We are still a long way from the NFL Draft, but it is time to take a crack at my first of three 2022 NFL Mock Drafts to see just where some of these prospects could go.
Disclaimer: This 2022 NFL Mock Draft has no trades in it, the way I work is the first 2022 NFL Mock Draft is one that is straightforward, after the first one, I adjust as needed.
So, without further ado, here is my first of three 2022 NFL Mock Drafts
Jeff Hoak 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
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1. Jacksonville Jaguars select DE, Aiden Hutchinson out of Michigan
With some key pieces on the O-Line sewn up, it is only right the Jaguars go with the best defensive player in the draft.
2. Detroit Lions select DE, Kayvon Thibedeuex out of Oregon
Detroit cut ties with failed Matt Patricia experiment, Trae Flowers, now it is time for Dan Campbell to bring in an enforcer of his own, and Kayvon fits that mold perfectly
3. Houston Texans select OT, Evan Neal out of Alabama
Texans need help in all facets this year, first order of business though is to protect Davis Mills, that’s where a lean, mean, Evan Neal comes into play.
4. New York Jets select S, Kyle Hamilton out of Notre Dame
With the loss of Marcus Maye this offseason, the Jets can easily replace him with young rookie stuff in Kyle Hamilton who can slot right into Robert Salah’s defense.
5. New York Giants select OT, Ickey Ekwonu out of NC State
Another team with a lot of needs to fill, but the first order of business should be to protect the QB, and Ickey can do just that
6. Carolina Panther select QB, Kenny Pickett out of Pittsburgh
The Panthers seem to be infatuated with Kenny Pickett, and even though the better choice is Malik Willis, I think Rhule will go with Pickett
7. New York Giants (via Chicago) select DE, Jermaine Johnson III out of Florida State
Jermaine Johnson is a sneaky pick, hidden behind two really good edge rushers. He literally does everything, and the Giants could get a steal here in Jermaine Johnson.
8. Atlanta Falcons select QB, Malik Willis out of Liberty
Matt Ryan has left, Marcus Mariota is in, Falcons get their QB of the future to sit for a year and soak it all in before being let loose.
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) select OT, Charles Cross out of Mississippi State
Seattle traded Russell Wilson, and with both of the top QB’s gone, it is time to focus on using Drew Lock or a traded QB. With that said, with Seattle losing out on Trent Brown, and a desperate need for a tackle, Charles Cross is the perfect fit for this situation.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle) select CB, Ahmad (Sauce) Gardner out of Cincinnati
Jets have a plethora of picks this year, and they could go a bunch of different ways. In my 2022 NFL Mock Draft, with their second pick, they will bolster the secondary even more by taking the best corner in Sauce Gardner.
11. Washington Commanders select WR, Drake London out of USC
Washington got their QB in Carson Wentz, now it is time to get him another weapon on the other side of Scary Terry, Drake London is that guy and could be a big piece to a rebuilding Washington
12. Minnesota Vikings select DT, Jordan Davis out of Georgia
Minnesota drafts a machine in my 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0. Jordan Davis widened a lot of eyes at the combine, and now he will get to show off his talents for the revamped Purple People Eaters.
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland) select DE, George Karlaftis out of Purdue
As I said, a lot of needs for Houston, so they will now shift their focus to the defense, and Karlaftis is just the guy that can help build your defense around.
14. Baltimore Ravens select DL, Travon Walker out of Georgia
Baltimore is looking to bolster their defensive line and look no further than the Georgia prospects. With Jordan Davis off the board, the next best prospect is Travon Walker. Walker can easily help replace now free agent Calais Campbell.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) select WR, Chris Olave out of The Ohio State
Jalen Reagor has been an absolute bust of a pick (reminder, he was taken a pick before Justin Jefferson) so, the Eagles are going to run it back with one of the best receivers in the draft in Chris Olave.
Olave will be able to help stretch the field and allow Hurts some more options to throw too.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) select LB, Devin Lloyd out of Utah
Back to back for the Eagles and in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0, they will turn to defense and an absolute freak of an athlete in Devin Lloyd to shore up their linebacking corps.
17. Los Angeles Chargers select C, Tyler Linderbaum out of Iowa
Chargers have loaded up in free agency and trade, JC Jackson and Khalil Mack to send to battle in a warzone that is going to be the AFC West.
