2022 NFL Mock Draft

The 2021 NFL Draft has come and gone and now it’s time to start on the 2022 Draft! The draft order reflects trades and Super Bowl odds for the 2021 NFL season. So don’t come at me because you think your team is going to win the Super Bowl but I have them in the top 10. We’ll start with a list and end with rational and analysis of each pick.

1 Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

I’m torn with this pick. Do we see the Texans go with a QB first overall or do they believe Deshaun Watson or Davis Mills will be the future of the position? For now, I’m going to give the Texans the best payer in the class in Thibodeaux. Thibodeaux would have been a top pick in the 2021 class and is the prototype pass rusher the NFL wants.

2 Lions: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

The Lions love drafting players on the offensive and defensive line but adding a shut down corner to go with Jeff Okudah is going to help their big guys get to the QB and points off the board.

3 Jaguars: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State

Harrison is set to have a huge year for the Buckeyes and the Jags have done a great job of adding talent on the offensive side in the 2021 draft. Now they can address the defense and you can never have enough pass rushers in the NFL.

4 Jets: DeMarvion Leal, DL, Texas A&M

Leal is a big pass rusher that will fit perfectly in a Robert Saleh scheme. You want a DeForest Buckner type? This is your guy. Leal is a force on the interior and can be a nice foundation piece for an elite defense with Quinnen Williams.

5 Giants: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

Guys like Darren Waller and Kyle Pitts have changed the way we view and use tight ends and Wydermyer is next in line. At 6’5″, 255 Wydermyer is a complete tight end. The Giants added Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay in 2021 and now Wydermyer in 2022 – Daniel Jones has all the pieces he needs to be successful.

6 Bengals: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M

Kenyon Green has played all over the offensive line at Texas A&M but will be moving to LT this fall. This may be exactly what the Bengals need on their offensive line and Green’s versatilty could be an Elgton Jenkins type player in year one OR maybe he proves he is LT in the NFL.

7 WFT: Phil Jurkovec, QB, Boston College

The first QB off the board is Phil Jurkovec from Boston College. The Notre Dame transfer stood out while watching Hunter Long and after a further dive into his tape I’m getting Josh Allen vibes from the 6’5″ gunslinger.

8 Broncos: Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

The Broncos were heavily rumored to quarterbacks like Justin Fields and Trey Lance but they passed on the young guns for Teddy Bridgewater and another year of Drew Lock. Can they pass on a quarterback again? I don’t think so. Strong has a…strong arm and enough athletic ability to escape and move around in the pocket and I think he is too good for Paton and Elway to pass on.

9 Eagles: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

The Eagles were able to add weapons on offense in 2021 and now they can get their hands on a top edge rusher with their first pick in 2022. Jackson has the size and tools to get him into the top 10 of the 2022 NFL draft and the Eagles need to start thinking about the future of their defense after upgrading their offense in 2021.

10 Raiders: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

The Raiders have added Trayvon Mullen, Jonathan Abram, Isaiah Johnson, Damon Arnette, Amik Robertson, Trevon Moehrig and Tyree Gillespie in the last three drafts but they STILL don’t have a true No. 1 corner. Elam could be the answer the their problems and maybe keep them competitive in the AFC West.

11 Giants (CHI): Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Giants already added Wydermyer with their first pick and now they get his equivalent on the defensive side in Kyle Hamilton. Hamilton is listed at safety but is a more of a defensive weapon and swiss army knife for Joe Judge. This is what happens when you move down the board Mr. Gettleman. Also, good job and congratulations to Giants fans.

12 Falcons: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cinicinnati

Desmond Ridder could have entered the 2021 draft and competed to be a round one quarterback but he return to Cincinnati with many of his teammates. The Falcons passed on quarterbacks in 2021 but this may be the year to find Matt Ryan’s replacement and Ridder is joining an offense loaded with talent.

13 Cardinals: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Humphries and Beachum have been solid for Arizona but it’s time to get Kyler Murray a top end tackle. Neal has moved along the Crimson Tide offensive line and is comfortable on the right or left side and could even spend a year at guard if needed. No matter where he plays on the offensive line the Cardinals need help there.

14 Panthers: Charles Cross, OL, Mississippi State

Cross has played multiple spots on the offensive line, including center and left tackle. The Panthers select Brady Christensen to play left tackle in 2021 but Cross could push him to the right side or guard forming a nice, young offensive line.

15 Vikings: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

The Vikes need help getting after the quarterback and while Karlaftis isn’t the speed rusher Minnesota usually goes after he can be a nice compliment to Danielle Hunter and move inside on third downs.

