Very quickly this offensive line got old and thinned out depthwise. Part of what made Tennessee a contender in the first place was that Ryan Tannehill had time to get the ball to his receivers and Derrick Henry had gaping holes to run through.
If Tennessee finishes with a record that lands them near the middle or later part of the 2022 NFL Draft they could take NC State tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Even though he plays tackle Ekwonu will likely transition to guard at the next level. He is an outstanding run blocker which means it will be easier for Derrick Henry to make bigger plays as he gets older. Ekwonu would potentially replace Nate Davis who has been average at best during his time in Tennessee, and is a good fit in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
20. Denver Broncos: Carson Strong, Quarterback, Nevada
No team has started more quarterbacks since 2015 since the Denver Broncos. Seven years later the Broncos are still looking for their quarterback to replace Peyton Manning. The team has started ten different quarterbacks in that span including current starter Teddy Bridgewater. So far this season Bridgewater has done what was expected of him. Bridgewater is efficient and won’t lose you a game. However, Bridgewater likely won’t make a game-changing play to win the game. He is fine for now, but Denver is going to need a long-term option at the position.
If Denver snaps their two-game losing streak and plays well the rest of the season it may be difficult to get the quarterbacks atop of their draft board. Fortunately for them, they have a rock-solid bridge option in the building right now in Bridgewater that they could likely resign for a short-term deal while a developmental quarterback gets ready to start.
One quarterback who could be a good fit in Denver is Nevada’s Carson Strong. He may have the strongest arm out of anyone in this draft class. Arm strength is necessary to play in a city like Denver. Strong could be the perfect quarterback to take advantage of all the weapons on Denver’s roster. He is extremely accurate when he throws downfield and doesn’t turn the ball over a bunch. It may take a year or two for him to get acclimated to the NFL level. But Denver may have their quarterback for the next 10-15 years in Carson Strong in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
21. Carolina Panthers: Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa
In the second year of the Matt Rhule era the Carolina Panthers are here and competitive. Outside of their loss last week to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Panthers have looked like one of the best teams in the NFC and possible playoff contender. Sam Darnold has looks great in this offense that features better weapons than he had in New York. But the most impressive part about their team has been their defense. Carolina’s defense has been one of the best in the league this season. They have added a lot of talent to this defense early in the draft over the last two seasons. They also acquired cornerbacks C.J. Henderson and Stephon Gilmore in the past two weeks.
The only glaring weakness on this roster is their offensive line, more specifically their left tackle situation. Carolina has swing offensive lineman Cam Erving as their starting left tackle. The Panthers drafted Brady Christensen in the third round to compete for the starting job and he did not win it. Carolina can not wait for Christensen to take over a position like left tackle. It is vital for a potential playoff team like the Panthers to have someone they trust protecting their quarterback’s blindside.
Small school prospect Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa has emerged as one of the top tackle prospects in this year’s class, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Despite not playing anything near NFL caliber defenses, Penning has been dominant enough at his level to work his way into potentially hearing his name early in the draft. A former college coach like Matt Rhule could appreciate the traits Penning brings to the table. He looks like he could be a starting NFL left tackle. If the Panthers believe that is the case they should take him in the 2022 NFL Draft to be Sam Darnold’s new blindside protector.
22. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
Now that the Chicago Bears have a winning record the trade they made with the Giants during last year’s draft doesn’t look so lopsided. The Chicago Bears traded the 20th overall pick along with their first-round selection in 2022 to the Giants for the 11th overall pick to take their potential franchise quarterback Justin Fields. New York made that deal because their target DeVonta Smith was off the board. The Giants were able to land the wide receiver they wanted next on their board Kadarius Toney with the 20th pick.
A huge loss for the Giants defense from a season ago was defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. The former second-round pick was the team’s nose tackle and a huge reason why their defensive line was so dominant upfront. Now that Tomlinson is in Minnesota the Giants’ defensive line is struggling, especially against the run.
Fortunately for David Gettleman, his favorite school to draft from has an incredible run-stuffing nose tackle who will be in this year’s draft class. Every year since taking over as the general manager of the New York Giants Gettleman has drafted at least one player from Georgia. He took Lorenzo Carter in the third round in 2018, Deandre Baker in the first round of 2019, Andrew Thomas in the first round of 2020, Tae Crowder in the seventh round of 2020, and Azeez Ojulari in the second round in 2021.
