NFL Mock Draft 2022: This Is Where The Top Prospects Should Land
With the NFL season long finished, the next big event for the league is the NFL Draft. Held every year in April, it serves as an opportunity for all 32 franchises to ignite their fanbases with hope.
Which of the big defensive lineman will get taken first overall? What prospected sneak into the first round from obscurity? Read on to find out who we predict gets taken on April 28!
Where Will The Biggest Names Land?
The transition from college to the NFL is one of the most exciting times in a young football player's life. If they've excelled at their position, like Aidan Hutchinson or Evan Neal, then millions of dollars are coming their way.
While a QB usually gets taken first, the class this year is considered weak, really opening up the first round for some bis surprises.
With The 1st Pick, The Jacksonville Jaguars Select Aidan Hutchinson - EDGE
After drafting Trevor Lawrence with the first overall pick in the draft last year, then adding a RB later in the first round, the Jaguars need an offensive lineman. Lawrence was under siege behind the line as a rookie, and if Jacksonville wants him to be their future, they won't wait around.
Jacksonville also has a ton of cap space, which they'll spend in free agency on o-line, which is why we're guessing they go defense with this pick and nab Aiden Hutchinson out of Michigan - a force on the EDGE.
With The 2nd Pick, The Detroit Lions Select Kayvon Thibodeaux - EDGE
Football games are won in the trenches, and the Detroit Lions didn't have good trench play in 2021. If the QB class was better, we could see them nabbing Jared Goff's replacement here, but it isn't, so they grab the next best EDGE player in the draft - Kayvon Thibodeaux out of Oregon.
The bottom line is the Lions lack talent in a lot of places, so when they decide who to take here, they should start building from the trenches outward, and Thibodeaux is a can't miss prospect.
With The 3rd Pick, The Houston Texans Select Evan Neal - Offensive Line
The Houston Texans seem set at QB with Davis Mills breaking out late last season. That's good news, because with this pick they can take one of the best o-line prospects in a long time with Evan Neal out of Alabama.
As hard as it is to believe, the Texans are set up for success on their rebuild on the fly after previous issues at QB and head coach came to a head after the 2020 season.
With The 4th Pick, The New York Jets Select - Ikem Ekwonu - Offensive Line
In the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets grabbed their franchise QB with Zach Wilson. In 2022, we expect them to take offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu with the 4th overall pick to protect him.
Wilson had a rookie year filled with injuries. This might not be the most exciting move, but it is the smartest for the team.
With The 5th Pick, The New York Giants Select Charles Cross - Offensive Line
The fifth straight pick to go to the trenches, the New York Giants grab Charles Cross here, an offensive lineman coming out of Mississippi State.
The Giants have already made it clear that they plan to stick with Daniel Jones at QB, even with a new head coach in town. Now they need to keep him standing, one of the biggest problems the team has had since drafting him.
With The 6th Pick, The Carolina Panthers Select Malik Willis - QB
The biggest rising star of the 2022 QB draft class is easily Liberty stud Malik Willis. The Panthers have two choices here - continue the Sam Darnold experiment at QB, or grab the best prospect in the draft.
While it might be a reach to see any QB in this class taken in the top-10, Willis is such a high ceiling player that the Panthers "shoot their shot."
With The 7th Pick, The New York Giants (Via Chicago) Select Devin Lloyd - LB
With the Giants' second pick in the first round, they grab a shiny new toy for new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and take Devin Lloyd out of Utah. The explosive linebacker will give the team an instant upgrade at the position.
Lloyd would also likely wear the headset from day one, earning the trust of his coaches as the instant leader of the defense.
With The 8th Pick, The Atlanta Falcons Select Ahmad Gardner - CB
The Atlanta Falcons would love to pick the successor to Matt Ryan right here, but the right fit was Malik Willis, and he's gone. Knowing they have a gaping hole at cornerback, the team does the next best thing and takes Ahmad Gardner here.
With any luck, this pick gives the Falcons and week one starting lockdown corner.
With The 9th Pick, The Seattle Seahawks (Via Denver) Select Jordan Davis - DL
The Seattle Seahawks are in desperate need of a defensive lineman, and Jordan Davis just ran a 4.78 40-yard-dash at 341 pounds. When you have to play mobile quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Trey Lance each twice a year, speed coming out of the trenches is a big deal.
This might not be the player the Seahawks were hoping to get when they traded Russell Wilson to the Broncos, but he might be the player they need.
