2-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine Mock Has Trades Galore!
By Hunter Haas
The 2022 NFL Draft scouting combine gets underway this week and hundreds of draft hopefuls will be looking to catch the eye of scouts and propel their stock with impressive results in Indianapolis.
There are a number of teams searching for an answer at quarterback. Some will find it in free agency and others will dip into the rookie pool. The incoming class is one of the most polarizing groups in recent memory. You could ask five people who their favorite quarterback is and there’s a solid chance that you’d get a different answer from each of them.
The overall class does boast some impressive depth at a few of the most important positions. Upwards of eight edge rushers have heard their name in first-round rumors, including arguably the two best players in the entire class — Kayvon Thibodeaux of Oregon and Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan.
Cornerback is becoming a two-man race for the top spot between Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU) and Sauce Gardner (Cincinnati), but don’t sleep on Trent McDuffie (Washington) throwing his hat in the ring too. Linebacker and interior defensive line are both deep and will have quality players available all the way into day three. Safety is weaker, but it features what some consider to be the best player available in the 2022 NFL Draft, Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame).
On the offensive side, the wide receiver group mirrors the depth of the edge rusher position. Even if a run happens on the opening day, there will be immediate starters available through day two. If things keep trending this way, the standard fantasy football lineup will need to add a WR4 slot.
Offensive tackle has good depth as well, but the prized players at that position are Ikem Ekwonu (NC State), Evan Neal (Alabama), and Charles Cross (Mississippi State). It is a real possibility that all three of these players are off the board within the first five choices of the draft.
The interior offensive line has a lot of late-round value, but guys like Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa) and Zion Johnson (Boston College) are the names worth monitoring early on. Tight ends and running backs are similar in terms of depth, but neither feature an elite prospect.
Trades Galore in the Latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft
Before starting, I want to note that this is a prediction-based exercise, it is not necessarily what *I* would do if I was calling the shots. With that disclaimer out of the way, the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.