Jordan Davis has been extremely underrated this season, and he’s the selection in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He is a monster defensive tackle and an elite talent. However, teams don’t value nose tackles very high as prospects. Teams won’t take a defensive tackle early in the draft unless he has shown the ability to rush the passer. Davis can fill the void left by Dalvin Tomlinson and help this defensive line become the strength of the New York Giants once again. David Gettleman loves his defensive linemen and linebackers and it would be hard to imagine him overlooking Jordan Davis in the 2022 NFL draft.
23. Cleveland Browns: Kingsley Enagbare, Edge Rusher, South Carolina
The Cleveland Browns have emerged as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in the AFC. They have one of the most complete rosters in the entire league, and this past draft solidified their defense as one of the deepest units. One of the best additions they made this offseason was signing Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year, $8 million deal. The duo of Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney have terrorized quarterbacks all season.
A popular selection for Cleveland to take in mock drafts is one of the top wide receivers in this year’s class. Taking a wide receiver could make sense because it is very likely that one if not both of Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry will not on the team next season. However, even if they aren’t on the team the wide receiver position isn’t extremely valuable to the Browns offense under Kevin Stefanski. This season the defensive end position opposite Myles Garrett became a valuable part of this team and they could very well lose Clowney this offseason.
If Clowney was to leave Cleveland, the Browns could replace him with another pass rusher from his alma mater South Carolina. Kingsley Enagbare has emerged as a potential first-round prospect. He has been an outstanding pass rusher this season and the selection here in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. This is a dream scenario for Enagbare to play across from and also learn from Myles Garrett.
If Jadeveon Clowney leaves Cleveland in free agency the Browns need to make sure that they replace him with a pass rusher of similar talent or takes one with their first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
24. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas
The Detroit Lions received a package including Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round picks over the next two seasons in the trade that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. Even though the Lions’ defense is a mess they may want to address their offense with their second first-round pick as well and wait for the second round to take a defensive player.
A lot of people were confused on why the Lions let Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., and Danny Amendola walk in free agency. Many thought they would take one of the big three receivers in the draft especially when the only veteran wide receivers they brought in were Tyrell Williams and Kalif Raymond. Detroit did that because they wanted to gear their offense to be extremely run-heavy. Detroit also has a Pro Bowl tight end in T.J. Hockenson that is capable of being the number one receiver in their offense.
After the first few weeks, it is clear that the Lions need to add more offensive firepower. They could look to replace Jared Goff. But it may be better to give Goff more weapons. He was at his best in that elite Rams offense during the 2018-19 season. Arkansas wide receiver Treylon Burks should be a target for Detroit with their second of their two first-round picks, and that’s the direction in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Burks is an extremely dynamic receiver that is capable of stretching the field and utilizing his size when trying to catch passes in traffic.
Putting Jared Goff behind this elite offensive line with Evan Neal and giving him weapons like T.J. Hockenson, Treylon Burks, Quintez Cephus, D’Andre Swift, and Jamaal Williams could remind people why the Rams took him first overall in 2016.
25. Las Vegas Raiders: Daniel Faalele, Offensive Tackle, Minnesota
Wait didn’t the Las Vegas Raiders take a tackle with their first-round pick last year? Yes, the Raiders took Alabama tackle Alex Leatherwood with the 17th overall pick this past draft. Leatherwood was drafted to fill the right tackle void that Las Vegas had when they traded Trent Brown to the Patriots. Last week the Raiders moved Leatherwood to guard and former third-round pick Brandon Parker was moved to right tackle.
Coming out of Alabama many thought that Leatherwood would play guard in the NFL even though he played left tackle in college, so his transition could benefit him. However, this still leaves a void at right tackle. It is unlikely that Brandon Parker is the team’s long-term answer at the position.
This selection may be atypical of what Mike Mayock has done in the first round. Usually, Mayock will take a player in the first round from a bigger program that could have been drafted later on. But Minnesota tackle Daniel Faalele feels like the perfect player for Las Vegas to take at the end of the first round, and that’s what happens in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He is raw as a player, however, Faalele has something that cannot be taught and that is size. Faalele is listed at 6’9″ and 375 pounds. The insane thing about Faalele is that he is bigger than Trent Brown who is known as the massive tackle in the NFL.