With The 10th Pick, The New York Jets (Via Seattle) Select Garrett Wilson - WR
Now that the Jets grabbed some protection for Zach Wilson they can add an explosive weapon to their offense. Garrett Wilson should be able to step in as WR1 right away and could form one of the best tandems in the league alongside Corey Davis.
If the Jets hit on this pick, and Wilson proves to be everything they hoped he was, then Buffalo needs to watch its back in the AFC East.
With The 11th Pick, The Washington Commanders Select Kenny Pickett - QB
Ron Rivera and the Washington Commanders are dead set on solving their QB problem in 2022. Even with the acquisition of Carson Wentz, we expect Washington to draft one - in this case Kenny Pickett out of Pittsburgh.
Pickett started the college season as one of the "prospects to watch." And although he failed to live up to some lofty expectations, he was still good, and finds a perfect home here in Washington where he can sit for a year behind a veteran.
With The 12th Pick, The Minnesota Vikings Select Derek Stingley Jr. - CB
A ballhawk for a team in desperate need of a leader in their secondary, the Minnesota Vikings are more than thrilled to have Derek Stingley Jr. fall to them right here. An exceptional freshman, injuries limited his playing time in the following years.
Still, teams are high on Stingley Jr., which isn't surprising considering the talent he lined up against as a freshman including Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
With The 13th Pick, The Houston Texans (Via Cleveland) Select Drake London - WR
The Houston Texans need pass catchers. Brandin Cooks is not as elite as he wants you to think he is, the rest of their wideouts are forgettable at best. If the Texans want Davis Mills to succeed, then he needs weapons, and Drake London out of USC fits the bill.
London is seen as a true number one receiver coming into the NFL, and if he makes it to pick 13, Cleveland shouldn't hesitate to take him.
With The 14th Pick, The Baltimore Ravens Select Travon Walker - DL
Few players are a more natural fit for a team than Travon Walker is for the Baltimore Ravens. While the team could use more offensive talent, they're built on defense, and Walker is a blue-chip stud on the defensive line.
An exceptional run stuffer, he's the size of a player the Ravens covet. If there are any holes in his game, they won't take long to fill.
With The 15th Pick, The Philadelphia Eagles (Via Miami) Select Kyle Hamiton - Safety
Somehow, safety Kyle Hamilton has fallen to the Eagles here. The team needs help all over the defense, so why not take a top-five talent with pick 15?
A big long body with solid sideline to sideline range, the Eagles should be able to plug Hamilton in right away as a productive starter.
With The 16th Pick, The Philadelphia Eagles (Via Indianapolis) Select Devonte Wyatt - DL
Eagles GM Howie Roseman loves drafting defensive linemen, and he gets a big one here with Devonte Wyatt. At over 300 pounds, he'll project to take over for Fletcher Cox once the aging superstar calls it a career.
Until then, Wyatt can learn from one of the best, making this a great landing spot for the young man.
With The 17th Pick, The Los Angeles Chargers Select Jameson Williams - WR
The Chargers spent the early part of the offseason upgrading their defense, leaving them to focus on their offense in the draft. To help stretch the field, they take a burner here - wide receiver Jameson Williams out of Alabama.
This move will make the Chargers one of the most explosive teams in the league, as if they weren't already.
With The 18th Pick, The New Orleans Saints Select Chris Olave - WR
The Saints have one of the best defenses in the NFL, so there's no reason to think they won't look to improve the offense with this pick. With Jameis Winston back under center at QB, it only makes sense to draft a WR here - Chris Olave out of Ohio State.
This pick looks even better with the up and down health of superstar Michael Thomas. New Orleans strikes gold here.
With The 19th Pick, The Philadelphia Eagles Select George Karlaftis - EDGE
The Eagles pick here again and take the opportunity to further fill out their defense. Like with the pick before, they take a player to replace an aging player. Brandon Graham is near the end of his career, so why not let him mentor George Karlaftis for a year or two?
One of the best power rushers in the draft, Karlaftis is the kind of weapon every team dreams of having.
With The 20th Pick, The Pittsburgh Steelers Select Matt Corral - QB
Mitchell Trubisky is not going to be the long-term answer at QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers. All offseason the team has been connected to Kenny Pickett, and they only slightly change course with him off the board by taking Matt Corral, the next best option.
Thanks to this pick, the Steelers now have their bridge QB, and the future of the franchise.
With The 21st Pick, The New England Patriots Select Trent McDuffie - CB
With the loss of J.C. Jackson in free agency, the New England Patriots have a hole to fill at CB, and one of the best in the draft class just fell to them here. Trent McDuffie should instantly fill in as Jackson's replacement and keep the Patriots' defense running at full speed.
