3 Quarterbacks, 2 Trades Inside Top 10 Of New 2-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
The 2022 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching with less than three weeks standing between now and the first round and the fun is just beginning. The Philadelphia Eagles and New Orleans Saints have already made a pre-draft trade and more are sure to come on draft night, if not before. As for this two round 2022 NFL Mock Draft, those trades come early and often.
2022 NFL Mock Draft: Two Rounds With Trades
This year has been another offseason where the time between the final game of the season and the draft has benefited quarterbacks. Talk has increased and what began as a first round that could be absent from more than one or two quarterbacks could see much more than that in just the first handful of picks. Without further delay, we’ll jump right into the picks.
For a long time this pick seemed like a sure-fire offensive linemen, then the free agency period happened. Jacksonville was able to franchise tag Cam Robinson at left tackle and added Brandon Scherff to play right guard. While Scherff was a great addition, the return of Robinson at least delayed the need for a tackle with this pick, allowing the Jags to take the best player available in the class.
Aidan Hutchinson entered the draft process as one of the top players on the board and what he was able to do at the NFL Combine eliminated any doubts in his ability. Hutchinson received the second best grade of any prospect, behind only Kyle Hamilton and was third on the Next Gen Stats list. For Jacksonville, a team that needs to build up a roster with the quarterback already in place, Hutchinson will make for an incredible addition.
*Detroit Lions send No. 2 to the New Orleans Saints for No. 16, No. 19, No. 49 and a 2024 1st
The New Orleans Saints didn’t add a second first round pick in the middle of the draft just because. That doesn’t happen before the draft. The Saints aren’t done making moves and adding a second pick in this draft gives them the tools to go after a trade to get the top quarterback in the class.
The 2012 NFL Draft saw Washington jump from No. 6 to No. 2 for Robert Griffin III. That offer gave the Rams the No. 6 pick, the No. 39 pick, a first the next year and another first the year after. Now 10 years later, we could see a similar deal. While neither pick is in the top 10 this year, Detroit gets an addition two picks in the first this year, giving them four picks in the first 34 selections, as well as a second this year and the Saints’ next first, which is in 2024 after the trade with Philly.
Now for the pick. Dennis Allen has taken the helm in New Orleans and a new era could be coming. Taysom Hill will be a tight end and the contract Jameis Winston signed doesn’t exactly say “automatic starter.” Just a two-year deal, Winston could be cut after 2022 with less than $12 million in dead cap.
What Willis could bring is a ton of potential. Sitting behind Winston for a bit would allow Willis to adjust and learn the speed of the NFL. He’s already regarded as the top quarterback prospect in this class and going to New Orleans could be a great opportunity for the young gunslinger. He would have the time needed to grow into an NFL quarterback with enough weapons and protection to make the transition smooth.
*Houston Texans send No. 3 to the Atlanta Falcons for No. 8, No. 43, 2023 1st and 2024 2nd
With the New Orleans Saints moving up to two the Atlanta Falcons feel the divisional pressure and move up to three in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Last year, the 49ers spent three firsts and a third to jump from 12 to three. This jump is smaller, so it only takes two firsts and two seconds, plus a second this year is more valuable than a first in a couple years during a rebuild.
For Atlanta, they are at a crossroads. They’ve moved on from Matt Ryan and Calvin Ridley is suspended. Kyle Pitts and Cordarrelle Patterson provide weapons, but this team is going to need more.
At quarterback, Marcus Mariota has upside. However, like Winston, his deal doesn’t scream starter. He could be cut after this season for just $2.5 million in dead cap. That sure leaves the door open for Atlanta to invest in a young quarterback to eventually take over for Mariota.
Pickett will need some time to clean up his game a bit, but his style resembles that of Mariota or Ryan Tannehill. He has an above average arm and can become mobile if needed. That’s the type of future quarterback Arthur Smith is going to want for his offense and that’s why Atlanta could make the move up to ensure they get Pickett.
With the early quarterback frenzy, the New York Jets could be gifted one of the top two players in this draft class in Evan Neal. The Jets have already invested in protecting Zach Wilson. Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker have the left side of the line locked down and they brought in free agent Laken Tomlinson to be the right guard, but George Fant won’t cut it at right tackle.
Neal was the third best prospect at the NFL Combine in terms of grade, but just barely graded better than fellow tackle Ikem Ekwonu. The Jets could go either way, depending on who they evaluate as the better fit, but most are pointing to that being Neal. For a team that is trying to rebuild, Neal is a solid pick with the fourth selection.
Like the New York Jets, the New York Giants need to address protection early in the draft and the run of quarterbacks will benefit them as well. Had Neal been selected earlier, a chain reaction would have followed with the result being the Giants looking for a second tier tackle. Instead, they are able to land a player that was once in the conversation for the top pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Ikem Ekwonu didn’t test too far off of the numbers that Neal was able to put up. Ekwonu was still the fourth-best graded player at the Combine and his Next Gen Stats grade was in the Top 10 as well. With Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Ekwonu can slide into the right tackle spot, somewhere where he should be much more comfortable. Like Neal to the Jets, Ekwonu is a solid selection with the fifth pick and is nearly interchangeable with Neal.