It would be hard for Raiders general manager Mike Mayock to miss on the opportunity to draft the next Trent Brown in Daniel Faalele in the 2022 NFL Draft. He would be their massive right tackle for his offensive line that is in the middle of a rebuild.
26. Buffalo Bills: Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
After defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, the Buffalo Bills have emerged as the team to beat in the AFC. They are extremely well-rounded and have addressed their largest weaknesses on their roster. Buffalo added Emmanuel Sanders to their All-Pro receiving core. They also developed Zack Moss to be the starting running back he failed to be last season. Also, they added to what could be the deepest defensive line in the league in the first and second rounds of this past draft.
Buffalo doesn’t have a lot of holes on this roster. However, they may have to replace one of their larger free-agent additions in Emmanuel Sanders this offseason. Sanders is going to be 35 next season so not only could he leave in free agency, he could even consider retirement. After the first few weeks, the Bills have to realize that their offense needs a legitimate deep threat to play opposite Stefon Diggs. Gabriel Davis could be a candidate to replace Sanders. However, the Bills like to use Davis more in the red zone than as a deep threat.
This scenario in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft would be outstanding for the Bills. Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson is being overshadowed by his teammate Chris Olave. But he is a first-round talent and would receive more attention if he wasn’t the clear number two receiver for Ohio State. He is a dynamic deep threat that could have Pro Bowl potential as the number two receiver in this offense. This is the type of pick where people could look back in a couple of years and wonder how the rest of the league let the Bills add this type of weapon to their offense.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington
Last year’s Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers seemingly did the impossible by returning all 22 starters from the team a season ago. It made the Buccaneers a clear favorite to repeat as champion. However, they have already felt some adversity already this season.
The Buccaneers’ secondary has been decimated by injuries showing how thin their depth is on the back end. Both Sean Murphy-Bunting and Carlton Davis were placed on Injured Reserve. Also, Jamel Dean, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Jordan Whitehead missed time this year with injuries. Tampa has a great front seven. But it weakens the pass rush when the secondary can’t stay in coverage long enough. On top of that Richard Sherman and Davis are expected to hit free agency this offseason. This means that the Buccaneers may need to address their secondary early and possibly more than once in this upcoming draft.
Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie could be a target for Tampa Bay late in the first round, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He may not be the biggest cornerback but he is a great player who shouldn’t have to make major changes when transitioning to the NFL. He would reunite with 2021 Buccaneers first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka for was his teammate at Washington.
It is likely that McDuffie would start as nickel cornerback and possibly transition to the outside when they felt like he is ready. The Buccaneers could draft their future number one cornerback in the backend of the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in Trent McDuffie.
28. Green Bay Packers: Drake London, Wide Receiver, USC
The theme of this season for the Green Bay Packers is ‘The Last Ride’. The belief is that the Packers will trade Aaron Rodgers after this season regardless of how it ends. There is also a solid chance that Davante Adams will not return to Green Bay after this season. Adams is a free agent after this season. It is unlikely that they would let him leave. If Adams did not wish to return to Green Bay they would likely franchise tag him and trade him to the team of his choice.
If Adams were to leave Green Bay that would be a huge blow to this offense. They would desperately need a new number one receiver and possibly a new number two receiver to fill that void. The other receivers on the roster are primarily deep threat specialists and slot receivers.
One wide receiver who is starting to move up draft boards that could be capable of being a number one receiver in the league is USC’s Drake London, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He is this year’s big receiver. From what London has shown he has the upside to be the next Mike Evans. They are the same size and are both more than just 50/50 ball receivers.
An all-around threat like London would be a perfect number one receiver for Green Bay to draft in the 2022 NFL Draft for Jordan Love in likely his first year as the full-time starter. The duo of Jordan Love and Drake London would have massive expectations in Green Bay. However, they are both talented players that could remove themselves from the shadow of Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.
29. Los Angeles Chargers: Adam Anderson, Edge Rusher, Georgia
In Brandon Staley’s first year as the head coach, the Los Angeles Chargers look like a new team. They are playing like a potential Super Bowl contender. Justin Herbert is playing like an MVP candidate, Mike Williams could be in line for a massive payday, Austin Ekeler is proving that he is a true three-down back. Also defensively the Chargers have been impressive this season.
