2-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine Mock Has Trades Galore!

New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah collects roster building assets with his first trade by merely moving down five slots in the order in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Staying at 12 and taking Cross or Gardner would be understandable, but this move presents a perfect balance between trying to win now and planning for the future.

To put it kindly, the Vikings have little to work with in the cornerback room. They could bring back veteran Patrick Peterson, and youngster Cameron Dantzler has shown flashes as a starter, but Minnesota should not be content with just these two. Trent McDuffie was a starter from day one at Washington, improving in each of his seasons as a Husky.

He doesn’t have the gaudy numbers that others in the class can flaunt, but raw counting stats are often misleading for a cornerback. You cannot properly quantify his high IQ and natural instincts for the position. He can play in any scheme and if his track record is any indication, he will excel at any and all of them.

The Saints keep hammering the idea that they will not be rebuilding. Instead, they are looking to take advantage of the weak NFC South division in the wake of Tom Brady’s recent retirement. Regardless of which route they go, the offensive line is likely to take a huge blow as starting left tackle, Terron Armstead, is slated to hit free agency and the Saints are not well-equipped to retain him. Even with their salary cap magic, this one just isn’t going to go their way.

There are concerns by some in the draft community that Kenyon Green is a guard only prospect, but my evaluation tells an entirely different story. Green has a strong enough anchor, adequate grip strength, and nimble feet, giving him the perfect set of tools to handle the myriad of different pass rushers coming off the edge. Whether they bring in a veteran, trade for one, or use their next pick on a quarterback, the Saints will plug Green in and have their successor for Armstead.