The quarterback craze is spreading through the NFC South and it can be clear to see why. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a scare when Tom Brady fake retired for a few weeks, but the reality is that is coming eventually. The rest of the division can start preparing now for when the Bucs fall and the division is once again up for grabs.
Carolina’s best fit for a quarterback would be Willis, but they simply don’t have the draft capital to make a jump high enough to get him. Instead, they have to sit tight and see what comes to them. While the sixth pick is too high for Desmond Ridder, it’s the price you have to pay to get a quarterback.
Ridder has been battle-tested, that’s not the concern for him, one that often follows non-Power 5 players. For Ridder, it’s consistency. He has the tools to be a strong NFL quarterback, but the mishaps and errors make it hard to see the full picture. With Sam Darnold in Carolina, Ridder won’t be rushed into starting and can take time and advance to starting level.
Holding the fifth and seventh picks, the New York Giants have a good chance of adding two huge pieces to the foundation of this team. They hit the offensive line with their first pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft and move to the other side of the line of scrimmage with this selection.
Taking Ekwonu with their first pick, it isn’t often that a team can land two players that were once considered for the first overall selection, but that’s exactly what the Giants do here. Kayvon Thibodeaux was considered the top prospect in the class before the season.
While Thibodeaux didn’t dominate in 2021, causing him to lose some momentum in the draft process, he was still impressive. Tallying 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks, plus two forced fumbles, isn’t awful by any means. Getting Ekwonu and Thibodeaux in the first would be a drastic upgrade in the trenches for New York.
*Houston Texans received pick from Atlanta Falcons for No. 3
The Houston Texans are currently in a position where they just need to take the best player available with each selection. The trade back allowed them to add assets to accelerate the process, but it’s still going to be a long one. After moving back with Atlanta, they are still able to add a player that has been in the conversation for them at three in Kyle Hamilton.
Hamilton received the top grade at the NFL Combine and has consistently been mentioned among the best players in the 2022 NFL Draft class. While a safety isn’t always the first piece to add in a rebuild, Hamilton’s talent and ceiling is hard to overlook. He will immediately improve this Houston secondary and can grow into one of the best safeties in the league.
With the top three quarterbacks off the board in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, the Seattle Seahawks need to focus on building up this roster for a quarterback down the road. That means adding protection up front. Seattle has consistently struggled year-to-year on the offensive line, but Russell Wilson was able to mask those struggles a bit. Drew Lock won’t be able to do that.
While Charles Cross isn’t on the same level as Neal and Ekwonu, he isn’t bad by any means. He has the tools to be a strong offensive tackle at the NFL level, Neal and Ekwonu are just a bit better. Cross should be a solid option for the Seahawks on the offensive line and one that should hopefully turn the tides of luck when it comes to drafting the line.
The New York teams are really just copying each other at that point, but it makes sense. The two franchises are in similar situations. Like the Giants, the Jets went offensive line with their first pick and now turn to the defensive side of the line with a much needed edge rusher.
Travon Walker has been a name that has been climbing draft boards recently and that really shouldn’t change. It honestly wouldn’t be all that shocking if the Jets take him with the fourth selection. However, a lot of it is hype and that can be sniffed out by scouting departments.
Walker has some growing to do to be at his best, but the ceiling is high. He has the skills needed to be great if he has the right coaching to guide him into that role. Given Robert Saleh’s track record of developing edge rushers in San Francisco, this could be the perfect situation for Walker.
This is becoming an increasingly popular match and it does make sense. The Commanders need to give Carson Wentz the best situation to succeed and adding weapons in the passing game is a need. Not to mention that Washington likes Ohio State receivers (see Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel).
The issue for Washington is that beyond those two former Buckeyes, there are few reliable options to target with a pass and even Samuel isn’t great. With the way this draft is falling, the Commanders can easily grab the first wide receiver off the board at 11 and it’s looking like that will be Garrett Wilson.
Wilson has speed, catch radius and reliable hands that make him a perfect candidate to add to this offense. His route running needs some work, but with so much speed on this offense defenses will just struggle to keep up.
The cornerback situation for the 2022 NFL Draft might be the most confusing cornerback class we’ve had in a long time. Derek Stingley Jr. had an incredible start to his career but fell off over time. Ahmad Gardner has been consistent but maybe hasn’t faced the talent that Stingley has. It’s a tough evaluation.
The athleticism, and overall edge, leans to Gardner. For the Minnesota Vikings, they could very well be the first team to take a corner and here they go the route of the Cincinnati Bearcat.
At 6-foot-3, Gardner is a big and physical cornerback that should play well in the cold conditions of the NFC North. With Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, the toughest wide receiver Minnesota will have to face could end up being D.J. Chark in Detroit. Nevertheless, improving one of the league’s worst pass defenses from last season will be a priority with this selection.
As I said earlier, the Houston Texans are in the midst of a ground-up rebuild. They have Laremy Tunsil on the left side of the offensive line, but they are in need of a right tackle. While Trevor Penning is still a bit raw and will need some work, he has the foundation to be a strong offensive tackle in the NFL.
Penning has a mean streak and aggression that is perfect for an offensive lineman. The downside is he needs to learn to reel it in sometimes. He can draw penalties from it, but the intangibles are there. We witnessed it at the Senior Bowl and again at the combine. He can play and would go a long way to aid this rebuild in Houston up front.