So, it is time to go offensive for the Chargers, and by that, I mean the man who will become closest to Justin Herbert. With an aging Corey Linsley, it is time to get younger at the Center position, and Linderbaum is the guy that can do the job right.
18. New Orleans Saints select WR, Garrett Wilson out of The Ohio State
Of course, NOLA could go QB, but with how meh the class is this year you are better off to try to get Jameis Winston a weapon or two. Garrett Wilson would be the perfect fit for this offense, lining up with Michael Thomas could make them a dynamic duo.
19. Philadelphia Eagles select CB, Derek Stingley Jr. out of LSU
Another pick for the Eagles and they will stick with defense as they take a corner in Derek Stingley Jr. who is a wild card, with his injury he is set to fall down the board some, so the Eagles will take a flyer on them.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers select QB, Matt Corral out of Ole Miss
Pittsburgh is in love with Malik Willis, but it is hard to see them giving up the capital to jump ahead of the Panthers to get him.
So, they will go with QB, Matt Corral, who impressed in his final season, and could do well been if he has to sit for a year behind Mitchell Trubisky.
21. New England Patriots select LB, Nakobe Dean out of Georgia
The Patriots are looking to get younger at linebacker, and Nakobe Dean is the perfect fit for this defense. Young and fast and is a brick wall… SIGN ME UP!
22. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas) select WR, Treylon Burks out of Arkansas
Green Bay lost their best offensive weapon in Davante Adams, now it is almost impossible to replace his production. Although the Packers certainly must try, they will do that by drafting Treylon Burks who out of Arkansas had a record-breaking season. It is no Davante, but Green Bay cannot afford to not draft a WR in the first round this year.
23. Arizona Cardinals select CB, Trent McDuffie out of Washington
Cornerback is the need for Arizona, and McDuffie is the best available at this spot.
24. Dallas Cowboys select OT, Trevor Penning out of Northern Iowa
Need to bolster the o-line after losing La’el Collins, Trevor Penning is by no means a sexy name, but he can be a damn goof on the Cowboys
25. Buffalo Bills select CB, Kair Elam out of Florida
Elam on the other side of Tredavious White could be a deadly secondary to what is already a stacked Bills defense. It would also help them in the case that is now a two-headed monster of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
26. Tennessee Titans select WR, Skyy Moore out of Western Michigan
They got Robert Woods in a trade, and they still have AJ Brown, so why would they go first-round receiver? Well, why not, Moore is a speedster and has shown to be impressive, but is a very good insurance policy, especially since your corps after Robert Woods gets murky
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers select OT, Zion Johnson out of Boston College
Brady retired, then came back, but the team also lost Alex Cappa and lost pro bowl center Ali Marpet, so, they need to do some work on the o-line, that is where Zion Johnson comes in, an underrated player you do not hear much about out of Boston College who can help piece back together this O-line.
28. Green Bay Packers select OT, Tyler Smith out of Tulsa
Packers could use some help to bolster the O-Line, Tyler Smith is a good choice to help protect the multi-million dollar, Aaron Rodgers
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami) select CB, Roger McCreary out of Auburn
Another CB needy team, luckily it is a deep class for that, and Roger McCreary would slide in very well with that Chiefs team.
30. Kansas City Chiefs select WR, Jameson Williams, out of Alabama
Back to back for the Chiefs, and they now need to figure out their situation at WR, Jameson Williams somehow falls to number 30 in my 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 and lands in a perfect situation now looking to take the reigns from a large hole taken by the departure of Tyreek Hill.
31. Cincinnati Bengals select DE, Boye Mafe out of Minnesota
Originally my play was to go offensive line with this pick, but, Cincy did more than enough in Free Agency to bolster that. So, we will look to the defense, and Edge rusher Boye Mafe. Not a household name at all, but he certainly has the numbers to be a sneaky back-end first-rounder.
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams) select QB, Desmond Ridder out of Cincinnati
Finally, we get to Detroit, we could go a lot of places with this pick, but usually with the final pick comes surprises. Now of course it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Lions take a QB, but with Jared Goff’s contract, it could come as a slight shock. Lions take the risk and hope they got their future franchise QB in Desmond Ridder who can sit behind Jared Goff for a year or two before taking over the ropes.
Stay tuned for my 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 coming out in a couple of weeks!
-Jeff Hoak (@jeffhoak1)
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