They could possibly lose both players that rush the passer opposite Joey Bosa. Uchenna Nwosu and Kyler Fackrell have split the pass rusher snaps opposite Bosa this season replacing Melvin Ingram. If Los Angeles loses both they could take Georgia edge rusher Adam Anderson in the first round, as they do here in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Anderson will be a household name come College Football Playoff. He is the best pass rusher in the best defense in college football.
If his production translates to the NFL he could see a lot of one on ones with tackles his rookie year because most of the attention will be on Joey Bosa. They could have a legitimate duo of pass rushers on this defense that is already producing at a very high level. Anderson could be the full-time replacement for Melvin Ingram who the Chargers let walk in free agency this past year.
30. Dallas Cowboys: Myjai Sanders, Edge Rusher, Cincinnati
The Dallas Cowboys look well-rounded for the first time in a long time. Not only are they balancing their offense between the passing and running games. They also are playing well on defense this year. New defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has brought life to what was one of the worst defenses in the league the last couple of seasons.
One area of Dallas’ defense that they can improve is their pass rush. The Cowboys have been looking for a legitimate pass rusher opposite DeMarcus Lawrence since 2017. Randy Gregory has primarily been the Cowboys’ complimentary pass rusher. But off-the-field issues and disappointing production has limited him. The lack of a pass rusher from the other Cowboys’ defensive lineman is limiting the production of DeMarcus Lawrence because he is seeing all the attention from opposing offenses.
Cincinnati pass rusher Myjai Sanders fits perfectly into how Dan Quinn wants to build this defense. He is an athletic 4-3 defensive end that relies on speed to get to the quarterback. He is raw as a pass rusher. But could develop into a great starting defensive end at the next level, and he goes here in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The pass rush duo of DeMarcus Lawrence and Myjai Sanders could pressure opposing offenses more than what the Cowboys have been able to do in recent years.
31. Baltimore Ravens: Ahmad Gardner, Cornerback, Cincinnati
It has been amazing that the Baltimore Ravens have put together a 4-1 start and change their offensive philosophy with all the major injuries they suffered before the season. They lost their top three running backs to begin the year and former Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters. Also, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and quarterback Lamar Jackson have been banged up this season. If Baltimore makes the playoffs this year John Harbaugh should be considered a favorite to win Coach of the Year.
This upcoming offseason the Ravens are going to have to pay Lamar Jackson. Once they pay Jackson Baltimore will need to get cheaper at other positions. One player they could trade this offseason is the injured Marcus Peters. If they trade Peters they will free $10 million in cap space. Then the Ravens would need another cornerback to lineup opposite Marlon Humphrey and that could be an upgrade over Anthony Averett.
Ahmad Gardner could be a top-10 pick if he played for a bigger program, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He is a lockdown cornerback who has yet to allow a touchdown throughout his college football career.
This would be a perfect landing spot for Gardner because he would play well right away for the Ravens fill the void left by Peters and also could develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback by this outstanding Ravens coaching staff.
32. Arizona Cardinals: Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State
The Arizona Cardinals are the last undefeated team in the NFL. Similar to last season when Kyler Murray is healthy the Cardinals are a real threat in the NFC. They made some great additions on both sides of the ball including former Pro Bowlers J.J. Watt, A.J. Green, James Conner, and Rodney Hudson. They also drafted another deep threat for Kyler Murray in Rondale Moore. This team looks like it has what it takes to end the second-longest playoff drought in the NFL.
Unfortunately, Arizona will have a few major free agents this offseason including Chandler Jones, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, Chase Edmonds, and James Cooner. They may opt to retaining Jones and signing Edmonds to a reasonable deal. This leaves avoid in Arizona for their number three and four receivers. Over the last couple of seasons, Arizona has not been shy about drafting a wide receiver early in the past couple of drafts. They have spent (or traded) a Day 2 pick for a wide receiver in each of the past five drafts.
If Arizona finishes late in the year and has a late draft pick they could take a wide receiver late in the first round instead of Day 2. Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson would be so fun to watch in this offense, and that’s the pick to round out this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. He is similar to Rondale Moore in that he is a smaller receiver who is great on screens and could stretch the field.
The receiver trio of DeAndre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, and Jahan Dotson would be so explosive with Kyler Murray throwing them the ball and could keep Arizona in the playoff picture for the next couple of seasons.