The Baltimore Ravens have been known for their stout defense since moving to Baltimore. With such a deep edge rusher class, at least in the first round, they will have the chance to nab their next great pass rusher with the 14th selection of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Jermaine Johnson should be a name familiar to Last Chance U fans from his days at Independence Community College with Coach Brown. His stats are impressive with 17.5 tackles for loss last year along with 11.5 sacks and that could just be scratching the surface for what he can do.
Johnson is a bit inconsistent, especially in the run, but comparisons to Maxx Crosby show how high of a ceiling he has if placed in the right system with a coaching staff who can design a progression plan for him.
With Ahmad Gardner’s emergence and Derek Stingley Jr. having trouble convincing the public that his drop in stats each season was a fluke, the Philadelphia Eagles could end up with a steal here. After trading away one of their first rounders, the Eagles are down to two picks in the first but getting Stingley takes away some of that sting in the short term.
What Stingley did during his freshman year was impressive. Unfortunately, those stats weren’t sustained. The good news is that the talent is still there. Having him on the same roster as Darius Slay would allow him to learn on the fly and hopefully recoup the talents we saw a few years ago.
*Detroit Lions received from New Orleans Saints for No. 2, send to Kansas City Chiefs with a mid-round pick for No. 29 and No. 30
After trading Tyreek Hill away to the Miami Dolphins, the Kansas City Chiefs pair the first of many picks from the deal with their own first rounder to go up and get the replacement for Hill in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. As for the Detroit Lions, they move back a second time, now holding four first round picks, including three spanning from 29 to 32.
The downside for Jameson Williams is obviously the injury. He’s going to miss at least majority of the 2022 season, if not the entire season, and it’s still unknown what type of player will return. However, his skill set is hard to ignore.
Kansas City had to part ways with Hill for cap reasons. Adding Williams will replace Hill at a cheaper cap hit and with one season, at most, of a hiatus without that level of talent.
The performance by Jordan Davis at the NFL Combine, specifically the 40-yard dash, should be enough to terrify any opposing offensive line, running back and quarterback he faces at the NFL level. The question becomes if he will be able to maintain that level of play every down for the duration of drive. There’s no question that Jordan Davis will be a force, but he might need to prove his ability to stay conditioned enough to play every down.
As for his fit with the Chargers, he would join an already impressive defensive front seven with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack and Jerry Tillery. Davis would plug into the center of the line in rotation with Austin Johnson and Sebastian Joseph-Day. With the pass rush coming from Bosa and Mack, Davis would be entrusted to stopping the run.
With their second pick of the first round, the Philadelphia Eagles stay on the defensive side of the ball in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, but move up front to find an edge rusher in George Karlaftis. With so many edge rushers in the mix and making waves, some are sure to slip through the cracks. Karlaftis could be one.
Karlaftis didn’t have the preseason hype of Thibodeaux or the in-season surge of Hutchinson. He didn’t have the Combine boost of Walker or Johnson. Instead, he’s just been coasting under the radar from the larger conversation. However, he’s right there in the midst of the same conversation as those players.
According to Next Gen Stats, Karlaftis was the third-best defensive end at the NFL Combine behind only Hutchinson and Thibodeaux. If he falls this far, it will be hard for the Eagles, who need a better pass rush after being 31st for sacks, to look away.
*Detroit Lions received from the New Orleans Saints for No. 2
Making your first selection at No. 19 after beginning the draft with the second overall pick means a few things. One, the fan base will probably be a bit upset. Two, you’ve acquired a lot of capital one way or another. For the Lions, that means more picks in this round, draft and future drafts, setting them up well for this rebuild.
The Lions made a few solid additions to their offense already this offseason, which will allow them to look defensively in the 2022 NFL Draft. At this point in the process, that could lead them to cornerback. Jeff Okudah has struggled to stay on the field and while Mike Hughes will help the situation the Lions still need more.
At the NFL Combine, Trent McDuffie tested right in the same range as Gardner and Stingley. He was pinned between them for NFL Combine grades and right below on the Next Gen Stats chart. Having received comparisons to Jaire Alexander, this could be an intriguing add for Detroit in the back half of the first round of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The offensive line in Pittsburgh seems to have taken hit after hit over the last couple seasons and that’s not a great sign when you play in a division with Myles Garrett and possibly now Jermaine Johnson.
Tyler Smith is similar to the offensive line as George Karlaftis is to the defensive line. Smith is a strong player with some areas to clean up, but is flying under the radar. He could play either guard or tackle at the next level and is a bit raw, but the talent is there to groom into whatever the Steelers deem is his best fit.
The New England Patriots are arguably the hardest team to project when it comes to the NFL Draft. Last year’s Mac Jones selection might be the easiest Bill Belichick pick to predict ever. Now, back to business as usual of throwing blind darts and hoping to find something.
One thing that could be something to consider for the Patriots is a ranging linebacker like Devin Lloyd. A tremendous athlete, Lloyd plays an undervalued position in the NFL which will cause him to fall. However, his talent is off the charts. Seems like a pick Belichick would make.
The Patriots added Mack Wilson from Cleveland, but Lloyd is a better player and can take over the role once played by Dont’a Hightower.
At some point the Green Bay Packers have to add weapons for Aaron Rodgers to throw to right? RIGHT? This seems like a point we bring up every year, yet the problem is never addressed. Maybe this is the year with Davante Adams no longer with the team, it will be.
