I believe it was Bill Belichick that said “now that we’re here, it’s so far away, all the struggle we thought was in vain.” Ok, it wasn’t Bill, it was from the song “So Far Away” by Staind, but it perfectly describes the pursuit of the NFL Draft. With the 2022 NFL Draft finally arriving tomorrow night, I figured it’s time to take a stab in the dark at what I would do if I were in the GM’s chair for each of the 32 teams in the league. This draft is based more on my overall big board (released yesterday) and how I value players as opposed to the league. Don’t worry though, I have a final predictive mock coming out tomorrow as well- I’m not that conceited that I’d leave my final mock draft to be all about me. Thank you to RiseNDraft.com & Mock Draft Database for providing the simulator that this mock was completed with. There will be trades in this mock as well for the first time this season. Let’s not waste any more time because we have a lot to talk about.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Not only are the Jags a nightmare to figure out what will happen, but they’re a pain in the backside to figure out what they should do. Personally, I think that Evan Neal makes a ton of sense at number one because Cam Robinson has been average for five years, yet the Jags have franchise tagged him for reasons yet to be explained by science, and they love Walker Little who peaked as a freshman in college. Instead, I focus on their glaring need at EDGE with my top player at the position in Thibodeaux. I don’t care what people are reporting about effort levels or attitude because I don’t see effort swings on film and I’m all for players having interests outside of football because it keeps them from being zombies. If Jacksonville wants to finally climb out of the basement, they need to pick good players. It’s that simple.
2. Detroit Lions- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
This is a no-brainer. The Lions still need help off the EDGE despite the Okwara brothers being there. Hutchinson is a top 5 player in the class, he’s from Michigan and the Lions are in a position where they are in zero rush to reach on a QB in a frankly pedestrian QB class. The Lions are starting their own version of the Philadelphia 76ers-esque process. The star players are coming, they just aren’t ready to get a quarterback this year.
3. Houston Texans- Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Laremy Tunsil on the left side with a 6’7 365-pound hulk on the right side? Sign me up if I’m the Texans. Right Tackle is a clear need for the Texans if they’re currently slated to be starting Charlie Heck in that spot. Neal is the only top tackle who’s played on the right side. This one’s easy.
4. NY Jets- Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Jets CB room is… not great. There’s a bunch of lower-tier free agent additions and a former day 3 pick in Bryce Hall. It needs an injection of high-end talent. Enter Sauce Gardner. The man didn’t allow a touchdown in his three years in college and has the prototypical size and length teams drool over for an outside corner. With arms like grapevines, he can stay with any matchup at the next level and hopefully move the Jets in the right direction defensively.
5. NY Giants- Kyle Hamilton, SAF, Notre Dame
The Giants would love to have Evan Neal sitting here at pick 5, but with him off the board they go with the number one player in the entire draft in Kyle Hamilton. I think a rebuild is afoot with the Giants and they need more good players. Julian Love cannot be a starting safety going forward. Hamilton is one of the best safeties we’ve seen come through the draft in the last decade or so, so let’s get the secondary some help.
6. Carolina Panthers- Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Cut to Jared Feinberg or The Draft Network’s Joe Marino screaming into the ether that the Panthers haven’t had the same starting left tackle for two consecutive years since Jordan Gross retired *checks notes* NINE YEARS AGO.
I’d love to trade down if I were the Panthers because they own 1 pick in the first 137 selections but 1) I’m not sure who wants to trade up in into the top 6, and 2) they can’t afford to trade back and miss out on a tackle run.
7. NY Giants- Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi St.
Now the Giants are back and luck into the best pass protecting OT in the class still being there. There’s the challenge of teaching Cross how to play on the right side, but this is a potential pro-bowl offensive tackle if handled correctly.
8. *TRADE*- Houston Texans- Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
Hold on, there’s an explanation to this pick. The way the NFL is rumbling about the draft, you get the sense that they feel this year is on the “weaker” side of the spectrum. There may only be a handful of true potential stars in this class, so Houston- who according to PFF’s Simulator needs “every position” trades picks 13 and 80 to trade up to get yet another genetic unicorn in the 6’7 360 pound Jordan Davis because if you teach the man the size of your average Costco how to pass rush, you might have a true game changer on your hands. Atlanta trades back to collect an extra pick along the way as the board doesn’t suit their needs at pick 8.