16 Steelers: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Sam Howell gives off some strong Baker Mayfield vibes, and that’s my comp for him, so why not give him to the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will be in the quarterback market in 2022 and with a deep class they might be able to find their guy late since they will mostly likely have a winning season, again.

17 Patriots: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The battle for WR1 goes through Columbus, OH. Whether it is Olave or Wilson they will both make a strong case for WR1 in 2022. New England has their quarterback of the future in Mac Jones and now they need to start adding targets. The Pats have had the worst receiving corp in the league the past two years and it is time to change that in 2022.

18 Cowboys: Bubba Bolden, S, Miami

The Cowboys have added a ton of playmakers to their defense so why not one more in 2022? Bolden playing on the same defense as Micah Parson and Kelvin Joseph will put the D back in Dallas.

19 Chargers: John Metchie, WR, Alabama

Another one! Alabama has been loaded at receiver and the only reason Metchie hasn’t emerged as a top talent is because he was buried on the depth chart behind four first round receivers!

20 Titans: Jahleel Billingsley, TE, Alabama

Wait, another one? Yes. Billingsley is listed at tight end but will play more as a slot receiver at Alabama and in the NFL. Billingsley has the tools, but like Metchie, hasn’t been able to get on the field because the depth at receiver in the past years. This would make three consecutive years of two Alabama receivers being selected in the first round.

21 Colts: Zion Nelson, OT, Miami

The Colts still need a marquee left tackle and Nelson might be that guy at No. 21. Nelson came on late in the 2020 season but emerged as one of the top young tackles in the country. A strong 2021 season will solidify him as a top tackle in the 2022 NFL Draft.

22 Eagles (MIA): Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

Brandon Joseph nearly shutdown Ohio State and had scouts all over the country questioning Justin Fields. Joseph enters the season with a lot of momentum and the Eagles grab him with their second pick in the first round, this one coming back from the Dolphins trading up to No. 6 in 2021.

23 Jets (SEA): Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

The Jets selected Leal with their first selection and go all in by selecting Sanders with the Seahawks pick. Sanders has the perfect build for the Jets defensive front and with their other young pieces they would have one of the top defensive lines in the league.

24 Browns: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

As I said earlier, WR1 goes through Columbus, OH. Wilson is an electric receiver and may not be available this late but with him sitting here the Browns add another target for Baker Mayfield. Receiver is a luxury for the Browns but Wilson could be the future of the position in Cleveland.

25 Saints: Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma

Is Taysom Hill the future at quarterback as Sean Payton has been saying? Is it Ian Book? Will Jamies Winston do enough to keep the job? No, no and no. Spencer Rattler can give the Saints hope at the position again and Ian Book can be the future Taysom Hill.

26 Dolphins (SF): Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

Miami REALLY wanted to grab Javonte Williams in round two but were jumped by the Broncos. That’s ok because the Dolphins get a very talented running back in Spiller. Spiller is thickly built and catches the ball very well out of the backfield. Spiller would have given Harris and Etienne a run for RB1 if he were 2021 eligible.

27 Lions (LAR): George Pickens, WR, Georgia

A spring ACL tear is going to hurt Pickens draft stock but he has two really good years of tape and 2021 proved that can be enough. Pickens may even work his way back on the field this fall but either way he should be a round one pick. He may not be a knee cap biter but he gives the Lions a true threat at receiver.

28 Bills: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

The Bills, much like the Dolphins, were rumored to be looking at running back in 2021 but lacked the picks to get a ball carrier. In 2022 they can get their feature back in Hall and another piece to open up the offense in Buffalo.

29 Ravens: Nik Bonito, EDGE, Oklahoma

After adding Oweh in 2021 the edge position isn’t a huge need, but Baltimore doesn’t have many big needs. Adding another pass rusher helps the Ravens chase down these young quarterbacks in the AFC.

30 Bucs: Adian Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

The Buccaneers selected Kyle Trask in 2022 so I won’t give them a quarterback of the future but if they don’t like what they see in Trask they could be in the quarterback market again. The selection here is Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan. Hutchinson is already a big body rusher but could add more bulk to replace guys like Suh and Peirre-Paul in the future.

31 Packers: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

Look, the Aaron Rodgers stuff doesn’t sound good so whether he is in Green Bay for 2022 or not they need to start adding pieces on offense. The offensive line has been good in Green Bay but it is getting old and replacing key positions like left tackle are sometimes easier when you can play a guy at guard or right tackle for a year.

32 Chiefs: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cinicinnati

Garner is the third Bearcat off the board in round one and the 6’2″ corner is a ballhawk with six career interceptions in just two years. Cincinnati put everyone on notice in 2020 but they may breakout in 2021 with Ridder, Sanders and Gardner leading the charge.