Fansided
Fansided

2022 NFL Mock Draft: Jets Defense Rebuilt In 3-Round Projection

By Christopher Thomas

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Stingley Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to a game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Tiger Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Stingley Jr. #7 of the LSU Tigers warms up prior to a game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Tiger Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
20 of 41
Next
Trevor Penning, 2022 NFL mock draft, 2022 NFL Draft
Houston Texans mock draft, Trevor Penning. (Photo by David Purdy/Getty Images) /

19. Washington Football Team: Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa

Another major surprise in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft is that the Washington Football Team turns down the opportunity to take a quarterback in the first round. The truth is that despite his inconsistent play Taylor Heinicke has proven that he should be given the opportunity to start for Washington next year unless a clear upgrade presents itself to be available. Ron Rivera has waited for the perfect opportunity to take his quarterback of the future in Washington. There isn’t much about this draft class that could excite a coaching staff when it comes to the position. He may elect to address a discrete need on the roster.

During the 2020 NFL Draft Washington traded away former All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams for a package of draft picks. They took LSU tackle Saahdiq Charles in the fourth round that season but is a reserve guard/tackle hybrid in his second season. This past draft they took Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi in the second round. Cosmi appeared to be Washington’s replacement for Williams. Surprisingly, instead, Cosmi is playing right tackle for Washington which allowed the team to cut ties from Morgan Moses and sign the recently cut Charles Leno to start at left tackle for Washington this season.

So far Leno has played solid for Washington this season. He has played well enough for Chicago definitely to regret cutting him after taking Tevin Jenkins in the second round to be their left tackle. However, Leno is only on a one-year deal and it isn’t a certainty that he will return to Washington next season.

If Leno leaves Washington they should draft Northern Iowa tackle Trevor Penning. Small school prospect 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.

Penning should have the opportunity to show that he is one of the top offensive tackles in this year’s draft class at the Senior Bowl. Penning not only has great size for an offensive tackle but he plays the nastiness that offensive line coaches want from their tackles, especially in the run game. He looks like he could be a starting NFL left tackle. Washington could solidify their offensive line by drafting their left tackle of the future here in Penning.

Home/Mock Drafts