We finally made it. Its draft day, and with no shortage of rumors, we took a stab at what we think the first round could look like. Buckle up, as were in for a wild ride during the 2022 NFL Draft.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars, Travon Walker EDGE Georgia: I did it, I broke my number one rule. Don’t believe any rumors draft week. I really firmly believed this was going to be Aidan Hutchinson until this week, where there is a ton of buzz around Walker going #1. The Jaguars gain nothing by setting smokescreens, unless there trying to flush out leaks. My bet is they are actually trending towards this decision, and are enticed by the high floor Walker’s athleticism offers.
2. Detroit Lions, Aidan Hutchinson EDGE Michigan: The Michigan native gets to come home. Hutchinson, after being the presumptive number one pick-favorite all draft season ends up going number two. Campbell does back flips all the way to podium as they get the do-it-all, freaky athletic wolverine to bolster the d-line.
3. Houston Texans, Ahmad Gardner CB Cincinnati: Sauce Gardner is the prototypical NFL Cornerback. He has size(6’3 190lbs), speed (4.41 forty), and collegiate production (First Team All-American). The Houston football team needs really good players, and Sauce is one of the best in the entire draft class.
4. New York Jets, Ikem Ekownu OL NC State: The best run blocker in the draft comes off the board to one of the teams that will be able to maximize his talents. With Mekhi Becton, Laken Tomlinson, and Alijah Vera-Tucker already in the lineup, Ekwonu can compete with George Fant for the RT position. Worst case, this pick can help build strength on the interior as the Jets continue to provide support for Zach Wilson.
5. New York Giants, Charles Cross OT Mississippi State:Cross has been a big time riser as he goes as OT2 in this mock. He is a savvy pass blocker in the pass-heavy air raid system that Leach runs. He is the blind side protector that New York is craving to finally surround Daniel Jones with the protection he has lacked.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (via Carolina), Malik Willis QB Liberty: Malik is widely talked about as being Tomlin’s guy in this draft, but I don’t think he is going to be able to sit back and let him fall to him. They’re going to need an aggressive move to get their guy of the future, and Carolina is going to need draft capital as they are seriously lacking in this year’s draft. Pittsburgh sends their 1st & 2nd picks this year, in addition to a first next year. This supplies them with some immediate picks in addition to future capital if Rhule is let go.
7. New York Giants, Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE Oregon: There has been a ton of buzz around KT’s love of the game, effort, and projection at the NFL level, almost none of it positive. I’m here to say that most of it is false, and that the New York Giants are getting the draft’s best player at a discount that they desperately need.
8. New Orleans Saints (via Atlanta Falcons) Desmond RidderQB Cincinnati: I know this trade may not be likely, but I’m hoping with GM Terry Fontenot’s ties to New Orleans that they can pull this one off. New Orleans stockpiled capital to make a move exactly like this one, leap frogging Seattle who may have been looking to move on Ridder. They trade up and get their QB of the future that checks every box as a leader and gives their offense the dynamism they wanted when they played Taysom Hill. Atlanta has a huge rebuild ahead, and this helps them jumpstart it.
9. Seattle Seahawks, Evan Neal OL Alabama: The QB’s going early have pushed a blue chipper to the Seahawks at a position they desperately need. They elected to not bring back Duane Brown, leaving a hole on the O-Line. Evan Neal is the most complete and versatile offensive lineman in this draft and Pete Carroll and company should be sprinting the card in at this point.
10. New York Jets, Derek Stingley CB LSU: New York Jets may not be making this selection come draft night, but as it stands now they hold the tenth pick. They really, really want to go playmaker here but Stingley at this point is just way too good to pass up, at a position they really need help at. Stingley can play just about any scheme, and Salah will lovehim as an additional chess piece.
11. Washington Commanders, Kyle Hamilton S Notre Dame: It’s a tragedy we see Hamilton fall out of the top ten, but it may be in his best interest. Playing in Washington, he’ll have one of the best front 7’s and get a ton of good looks in the passing game. He brings a versatile chess piece that Ron Riveria will be salivating over on Sunday’s.
12. Minnesota Vikings, Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State: Wide receiver is not a huge need for Minnesota, but it appears they are back in on Kirk Cousins so why not supply him with as many targets as possible? Wilson is a favorite among the draft community and draws some parallels to Justin Jefferson in 2020. This move makes Thielen expendable in the near future to clear some cap space as well.
13. Houston Texans, Devin Lloyd LB Utah: The draft community is torn on Devin Lloyd. They know he is a big-time playmaker, but half believes he a shoo in first rounder and the other doesn’t believe in first round LB’s. I believe Caserio’s history in New England will value defensive leaders at the second level, and Lovie Smith will love getting a big-time linebacker like he had in Chicago (see Urlacher, Briggs).
14. Baltimore Ravens, Jermaine Johnson EDGE Florida State: After failing to bring Z’darious Smith back home, the Ravens look to fill a need with Johnson who was another big pre-draft riser. After receiving a ton of top ten buzz, Jermaine Johnson finds a much more reasonable selection where he’ll join a system that has a big time reputation of developing pass rushers.
15. Philadelphia Eagles, Jameson Williams WR Alabama: Its no secret that Raegor has been a disappointment for the birds. Rather than electing pass, they go back to the receiver well and get a different speedster. Albeit, Williams is more than a deep threat making him much more valuable despite his knee injury.