Drake London is a huge target at 6-foot-5 and has the potential to become a really great player. He’s been placed among the comparisons of Mike Evans and Brandon Marshall with his best fit being a vertical offense. If there’s one thing Rodgers knows how to do better than anyone else, it’s the Hail Mary deep ball. London could find himself on the receiving end of a lot of those with his height and skill set.
The Arizona Cardinals have had pretty good luck when it comes to taking defensive backs early. Patrick Peterson, Tyrann Mathieu, Budda Baker and Byron Murphy have all worked out rather well for the organization. Andrew Booth Jr. could be the next one on the list, and is in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Despite the success in finding defensive backs, the Cardinals are once again in need of an upgrade. That’s what happens when you play in a division with high powered offenses like the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
Despite being the third cornerback off the board at this point, Booth has the skill set to be a great NFL player. There’s obviously things to clean up, but the skill foundation should allow him to grow very well over time.
The Dallas Cowboys have been known for their multitude of wide receiver options lately, but the unit took a hit this past offseason. Amari Cooper was traded to the Cleveland Browns and Cedrick Wilson left in free agency. While Dallas was able to re-sign Michael Gallup and add James Washington, they still lack the Cooper-level compliment to CeeDee Lamb.
The Cowboys have needs bigger than wide receiver, but if Chris Olave falls to them it will be hard to pass up. He’s the pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Olave’s speed paired with Lamb will make it very hard for opposing defenses to match up. It would also allow Gallup to stay in his role while James Washington and Olave could possibly split up the duties that Cooper and Wilson had.
The Buffalo Bills have a strong secondary, but some losses could potentially be coming soon that this team will need to prepare for. Jordan Poyer has just one year left on his deal and is turning 31. Micah Hyde has two years left and is also 31. Both could sign an extension, but the fact of the matter is Buffalo needs to start planning for when they are no longer on the roster.
At 6-foot-4, size isn’t a problem for Tariq Woolen. However, he’s a bit raw in the secondary. Originally a wide receiver, Woolen played just two seasons at corner in college, so there’s some maturity at the position he hasn’t had yet. That’s where playing with veterans like Poyer, Hyde and eventually Tre’Davious White when he’s healthy could do wonders for his development.
The Tennessee Titans offense needs to have two playmakers at the wide receiver position and that’s where A.J. Brown plays his best. In college it was Brown and DK Metcalf. Then in Tennessee it was Brown and Corey Davis. When Davis left in free agency the Titans added Julio Jones. While they do have Robert Woods now for that role, they could look for another option in terms of depth.
Treylon Burks fits into the Davis, Jones style of play a bit more than Woods. That doesn’t mean Woods can’t do it, but given the track record of the Titans they could be looking to add a bigger receiver to the mix and move Woods into a position similar to how they used Adam Humphries a few seasons ago.
Standing 6-foot-3, Burks can play the big red zone target role to match Brown’s deep threat and Woods’ slot abilities. All that paired with Derrick Henry makes for one difficult offense to game plan against.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going to need to get younger over the next few drafts. The arrival of Tom Brady brought a lot of veterans to Tampa and it resulted in a Super Bowl victory. However, at some point those veterans will need to be replaced and we’re starting to see that cycle start.
One player in need of replacing on the defensive line is Ndamukong Suh and a player that could do just that is Devonte Wyatt. Wyatt made improvements in 2021 in both the run and the pass, so the progression is there with the hopes of it continuing. In terms of replacing veterans with young talent, this change could be near seamless for the Buccaneers in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The downside of the Green Bay Packers extending Aaron Rodgers is the cap casualties that had to result. One of those was losing Za’Darius Smith from the pass rush. Smith played just one game in 2021, but that doesn’t mean his impact won’t be missed. He tallied at least 12.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons in Green Bay.
Boye Mafe played outdoors in Minnesota. He should be able to handle playing in Green Bay no problem. The Minnesota-native has received comparisons to Rashan Gary, so it would make sense that he could now become his teammate on this Green Bay defense.
Between Mafe and London, Green Bay could escape the first round with two players that immediately address, and fill, the losses they sustained from extending Rodgers.
*Detroit Lions received pick from Kansas City Chiefs for No. 16
After trading back with the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit Lions end up with not only back-to-back picks in the first round, but three of the last four. That means if someone is looking to move up for a quarterback and get the fifth year option, the Lions have plenty of options to let a team do that.
However, here the Lions log their own quarterback with a fifth year option in Matt Corral. I didn’t think Jared Goff was bad in Detroit, but being average isn’t going to keep a quarterback job in the NFL. With so many picks late, the Lions can easily add Corral while not jeopardizing their rebuild.
Corral could use time to sit for a season and Goff would provide that in Detroit. Going this late in the first there wouldn’t be pressure to immediately produce and he still has the extra year to prove himself. This is a win-win for both sides of the pick.
*Detroit Lions received pick from Kansas City Chiefs for No. 16
With quarterback taken care of, the Lions can turn their attention back to the defense with this pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. They already took Trent McDuffie with the 19th pick and now they return to the secondary, this time with a safety, cornerback hybrid.
