2022 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers pass on Pickett, Steelers and Chiefs trade up

With the Jaguars franchise tagging Cam Robinson, Aidan Hutchinson should be a lock as the No. 1 overall pick. Despite Jacksonville already possessing elite-level talent at the position (Pro Bowlers Josh Allen and Calais Campbell), I don't see a scenario where Trent Baalke passes on the best prospect in the draft. Hutch wasn't just an excellent pass rusher at Michigan during his senior season, the Heisman Finalist also handled his business in the run game, racking up 68 total tackles to go along with 14 sacks (good for third in the country in 2021).

Many mocks have Detroit taking Georgia's Trevon Walker, who has made quite the rise due in large part to his workout measurables. However, the Lions haven't gotten much out of cornerback Jeff Okudah, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. If Okudah can stay healthy and the Lions decide to take Sauce Gardner, the lockdown corner out of Cincinnati, opposing quarterbacks in the NFC could be in for a tough time having to deal with a potential dominant cornerback duo for years to come.

This portion of the draft is where things get really interesting. To say the Panthers whiffed on trading for Sam Darnold last offseason would be the biggest understatement of 2021. During his first season in Charlotte, Darnold completed only 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,527 yards with nine touchdowns to 13 interceptions. With those numbers, it's no shocker why the franchise is turning over every stone to see who their next option will be behind center.

The Panthers invited six of the 2022 NFL Draft’s best quarterbacks for a visit to the team facilities, including Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett. Who will they go with? Although drafting Pickett seems logical, (having committed to play for Rhule at Temple before choosing Pitt) even if Patrick Mahomes was behind center, the Panthers' offensive line is in complete shambles. I mean, you saw what happened to Joe Burrow this season right? (sacked for a league high 70 times) Yes, he led the Bengals to the Super Bowl, but there is certainly no QB of Burrow's caliber in this year's class to overcome a bad o-line. That's why I have Carolina solidifying their offensive front by taking Charles Cross and potentially waiting on next year's draft, which will have studs like Bryce Young and CJ Stroud potentially forgoing their final years of eligibility.

Whether you think Kayvon Thibodeaux was fairly or unfairly dropped on teams' draft boards, his production at Oregon will still outshine any concerns franchises have about his injury history and his allegedly "underwhelming" pre-draft interviews. Seattle is in full rebuild mode so adding an elite pass rusher like Thibodeaux who terrorized Pac-12 backfields would be a great start to that process.

With the tragic passing of Dwayne Haskins, the Steelers are left with Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph as their only viable options at quarterback. Pittsburgh is very familiar with Kenny Pickett, having had an up-close and in-person view of his growth right in their backyard at Heinz Field. Pickett is by far the most NFL-ready of the QBs in this year's draft. He was extremely accurate in 2021 and won big games against Clemson and a tough Tennesse squad on the road in Knoxville. The 2021 Heisman Finalist threw for 42 touchdown passes (which ranked fourth in the country) with only seven interceptions. Despite many in the mock draft community having Kenny P sliding in the draft, if GM Kevin Colbert can convince the Commanders to swap picks, I don't see the franchise passing up on Pickett. Remember, the Steelers are in a brutal AFC North division, having to see Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson twice a year so if Trubisky or Rudolph falter, Pickett can start to make his case as Big Ben's replacement.

DeVonta Smith had a promising rookie campaign for the Eagles, recording 956 yards for five touchdowns. The same cannot be said about Jalen Reagor who disappeared on multiple occasions during the 2021 season. Chris Olave has a good mix of size (6-1, 185) and speed (running a blistering 4.39 40 during the NFL Combine). He became a big-time play-maker at Ohio State and will give Philadelphia one of the best young receiving cores in the NFL.

Remember Michael Thomas? The Saints Pro Bowl wideout received surgery on an injured ankle last offseason and didn't clock a single minute on the field in 2021. Even if Thomas comes back healthy, the Saints should address the receiver position with one of their two first-round picks. Williams arguably would have been a top 10 pick in this year's draft class if it wasn't for tearing his ACL in his left knee during the National Championship game against Georgia in January. He could be a superstar once he's healthy; he has explosive speed and was uncoverable for the Crimson Tide last season. ACL injuries aren't even close to career-ending anymore, so I don't see this as a risky pick. Williams is definitely worth it.

The Packers were able to re-sign future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to a massive deal which will reportedly pay him $150.8 million over the next three years, for an average of just over $50 million per year. Rodgers' large contract led the franchise to be cash strapped to sign Devonta Adams who took his talents back to California to play for his former college QB Derek Carr. Burks was a star for a surprising Razorback team that went 9-4, earning First-Team All-SEC honors and is one of the most well-rounded receivers in the draft. With combining size (6-3, 225), athletic ability, play strength and run-after-the-catch capability, Burks could turn into a solid replacement for Adams in Green Bay.

The Cowboys need to find a replacement for Randy Gregory. If they choose to stay where they're at in the first round, Purdue's George Karlfitis is a rugged edge defender who can play with a hand down or standing up. He may not be as fast as Gregory, but he may be more versatile.

If you think the Lions are sold on Jared Goff after a 3-13 season you'd be sorely mistaken. Even though the former No. 1 overall pick put up respectable numbers (throwing for 3,245 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions) we know what he can provide you at this point in his career and it wouldn't be dumb for Detroit to start thinking about their future. Matt Corral suffered an ankle injury during the Sugar Bowl, leaving scouts concerned about his recovery. Unlike Jameson Williams, Corral's X-Rays came back negative which is a good sign for the Lions who could use a mobile quarterback who was super accurate at Ole Miss and improved every season under Lane Kiffin.