2022 NFL Mock Draft: Falcons find replacement for Matt Ryan

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal - Offensive Tackle, Alabama
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson - Edge Rusher, Michigan
3. Houston Texans: Travon Walker - Edge Rusher, Georgia
4. New York Jets: Kyle Hamilton - Safety, Notre Dame.
5. New York Giants: Charles Cross - T, Miss State

It's very rare that a safety of Kyle Hamilton's pedigree comes out of college and projects as a top-five talent in the entire draft class. In fact, Hamiton could potentially be the first safety chosen within the first five picks since Sean Taylor was drafted by Washington with the 5th pick back in 2004.

For a perennially struggling franchise like the New York Jets, their secondary may have been one of their biggest weakness last season. According to PFF, the J-E-T-S finished the 2021 season with the second-worst secondary in the NFL, allowing more EPA (Expected Points Allowed) per pass than any other defense in the regular season.

That stat should come as no surprise considering everyone who played a bulk of the Jets snaps in the secondary were either undrafted or a Day 3 pick. With New York's only competent corner Marcus Maye signing with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, Hamilton would provide a skillset that the franchise hasn't seen since Jamal Adams. Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux will likely be available at No. 4 which is another option for Jets GM Joe Dogulus to explore, but I think Hamilton's ball-hawking ability is just too good for New York to pass up on.

6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett - Quarterback, Pittsburgh
7. New York Giants (via Chicago): Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner - Cornerback, Cincinnati
8. Atlanta Falcons: Malik Willis - Quarterback, Liberty
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver): Ikem Ekwonu - Tackle, NC State
10. Jets (via Seattle): Drake London - Wideout, USC

This is where the draft gets interesting in my opinion. Three teams from 6-9 (Seahawks, Panthers, and Falcons) are all in need of a quarterback. Pete Carroll seems content with Drew Lock... at least for now, that leaves Atlanta and Carolina deciding between the two best signal-callers in this year's draft class, Kenny Pickett or Malik Willis.

Willis had an electric pro day that featured throws like this where he threw a 65-yard bomb while on the move to hit his receiver for a touchdown. As for Pickett, he started his career as an average quarterback for an average program before things finally started to click during his senior season where he more than tripled his touchdown total (13 TDs in 2020 to 42 TDs in 2021) and led the Panthers to their first ACC Championship in the schools' history. Whether it is valid or not, Pickett's hand size, as well as his long-term success at Pitt are still big concerns for GMs and scouts.

Willis is the most polarizing player in this draft with his own set of concerns. He is below average in height and weight at the position (listed at a generous 6' flat and 225 lbs) and his ability to run a complex offense has come into question after his coaches at Auburn criticized the QB for having a lack of interest in studying defenses and the nuances of the offense.

I think the Panthers will ultimately pull the trigger on Pickett leaving the Falcons in the prime position to select their replacement for Matt Ryan. Falcons GM Terry Fontenot was in attendance at Willis' pro day along with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin who had dinner with the young QB. Something to watch out for is a potential draft-day trade from the Steelers who seem to be very interested in the 22-year-old out of Liberty, but how interested are they? Who knows.

Atlanta signing Marcus Mariota to a two-year deal provides a bit of a cushion for Willis if the franchise do decide to draft him considering that the Falcons will be in full rebuild mode and won't be a threat to make the postseason.

11. Washington Commanders: Derek Stingley Jr. - Cornerback, LSU
12. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Davis - Defensive Tackle, Georgia
13. Houston Texans (via Cle): Garrett Wilson - Wideout, Ohio State
14. Baltimore Ravens: Treylon Burks - WR, Arkansas
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): Trent McDuffie - Cornerback, Washington

The Browns shocked the NFL world when they signed Deshaun Watson to a five-year, $230 million guaranteed deal. Now that they have the controversial yet talented quarterback on their roster, that leaves the Houston Texans with their first-round draft pick at 13 as a part of the deal with Cleveland. Even though a quarterback is a top need for Houston, in a weak QB draft, it would be smart to consider waiting until next year's draft or free agency pool.
After losing De'Andre Hopkins and with the Will Fuller experiment not working out, Lovie Smith and OC Pep Hamilton need to find another deep-threat weapon for whoever their quarterback may be at the start of the season or potentially the future.