Daxton Hill had a knack for finding the ball at Michigan, registering eight passes defended in 2021 alone. He also was able to play the hybrid safety role well, tallying 4.5 tackles for loss and totaling 69 tackles on the season.
Hill could be a safety or slot corner with the ability to play in the box if needed. Being right in Detroit’s backyard, this could be a fan favorite pick to remove some of the sour taste from trading back so many times and then also taking a quarterback.
Like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cincinnati Bengals entered this offseason needing to upgrade their offensive line. However, most of those upgrades have already been made via free agency. Ted Karras, Alex Cappa and La’el Collins all joined in free agency and will bring a new look to this Cincy offense that already has Super Bowl experience.
Those free agency additions will allow the Bengals to move to the defensive side of the ball with this pick and add a player to the secondary in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. The offensive fire power is increasing in the AFC North and the Bengals have to be ready.
A press corner, Roger McCreary can be incredibly disruptive when playing close to a receiver, something that will come in handy against Amari Cooper twice a year. He will need to improve his ability against taller receivers, being 5-foot-11, but that can come with experience.
*Detroit Lions send No. 32 and a late round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for No. 40 and No. 41
Like I said, the Detroit Lions have plenty of picks to trade away if someone wants a fifth year option for a quarterback. Trading back once again, this deal gives the Lions seven picks in the first 50 with three firsts and four seconds, not to mention additional picks in future drafts. Quite the foundation for a rebuild.
As for Seattle, trading two second round picks to get a fifth year option on a potential quarterback of the future is well worth that price. Drew Lock isn’t their long-term solution, but adding a quarterback late in the first could be. They add protection early in the draft, now they add the arm.
Sam Howell lost some of his momentum during the 2021 season and could trickle down the draft boards. His interceptions increased and touchdowns deceased this past season, but the talent is still there.
Howell has received comparisons to Chase Daniel, which isn’t great for his starting outlook. However, Daniel has been good enough to remain one of the premier backup quarterbacks in the NFL for over a decade. Seattle will want a starter obviously, though, and Howell will have the chance to compete for that job as a Seahawk.
Moving into the second round of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, this is a point where movement could happen but it will all depend on who’s left after the first round. Teams will have about 20 hours to think over who is out there and the price to go get first round talent that has fallen into the second. However, in this case the teams at the top of the second have needs to address.
Jacksonville was able to go with Hutchinson in the first thanks to their work on the free agent market on the offensive line, but now they can add a secure center to this group. With Robinson and Scherff, Tyler Linderbaum can move into the center of this line and provide what could be the final piece to the puzzle. Regarded as the best interior lineman in this draft, getting Linderbaum in the second is a true steal.
This is the first pick that the Detroit Lions walked into this 2022 NFL Mock draft with and aren’t trading away. Although, those trades have given them four picks in this second round. The first they use on a first round talent who will have to miss time.
Tearing his Achilles at his Pro Day, David Ojabo will certainly drop down draft boards. With a top heavy edge rusher class, there’s a good chance he falls out of the first round. If that’s the case, the Lions need to jump at this opportunity.
Cam Akers proved this season that an Achilles injury can be recovered from in less than a year, even less than a season. There’s a chance Ojabo could be back by the end of the 2022 season. For Detroit, who needs help in their pass rush, Ojabo is a bargain price here. While he will miss some time to start, he’s still going to be a Top 10 talent when he returns to full health.
After taking offensive and defensive line in the first round, the New York Jets move to the secondary in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. With the offensive fire power in the AFC East now with the Miami Dolphins adding Tyreek Hill, the Buffalo Bills having Stefon Diggs and the New England Patriots trading for DeVante Parker, the Jets will need to upgrade their secondary.
At 6-foot-2, Lewis Cine has the size to matchup with Parker and Diggs, but he won’t be able to keep up with Hill just yet, but a 4.37 40-yard dash is on the right track. This past season, Cine logged 72 tackles and nine passes defended. That versatility to make tackles and plays on the ball will be key in the AFC East.
If the New York Giants want to give Daniel Jones a fair shot at proving himself and keep Saquon Barkley healthy, they will need to upgrade their offensive line. While getting Ekwonu in the first will clearly help the cause, the Giants are in need of more than one lineman.
Zion Johnson is built like a tackle, but at 6-foot-3 should translate to a guard in the NFL. With Andrew Thomas and Ekwonu as the tackles, Johnson can move inside for a better fit with the Giants. Johnson and Ekwonu could reshape this offensive line and drastically improve the offense.
The Houston Texans just reached an extension with Brandin Cooks which will help their wide receiver room, but they are going to need more than just Cooks. Addressing the offensive line in the first round, as well as the secondary, can allow the Texans to take a first round talent in Jahan Dotson in the early second round of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Figuring out how to rank this wide receiver class will be a tall task for any front office. There’s a lot of potential across the board and finding the players that could pan out the best will be tough. Receiving comparisons to Emmanuel Sanders, Dotson has the ability to do a little bit of every thing. He can be a deep threat or slot and make plays all over the field. For a team like Houston, who is in need of playmakers, this would be a nice fit in the second round.
As I said just a few picks ago, the New York Jets are going to need a strong secondary to stop the other teams around the AFC East. Lewis Cine was a good starting point, but more talent will be needed from this draft class.