This is a huge draft win for the Patriots after getting Mac Jones at QB in last year's draft.
With The 22nd Pick, The Las Vegas Raiders Select Kenyon Green - OL
Nothing is more important than protecting the QB, and the Raiders know that and take Kenyon Green out of Texas A&M here with sort of a luxury pick.
The advantage here is obvious - Las Vegas, just a few short years ago, gutted their offensive line. Last year the rebuild began, and now Green hopefully gives them the final piece they've been missing.
With The 23rd Pick, The Arizona Cardinals Select Zion Johnson - OL
The Arizona Cardinals need to find a way to protect Kyler Murray. The star QB is already not on great terms with the franchise, and taking Zion Johnson here will help to set things right.
The bottom line is that if the Cardinals are serious about Murray, then they need to be serious about keeping him happy.
With The 24th Pick, The Dallas Cowboys Select Boye Mafe - EDGE
The Dallas Cowboys lost star pass rusher Randy Gregory in free agency, leaving a huge hole in their defensive line. Boye Mafe, an edge rusher out of Minnesota, will help plug that hole and keep the Dallas defense fearsome.
Mafe has been a draft class riser, and if his stock continues to soar, he might not last until this pick, but we're confident he will.
With The 25th Pick, The Buffalo Bills Select Andrew Booth Jr. - CB
Anyone who watched the AFC Championship game knows just how questionable the Buffalo Bills secondary is. One way they can sure it up is in the draft by taking Andrew Booth Jr. out of Clemson here.
For a team looking to get back to the postseason and finally get over the hump, this decision couldn't be any easier.
With The 26th Pick, The Tennessee Titans Select Trevor Penning - OL
The Titans want to run the ball. Head coach Mike Vrabel knows the key to the success of the offense is by pounding defenses with Derrick Henry. And the best way to keep Henry healthy is to have a line powerful enough to create large running lanes.
A pick like this will help QB Ryan Tannehill, too, who can throw the ball on a dime when given enough time to set his feet before getting hit.
With The 27th Pick, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select Sam Howell - QB
Tom Brady literally can't play forever. After the 2021 season, the greatest QB of all-time flirted with retirement before coming back for one last run. Tampa Bay has a chance to get his predecessor here with Sam Howell out of UNC.
If the Bucs don't take Howell here, that means that former first-round pick and journeyman backup Blaine Gabbert is their future? Yeah, we don't think so.
With The 28th Pick, The Green Bay Packers Select George Pickens - WR
The cost of bringing Aaron Rodgers back to Green Bay was the loss of WRs Devonte Adams and Marquez Valdes Scantling. In desperate need of new pass catchers, the Packers take George Pickens here, the best WR still on the board.
Pickens does have a history with injuries during his college tenure, but his talent is too great to pass up at the bottom of the first round.
With The 29th Pick, Kansas City Chiefs (Via Miami) Select Christian Watson - WR
The Kansas City Chiefs didn't want to pay speedy wideout Tyreek Hill $120 million over four years and traded him away instead. With this pick, they grab Christian Watson out of NDSU, a burner who comes at a much cheaper price.
Watson might not be an upgrade over Hill right away, but he should be able to do everything Patrick Mahomes needs from him.
With The 30th Pick, The Kansas City Chiefs Select Kaiir Elam - CB
Similar to the Tyreek Hill situation, the Chiefs will look to replace Charvarius Ward at CB here with Kaiir Elam. Metrics on Elam haven't been great, which is maybe why he falls this low, but watch him on tape and he explodes.
The Chiefs can put Elam right in the starting lineup and won't feel the loss of Ward at all.
With The 31st Pick, The Cincinnati Bengals Select Arnold Ebiketie - EDGE
The Cincinnati Bengals finally addressed their offensive line woes in free agency, meaning they have a bit of a luxury pick here to sure their defensive line. Ebiketie should slot in on day one and improve last year's 25th overall ranked pass rush.
To be frank, if the Bengals had better o-line and d-line play in 2021, it's very likely they would have beaten the Rams in the Super Bowl.
With The 32nd Pick, The Detroit Lion (Via Los Angeles) Select Nakobe Dean - LB
The Detroit Lions continue to plug the leaking holes all over their roster with the addition of Nakobe Dean right here. Considered NFL ready by scouts, Detroit should be thrilled he fell to the final pick of the first round.
If Detroit wants to compete in 2022, they still have a long way to go, but this pick puts them one step closer to the postseason.