16. Atlanta Falcons (via New Orleans Saints), Chris OlaveWR Ohio State: The Falcons move down, netting draft capital, and still get a big-time target to pair with Kyle Pitts. The Atlanta receiver room is one of the more pitiful in the league and Olave is ready to go day one, and very comparable to suspended Calvin Ridley. This also gives the team insurance in the event they move on from Ridley in the near future.
17. Los Angeles Chargers, Jordan Davis IDL Georgia: Jordan Davis has been one of my favorite players to watch as a prospect. His game-wrecking style is easily translatable in the run game. His impact on the passing game will be up in the air, but luckily the Chargers have a huge hole to fill in their front seven defending the run.
18. Philadelphia Eagles, Trent McDuffie CB Washington: The Washington Corner run continues, as Mcduffie follows in the steps of former huskies going in the first round. He has less than ideal size, but that does not scare the Eagles based on former players. He has inside-outside versatility and fills a position of need for the birds.
19. Atlanta Falcons (via New Orleans Saints), George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue: The EDGE position for the Falcons has been abysmal in recent years, and with the rebuild under way they get a piece that can help now. Karlaftis is not a high ceiling double digit sack player, but is a very hard-nosed run defender that can create a lot of pressures. He’s a great fit, and player to start building a defense around.
20. Carolina Panthers (via Pittsburgh Steelers), Trevor Penning OT Northern Iowa: Carolina has been a turnstile at OT for the better part of the last few years. Insert Trevor Penning. He’s a mauler with a mean streak, who will need some work but is a better option than they have currently. In my opinion, the Panthers will look fill QB room using some additional capital they received from the Steelers with a certain veteran who is disgruntled in Ohio (eyes emoji).
21. New England Patriots, Kaiir Elam CB Florida: The Patriots continue to do Patriot like things and get a lanky man coverage specialist that fits the Belicheck scheme. Elam has been often overlooked in my opinion this draft cycle, butfinds a suitable home that can utilize his strengths.
22. Green Bay Packers, Kenyon Green IOL Texas A&M: Packers do not value WR in the first round, so do not be shocked when we don’t mock one in the first round. Green shows the position versatility that Green Bay loves in O-lineman. Jenkins looks to have found a new home at Right Tackle, so that leaves a hole inside amongst other recent draft picks who Green should supplant.
23. Arizona Cardinals, Drake London WR USC: With Christian Kirk cashing in with Jacksonville, and the Cardinals loving multiple wide receiver sets, we see a big need at Kingsbury’s favorite position. Even with the return of AJ Green, Drake London should see snaps in the “Kirk” role and make it easier to move on from Green next season. Keeping Kyler Murray happy will go a long way, and more playmakers never hurts.
24. Dallas Cowboys, Zion Johnson IOL Boston College: Connor Williams departing via free agency has left a hole in the Cowboys offensive line. Johnson is a high floor prospect that can also play center if Dallas prefers him over Biadez. The urge to go receiver here was high, but positional need wins out.
25. Buffalo Bills, Andrew Booth CB Clemson: Buffalo has a history of taking only premier postions in the first round. With a ton of depth in the trenches, they turn their heads to skill positions. They currently have a hole at cornerback at Booth, when healthy can be their answer opposite Tredavious White.
26. Tennessee Titans, Treylon Burks WR Arkansas: One pick I can’t seem to get away from is Burks to Tennessee. He seems like the perfect hard nosed player to join Vrabel’s squad, while also filling a need at receiver. If they elect to move on from AJ Brown, he also provides a similar skillset to fill that role amongst others.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daxton Hill S Michigan: Another pick that just makes way too much sense is Hill to the Bucs. With the departure of Whitehead, they have a hole on the defensive side of the ball. Hill is the perfect coverage weapon that allows Winfield to do what he does best, everything.
28. Green Bay Packers, Logan Hall IDL Houston: I seen JustisMosqueda make this selection on the NFL Stock Exchange show, and I thought to myself, “why not?” I loved Hall’s tape, and his combiniation of height/weight/speed is something that Green Bay covets. This is vintage, back-end of the first round reach we see the Packers make year in and year out, and more times than not it pans out.
29. Kansas City Chiefs, Jahan Dotson WR Penn State: Chiefs would like to trade up to get one of the big name speed players, but moving in to the top half of the draft may be too expensive. Also, it takes two to tango and after moving back once in this draft, picks this year may not be as interesting. Regardless, Chiefs get another dynamic playmaker who has surprising ball skills for a player sub-six foot.
30. Seattle Seahawks (via Kansas City), Kenny Pickett QB Pittsburgh: At this point in the draft, a trade up using their day two capital is worth the risk. Seattle gets the fifth yearoption on Pickett to come in and compete with Drew Lock and Geno Smith right away. If not, they can sit back and let him develop (not needed as much). This is a low cost move, to help shore up a week QB room in Seattle. Kansas City moves back after striking out trying to move up.
31. Cincinnati Bengals, Tyler Smith OL Tulsa: The Super Bowl runners up have a need on the offensive line and that’s no secret. Smith profiles as developmental tackle, that you can play inside until he’s ready to prosper. Getting Burrow help up front needs to priority number one now that they have playmakers outside.
32. Detroit Lions, Sam Howell QB North Carolina: My QB1 comes off the board finally and finds the perfect home for his style of play. Howell’s gutsy play in 2021 perfect matches the grit that Detroit is looking for. They snag him in the first round to get a fifth year option, and if they want him to sit for another year behind Goff they have the luxury. Another high-upside pick, where the team is betting on getting the QB that showed off a prolific arm in 2020, but a ton of toughness in 2021 with less supporting cast.
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