Kaiir Elam put together a great 2020 season and while 2021 wasn’t quite as good, he was still impressive. The big stat for Elam is his passes defended. He was able to log 11 in 2020 over 12 games before having another five in 10 games this past season. If that level of production can translate to the NFL, that would be a huge addition to the Jets’ secondary.
Bernhard Raimann is an interesting prospect to evaluate. He has the prototypical NFL offensive lineman frame, but he is still very raw. He moved to the offensive line during the pandemic and has picked up the position well, but there isn’t a ton of experience to go off of at this point.
For the Bears, a team without a first round pick, Raimann could be a high ceiling player to take in the second of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Scouts have raved about how quickly he has learned the position, moving over from tight end, and that growth should continue.
With a mobile quarterback in Justin Fields, Raimann’s athleticism should seal the deal on the Bears’ taking him here if he is still on the board.
*Detroit Lions received from the Seattle Seahawks for No. 32
The Detroit Lions ranked 30th in the NFL for sacks a season ago, so investing in the defensive line and pass rush will be a focal point this offseason. Earlier this round the Lions added David Ojabo to their line and here they add another player with borderline first round talent to the defensive line mix.
Perrion Winfrey measured at the NFL Combine as 6-foot-4 290. With that frame he can play on the end of a 3-4 defense or in the middle of a 4-3. What makes him a good fit for Detroit is his ability to get into the backfield. During the 2021 season, Winfrey tallied 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Pairing that with Ojabo, eventually, should provide a strong boost to the Detroit pass rush.
* Detroit Lions received from the Seattle Seahawks for No. 32
Linebackers might be the hardest position in this draft class to evaluate. It’s an undervalued position in the current NFL landscape and there are a lot of players that have showcased their talent to be at a high level. In this case, Chad Muma might have the edge to be the second off the board, and he is in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Alex Anzalone will be back in Detroit, but the loss of Jalen Reeves-Maybin will be felt on the defensive side of the ball. While Chad Muma might not turn heads, his stats make it clear why Detroit could be drawn to him.
In 2021 alone, Muma tallied 142 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three interceptions and two touchdowns. He can not only do a little bit of everything, but he can do it well. The 142 tackles are enough to create interest and the eight tackles for loss could seal the deal in convincing this Detroit front office.
At some point the Indianapolis Colts are going to need a long-term plan at quarterback. They’ve continuously gone the veteran route, shifting from one season of Philip Rivers to one season of Carson Wentz and now to Matt Ryan. Eventually a plan for the future will need to be established.
Carson Strong possesses a cannon of an arm that could be very intriguing to the Indianapolis Colts brass. He has a high football IQ and should play a similar game to that of Mac Jones. He lacks mobility due to a knee injury from high school that has lingered a bit, but the talent is clearly there. If he can sit behind Ryan and learn for a season before taking over, the Colts would be set for a lot longer than just a year with another veteran.
*Houston Texans received from the Atlanta Falcons for No. 3
The rushing attack of the Houston Texans is currently a hodgepodge of names that could maybe combine to form something. Marlon Mack and Dare Ogunbowale joined in free agency to a group that includes Rex Burkhead and Royce Freeman. If the Texans have the opportunity to add a running back without sacrificing too much draft capital in the process, they should take it.
Being a pick they acquired from the Atlanta Falcons, this could be that opportunity. At the NFL Combine, Breece Hall was one of just two players to receive a 99 score on the Next Gen Stats grading system. The other was Tyler Linderbaum. If Hall is that explosive and dangerous, he could be an incredible weapon to add to this Houston offense.
The Cleveland Browns have been one of the most active teams this offseason. Amari Cooper, Deshaun Watson and Chase Winovich headline what has been a long list of moves by this organization. However, one area that has yet to be fully addressed is the interior of the defensive line.
Taven Bryan was added to the mix, but even with his arrival Cleveland still has just three defensive tackles on the roster with Tommy Togiai and Jordan Elliott being the others. That will need to change.
It will be a bit of a shock at this point if Travis Jones falls this far, but if he does Cleveland can’t pass on him. Jones has been accredited with being a standout on a poor defense, so it can only be imagined what he might be able to do next to Myles Garrett. He needs to improve his hand usage, but working with Garrett and others should help bring him along.
The Baltimore Ravens had the best run defense in the NFL last season. However, they lost pieces of that line in Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams and others. While Baltimore could look to areas that may need more immediate help, retooling the defensive line could be worth it in the AFC North with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
Phidarian Mathis has some growing to do. He’s still a bit raw and playing on a stout Alabama defense can allow players to hide some shortcomings with the amount of talent on that side of the ball. However, he has the abilities to become a defensive anchor in the middle of the defensive line.
The Minnesota defense has been upgraded this offseason. There’s no questioning that. Za’Darius Smith, Harrison Phillips and Jordan Hicks have all been added. One area that hasn’t been adjusted too much is the secondary.
The Vikings added Ahmad Gardner in the first round, an incredible addition with 12th pick, and can continue in the secondary here. Jaquan Brisker graded well at the Combine and could arguably be the second-best safety in this class. He has a versatile skill set and will need to work on a few “rookie mistakes” that could happen if they aren’t addressed, but the ground work is there for a productive NFL player.