9. Seattle Seahawks- Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
Yes, I could have gone QB, but as I mentioned earlier, this QB class is 10 pounds of “meh” in a 5-pound bag, and if given the choice, I’d prefer to just not take one at all this year. At any point. Under any circumstances. This Seattle team needs a corner in the worst way. Derek Stingley meets all their thresholds, but the big cloud of uncertainty is his ability to stay healthy.
10. NY Jets- Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida St.
The Jets haven’t had an EDGE rusher worth anything since Calvin Pace and he retired in 2015. It’s long overdue. The WR position can wait til round two as head coach Robert Saleh gets two stalwarts for his defense. Something tells me, he’d be happy with this.
11. Washington Commanders- Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio St.
This could easily be Malik Willis, but the Commanders are going to at least try to work with Carson Wentz for the upcoming season and they need to address the wide receiver position across from Terry McLaurin. Yes, Wilson does profile similarly, but do you know what’s better than one Terry McLaurin? Two of them.
12. Minnesota Vikings- Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
This one’s for you Forno! In all seriousness, this new regime is all about analytics, athleticism, and traits. They don’t get much more out there than Malik Willis. If I were the Vikings, I’d want to have some form of a plan for when Kirk Cousins is eventually shown the door. That’s Malik Willis. You let Cousins play for a year or two while Willis develops in the background and by 2023 you can put the wheels in motion for Willis to take over going forward.
13. Atlanta Falcons- Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
There are EDGEs I have ranked ahead of Georgia’s Travon Walker, but the Falcons desperately need a pass rusher with high upside to deliver more than the one good season they got out of Vic Beasley about 5 years ago. They’ve had nothing from any of their pass rushers since and if Walker hits, he can be special. The downside? His floor is incredibly low in my opinion. I think landing him in a Dean Pees system is going to get the most out of him so this makes sense.
14. Baltimore Ravens- Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson
Why does the NFL not like Andrew Booth? I want answers! I think Booth is the quintessential Ravens corner. With him being the best player available at a position of need, this is a seamless fit in my opinion.
15. Philadelphia Eagles- Drake London, WR, USC
Hi Howie Roseman! Don’t draft another speed wideout. I’m begging you. London allows the Eagles to get a big bodied target that Jalen Hurts can throw it up for. The Eagles’ current receiving corps in comprised of guys under 6 foot and under 200 pounds. London being 6’4 and 219 puts him literally head and shoulders above the rest of the team’s targets.
16. New Orleans Saints- Chris Olave, WR, USC
The Saints desperately need another receiving target across from Michael Thomas for Jameis Winston to throw to. Olave is the best route runner in the class with good hands and he’s got something they also need more of- SPEED!
17. LA Chargers- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The board doesn’t fall all that well for the Chargers but this pick lands them a corner trio of J.C. Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., and Trent McDuffie for the next several years. This is a team that’s this close to being a contender in the playoffs. This helps an already spectacular defense get better which is great because the offensive line options are a little too rich for my blood for them.
18. Philadelphia Eagles- Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Hi Howie, me again. YOU NEED A LINEBACKER! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, WE’VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH!!! If TJ Edwards and Kyzir White are your starting backers, you’re not going to have a good time. Devin Lloyd is already so much better than those two guys. Please, Howie!!!!
19. New Orleans Saints- Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
I’m aware I just said that the tackle class wasn’t the ideal selection only two picks ago, but the Saints desperately need a left tackle after Terron Armstead left for Miami. James Hurst and Landon Young are the two slated to compete for the starting tackle spot protecting Famous Jameis’ blindside. They can afford to reach a bit.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Mitch Trubisky isn’t the future at QB for the Steelers and neither is Mason Rudolph. Should Kenny Pickett be taken in the first round? In my opinion, absolutely not. However, this gets the Steelers a QB they can sit for a year, develop, and play next year while still having the 5th year option available to them.