Wilson had a great 2021 season at Ohio State, snagging 70 receptions for over 1000 yards and 12 touchdowns. The former Buckeye has 4.3 speed with the ability just about whatever he wants out of the slot. If the reigning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Drake London is still available after the No. 10 pick, the Texans will have a tough decision to make considering Jackson's elite length (6’4”) and versatility.

Thanks to Howie Roseman managing to work some magic and get three-first-round picks in this year's draft, Trent McDuffie out of Washington would give the birds another capable defensive back to complement Pro Bowler Darius Slay, who turned 31 this year.

16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis): DeVonte Wyatt - DT, Georgia
17. Los Angeles Chargers: David Ojabo, LB, Michigan
18. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Sam Howell - Quarterback, North Carolina

The Saints and the Eagles both address needs at the receiver position, taking two guys that could both be game-changers for their franchises. If New Orleans takes Olave, they will be getting a two-time all-conference selection who led the Big Ten in touchdowns (13) last season. If the Eagles select Williams, that would be Roseman's second receiver he's drafted from Bama. Williams is a deep-threat receiver with elite speed and a quick first step. Unfournatley, whichever team ends up drafting Williams, they will have to wait as he is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during Bama's National Championship loss to Georgia.

David Ojabo was a beast at Michigan, but even after he tragically tore his Achilles during UM's pro day, I don't see the Bolts passing up on paring Joey Bosa with another elite pass rusher. Khalil Mack won't be around for the long and with the AFC being loaded full of talented quarterbacks, the Chargers will want as many great players as possible to get after them.

Pittsburgh provides the first shocker of the draft, taking Sam Howell with Willis getting drafted earlier by Atlanta. Even if the Steelers don't draft trade up or get Willis to drop to them, they will still need an insurance policy if the Mitch Trubisky-Mason Rudolph situation doesn't work out

21. New England Patriots: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
22. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas): Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
23. Arizona Cardinals: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
24. Dallas Cowboys: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
25. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

With La'el Collins heading to Cincinnati and Tyron Smith getting older and not being reliable due to always being injured, Dallas suddenly needs a tackle very badly. Trevor Penning has massive size and good athleticism to go with it. Yes, he played at FCS Northern Iowa but if that's any indicator of his skillset, the Buccaneers would have never wasted a second-round pick on Ali Marpet, who played at D3 Hobart and turned into a Pro Bowl guard in his final season in the NFL before calling it quits.

It's safe to say JJ Watt is no longer the player he used to be. With only a year left on his contract with Arizona, George Karlftis who was a First-Team All-Big Ten performer at Purdue can add some depth to the defensive line. Karlftis is a tackling machine and can also rush the quarterback accounting for 14 sacks in his three years in Lafayette, with one of those seasons being shortened by COVID.

26. Tennessee Titans: Tyler Linderbaum - C, Iowa
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zion Johnson - G, Boston College
28. Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson - Wideout, Penn State
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami): Breece Hall - Running Back, Iowa State
30. Chiefs: Wan'Dale Robinson - Wideout, Kentucky
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Johnson - Edge Rusher, Florida State
32. Lions (via L.A. Rams): Lewis Sine - Saftey, Georgia

Now that Tyreek Hill is out of Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes is not exactly void of weapons, but the Chiefs could potentially find Hill's replacement in Kentucky's Wan'Dale Robinson. The speedy receiver did all for the Cats in 2021, earning Second-Team All-SEC while accounting for almost 1500 yards from scrimmage. With comparable measurements to Hill (5'11 185 pounds) and somewhat comparable speed (4.44), Robinson could very well fill Hill's shoes as the Chiefs' new go-to deep threat.