The offensive line in Washington took a hard hit when Brandon Scherff left in free agency. There’s options that could maybe suffice, but if the Commanders get the chance to take one of the better guards in this class they should do so.
Kenyon Green tested well at the Combine and his tape shows promise for a transition to the NFL. He’s been compared to Richie Incognito and should be a force up front, especially in the run game. Between Garrett Wilson in the first and Green here, Washington is putting the pieces in place for Carson Wentz to have success.
Before you continue reading, pause and try to think of a wide receiver on the Chicago Bears other than Darnell Mooney. Did you think of any? Did Byron Pringle or Equanimeous St. Brown come to mind? Maybe Dazz Newsome? That should be enough to illustrate the need for wide receivers in Chicago.
If the Bears want Justin Fields to be their quarterback they need to protect him and provide more weapons. They added offensive line earlier in the round and now get a weapon in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
While Fields and George Pickens didn’t overlap at Georgia, the recruiting process would have so there could be a bit of chemistry in the works. Pickens played in just four games in 2021, so his health will be a concern, but the talent is there.
* Detroit Lions received from the New Orleans Saints for No. 2
The offensive firepower of the Detroit Lions needs some work, although it isn’t awful. D’Andre Swift had a solid season and Amon-Ra St. Brown showed promise. T.J. Hockenson is still good when healthy and who knows what the combination of D.J. Chark and Josh Reynolds can provide in a full season. However, you can’t have too many weapons.
Standing 6-foot-4, Christian Watson would bring more size to this wide receiver room that already added Chark this offseason at the same height. Watson can pair that size with explosiveness as well. Where he will need to improve is timing his jumps and changing direction, but the pure talent of Watson is worth the look.
The Kansas City Chiefs have done a good job of maintaining a pass rush over the last few seasons. Whether it was Dee Ford, Frank Clark or someone else, there has consistently been an edge presence. However, Clark is supposed to see a massive increase in salary after this season. For a team that just moved Tyreek Hill for cap issues, perhaps the Chiefs will hedge their bets and make a move for a successor at the position now.
Coming out of USC, Drake Jackson has been consistent but not otherworldly. In a deep class, that has caused him to shuffle down boards a bit. However, he still was able to tally 25 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks over 27 career games at USC. This seems like the typical bargain second-round pick and one that Andy Reid will be sure to find.
With their third pick in the first two rounds of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles stay on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles lost Rodney McLeod and Steven Nelson this offseason, so an early double dip in the secondary wouldn’t be all that shocking.
Jalen Pitre has all the tools to be a great player. He’s been praised for his competitive drive, locker room presence and football IQ. The reason he drops this far is for lack of tape. Pitre played 14 games in 2021, but totaled just 20 over the previous three seasons. Luckily, his stats show promise.
Pitre had a knack for getting into the backfield, registering 29.5 tackles for loss over his last 25 games at Baylor. Over that time he added nine passes defended, six sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumbles recovered. He can do just about everything and should translate to a solid hybrid safety in the NFL.
Kyler Gordon seems like a perfect pick for Mike Tomlin. There’s a lot to like about Gordon and he has a high ceiling, but there’s some areas that will clearly need work. He’s probably best as a nickel for now, but can grow into a starting cornerback and that’s what Tomlin can work on.
Gordon has a high motor and is very athletic, but will need to work on his ball skills a bit before he can go one-on-one with the NFL’s best. Some of that will be learning the position through coaching, some will be through experience. Regardless, Gordon has potential that Pittsburgh seems to always tap into when it comes to young players.
Another linebacker in this class that will go below his value is Nakobe Dean. A player that can get all over the field and do a multitude of things, Dean should be a great value pick for whoever takes him to join their defense. In this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, it’s the Green Bay Packers.
Dean tallied at least 70 tackles in each of his last two seasons at Georgia and upgraded his ability to get into the backfield in 2021, registering 10.5 tackles for loss. Of all the linebackers at the Combine, Dean tested the best of the bunch and has received comparisons to Devin Bush. It’s honestly incredible that he could potentially fall this far.
The New England Patriots were originally rumored to be a team to watch for Jameson Williams, but the addition of DeVante Parker should eliminate those thoughts. However, it doesn’t take New England out of the running for a wide receiver during the 2022 NFL Draft.
John Metchie III already has experience playing with Mac Jones from Alabama and the results were pretty good, going for over 900 receiving yards and six scores. Those numbers increased this past season to over 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Adding both Parker and Metchie would be a tremendous upgrade for this wide receiver room in New England and give Jones plenty of weapons.
There are going to be a ton of edge rushers going in the first two rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. There is just so much talent in this class and it’s hard to decipher who’s better than who from the group. Another name that has been gaining momentum is Arnold Ebiketie.
Transferring from Temple to Penn State for the 2021 season, Ebiketie not only didn’t miss a beat, but more than doubled his numbers. With the Nittany Lions, Ebiketie logged 18 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks off the edge.
He might need to add a bit more power to his game to be consistently effective at the NFL level, but the foundation is there for Ebiketie to be a problem for NFL offensive lines.
Where Quay Walker falls in the 2022 NFL Draft is going to be a mystery until it happens. Some have him as the top linebacker on their boards, others have him outside the top five. It’ll be really hard to pinpoint which team might reach for him and at what time.