21. New England Patriots- Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Sometimes the board still falls in a way where a player you like falls further than you’d like. Bill Belichick loves Alabama guys because of his connection with Nick Saban and the team needs a wideout. Williams may not be able to play until October or so, but he’s a weapon the team needs if they truly think Mac Jones is the future.
22. Green Bay Packers- Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Packers get my WR1 in the class after years of deciding they don’t need one. Now that Davante Adams is a Raider, they certainly need one. Just get the ball in Burks’ hands and prosper. Picture how the Titans have used AJ Brown. That’s what you’re getting in Treylon Burks.
23. Arizona Cardinals- Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
I’m taking a quote from Cardinals reporter Alex Clancy with this one. “You need to eat your vegetables before you get your dessert. The Cardinals haven’t done that”. What he’s referring to is the Cardinals’ insistence on drafting gimmicky players they don’t know how to use instead of addressing their offensive line which can be described using every word that I am not allowed to use in a published article, so I’ll instead use “dire”. Linderbaum is probably better at center, but you can always move Rodney Hudson to guard and oust either Justin Pugh or Will Hernandez. This pick helps you upgrade at two positions, which is always a good thing.
24. Dallas Cowboys- Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia
This is just to earn me some brownie points with BCS President Tyler Browning by nabbing his favourite team his favourite player. In all seriousness, this team needs someone to line up beside Neville Gallimore on the interior. Wyatt’s ceiling may not be sky high but at 24 years old, he’s got a high floor and is ready to be a key contributor on a rapidly improving Cowboy defense.
25. Buffalo Bills- Lewis Cine, SAF, Georgia
Right now the Bills have a slight problem with Jordan Poyer and his displeasure over his contract. This move sets them up with a potential replacement in the fast-rising Lewis Cine who can play at either safety spot. The Bills are a hard team to read at the moment without a lot of needs- aside from running back but I don’t want Draft Twitter sending me mean tweets.
26. Tennessee Titans- Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M
I’m taking this one from Titans ESPN reporter Turron Davenport last week on the NFL Stock Exchange Podcast. Green is going to be a favourite of Titans coach Mike Vrabel and the Titans need something at left guard. Dillon Radunz is moving to RT this year (after the massive failure that the Isaiah Wilson pick was in 2020), so the team hopes that this early pick on an OL results in some staying power.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Logan Hall, EDGE/DL, Houston
Ndamukong Suh isn’t with the team yet and the Bucs are looking for a pass-rushing 5-tech on the defensive line. Logan Hall can play inside and outside and get to the QB. This is exactly what Todd Bowles would want.
28. Green Bay Packers- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
This pick just screams Packers to me. They need help getting to the passer and they can use Karlaftis similarly to how they used Za’Darius Smith. Karlaftis has had some detractors in recent months because of his “shyer” personality, but he’s a dog on the field, and that’s what Green Bay needs to complement Rashan Gary.
29. Kansas City Chiefs- George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Well, the Chiefs needs something in order to address the Tyreek Hill sized hole in their offense. George Pickens is a height/weight/speed wideout that would be a great addition next to Juju Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdez-Scantling to give their receiving group 3 players that each have an individual specialty in place of what Tyreek Hill gave them on his own.
30. Kansas City Chiefs- David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
The Chiefs go back to back here and with their second pick, address their woeful pass rush. If it weren’t for an Achilles tear, Ojabo would be long gone by now. He may not be able to contribute right away, but he can be a terror in the future.
31. Cincinnati Bengals- Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College
The Bengals get someone ready to step in at guard across from Alex Cappa while Jackson Carman gets extra time to develop rather than being a starting guard (I still don’t understand that pick from last year). Johnson’s been a starter for three years at Boston College at guard and tackle and provides a team with an average at best line a necessary upgrade.
32. Detroit Lions- Daxton Hill, SAF, Michigan
Yup, still no QB for Detroit. That can wait until next year. What this team needs is a nickel or a safety, preferably both. Both of those are roles that Daxton Hill can fill. He can replace DeShon Elliott at safety who’s not only on a one-year minimum salary deal but also can’t stay healthy, but Hill can play slot, moving Okudah outside. Two Birds, one stone with this one.
Join me tomorrow for a final predictive mock draft.