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

Ikem Ekwonu has been the biggest riser since the beginning of the season. Ekwonu was widely considered to be a fringe first-round prospect before bursting onto the national scene in 2021 with a tape full of jaw-dropping pancakes.

Sometimes great players get pushed down the board, especially when a few teams reach for quarterbacks. The Giants benefitted greatly from this in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, as they land a guy that could go as high as No. 1 overall.

The Giants are pleased with the progress Andrew Thomas has made during his time with the team. The rest of the line is still littered with question marks, though. Adding Ekwonu to the fold would go a long way to stabilizing the unit, as “Ickey” has elite positional versatility and can play anywhere on the line at a high level.

He displays impeccable balance and has a nasty streak that lasts through the whistle. If the team really is committed to giving Danny Dimes a chance, there’s no better way than bringing in a lineman with all-pro potential.

The Falcons franchise is at an interesting juncture. The team finished with seven wins, and considering the hefty dead cap connected to quarterback Matt Ryan, there’s a chance that GM Terry Fontenot decides to bolster the roster for one last run at an NFC South title with Matty Ice at the helm.

There have been rumors circulating that wide receiver Calvin Ridley would welcome a change of scenery. They likely could fetch a second-round pick for him on the trade market, which is an appealing way to cut a little salary while bringing in a cheaper replacement.

Ridley doesn’t have a substantial cap hit by any means, but if the team finds themselves sitting with four picks in the first two rounds of the draft, they could add some immediate contributors at a much lower price tag than doing so in free agency. Whether Ridley is in Atlanta or not, the team could use an influx of talent at the receiver position. Arkansas Razorback Treylon Burks is an ideal fit for the Falcons, and he’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.

Last year, head coach Arthur Smith revitalized Cordarrelle Patterson’s career by utilizing him in nearly every spot on the field. All due respect to Patterson, but Treylon Burks will take that role to the next level. Imagine an offense with athletic freaks Kyle Pitts and Burks leading the way.