A team that could be in the mix is Dallas. The Cowboys saw a lot of production out of Micah Parsons, but Leighton Vander Esch has struggled to stay healthy and is on only a one-year deal. Vander Esch played in all 17 games last season, but missed 13 games between the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Playing next to Nakobe Dean, we don’t really know the full potential of Walker. Dean was all over the field, so what Walker did was limited to what was left. In Dallas, he might be able to showcase that potential, but the Cowboys also know he should gel well with Parsons and play off him the way he did Dean.
The Buffalo Bills lost their starting right tackle this offseason and while they could look to slide Cody Ford over from guard, the signing of Rodger Saffold to take his spot at guard doesn’t exactly bode well for Ford’s future. If Buffalo truly is looking for options on the line, this could be a good spot to grab competition in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft with upside.
Sean Rhyan didn’t have the best Combine, which could hurt his stock, but he does have three years of left tackle experience at UCLA. His skill set could allow him to be either a guard or a tackle in the NFL, giving Buffalo versatility up front. He will have to clean some things up, especially false starts, but there’s a lot of potential here.
The Atlanta Falcons offense is in shambles. Kyle Pitts had an average rookie season, but not what the hype was expecting. Calvin Ridley is suspended. Russell Gage left in free agency to division rival Tampa Bay. Cordarrelle Patterson looked promising, but was it a fluke? Now, Marcus Mariota is coming in as a bridge quarterback.
If Atlanta wants to have any sort of offensive success, they are going to need to add weapons. Pitts alone isn’t going to cut it. Skyy Moore comes from Western Michigan where he put up over 1,300 all-purpose yards and scored 10 times in 2021.
Now, Moore won’t be a deep threat, but would provide a solid check down option or slot receiver in Atlanta. With his catching ability, Moore could become a young quarterback’s best friend as a security blanket underneath.
With four picks in the first two rounds, the Green Bay Packers have a lot to work with early in the 2022 NFL Draft. They addressed needs with the first three picks and while interior defensive line is a need, they can reach a bit with this selection in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
DeMarvin Leal has a lot of potential, but it’s going to take the ideal situation to tap into it. Leal could be either a 3-4 end or a 4-3 tackle and there doesn’t seem to be a clear cut best option for him. He also didn’t do too well against some of the top tackles in the SEC, like Evan Neal and Charles Cross.
Those concerns are why Leal is a bit of a reach here, but if he can fall into place in the NFL he has a lot of potential. That’s the gamble the Packers would take here and they have the draft capital to feel comfortable doing so.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive line took another hit this offseason. They were able to bring back Ryan Jensen, but lost Alex Cappa and Ali Marpet at both guard positions. Tampa was able to bring in Shaq Mason to fill one spot, but the other is up for grabs.
Like Sean Rhyan, Darian Kinnard could be a guard or tackle at the NFL level. He was a three-year starter at tackle for Kentucky, but will most likely slide to guard in the NFL. His strength is in pass blocking, which would be good news for the Bucs. The one question would be if him or Mason go to the left side of the line.
This will end up being the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft for the San Francisco 49ers, barring a trade, and it essentially is a high third round pick when you look at the talent available. The 49ers are going to need to matchup with the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals powerhouse offenses, so adding pieces to the defense could be the route to go.
Martin Emerson has good size at 6-foot-2, but lacks the stats to back it up. He’s good against the release and is good against the deep ball, but there’s still work to be done. His interception numbers leave a lot to be desired given his other skills. Luckily, the “mistakes” are small and easy to change in time.
Derion Kendrick has been all over the place in his college career. He started as a wide receiver at Clemson, then moved to cornerback and eventually transferred to Georgia. Now, he’s looking at jumping to the NFL.
Kendrick showed an ability to get a hand on the ball in college, knocking away 14 passes defended over three seasons, but he didn’t have a ton of interceptions, that is until this year. Kendrick used his former wide receiver skills to snag four picks.
The concern for him is off the field. He was arrested in March 2021 on drug and gun charges, but they were later expunged. He was later dismissed from Clemson after spring practices. Andy Reid has taken chances like this before, see Tyreek Hill, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him do it again here.
The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of weapons at the wide receiver position, but they lost one of their tight ends this offseason in C.J. Uzomah. Now, they did bring in Hayden Hurst, but there’s still the opportunity for an upgrade and with the 2022 NFL Draft’s top tight end still on the board late in the second round, they could find an answer.
Trey McBride wasn’t a red zone target at Colorado State, surprisingly. He had just one touchdown in 2021. What he did have, though, was over 1,100 yards receiving. As a tight end. That’s simply absurd, especially when you throw in the fact that he played in just 12 games.
If McBride is still on the board for Cincinnati, he will be very hard to ignore. Adding him to Joe Burrow’s weaponry is a scary thought in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The Denver Broncos sent a lot of picks to the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson, but they hang on to this one to close out the second round. While Denver already has Patrick Surtain II, Ronald Darby and K’waun Williams at corner, they could benefit from adding Cam Taylor-Britt here.
Taylor-Britt is a versatile defensive back that has played both corner and safety in college. He didn’t log a ton of interceptions, but was able to make plays on the ball other ways, having 11 passes defended in 2021 alone.
Finding a fit for Taylor-Britt could be a challenge, but if anything he is a great depth piece with potential to grow into more for the Broncos.