Every single team seems to be dying to trade back in the draft and reports would indicate that some teams only have 15 players with a first-round grade.
We already have the fewest teams ever making a selection in the first round and yet even more teams just want out. The uniqueness of this specific draft makes it extremely difficult to try to predict what will happen. Luckily, that’s not going to stop me from trying. I have very specific feelings about some of these prospects and by no means is this mock draft an indication of how I believe these players SHOULD be drafted.
If you haven’t noticed up to this point, NFL teams can very often psych themselves out and make really dumb decisions. And so, the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft will be ...
1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
I’m honestly laughing making this pick. For months we’ve talked about how Aidan Hutchinson would go first overall as the most can’t miss prospect in the draft and yet, here we are, the Jaguars have completely psyched themselves out and went with an all-tools, no production pick at number one.
2. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Dan Campbell might go bite some kneecaps just for fun after this pick falls in his lap. Detroit flourishes because of Jacksonville ineptitude. Feels like at least one thing is right in the world still.
3. Houston Texans - Evan Neal, OL, Alabama
Houston gets its pick of the litter at offensive tackle with the number three pick and how can you pass on a guy with the size that Evan Neal has? Playing for Nick Saban is also a major plus for the former Belichick employee Nick Caserio.
4. New York Jets - Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Knowing their favorite receiver in the draft should last until they pick again at ten, the Jets go get the number one corner they need in Gardner. Fans cannot be mad about their team taking a guy named Sauce, it’s the law.
5. New York Giants - Charles Cross, OL, Mississippi State
Not the tackle you’d expect to go this high, but the Giants love his pass blocking ability as they look to lock down left tackle for the next 10 years.
6. Carolina Panthers - Ikem Ekwonu, OL, North Carolina State
Carolina has wanted to trade out of the sixth pick for months now and instead they get arguably the best tackle in the draft falling in their lap. Feels right to try and protect whoever it is you plan on playing quarterback this season.’
7. New York Giants - Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU
Dave Gettleman gets fired and the New York Giants make two great draft picks? Feels like the two may be connected if you ask me.
8. Atlanta Falcons - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Falcons are just so devoid of talent on offense that they need to do something and adding a legitimate threat at receiver is definitely a start.
9. Seattle Seahawks - Kayvon Thuibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Seahawks fans are dancing in the street. The guy who was slated to be the number one pick before the start of the 2021 NCAA football season fell to you at nine because of “character concerns” over his love of football. Do me a favor and laugh at all those nerds when he plays fantastic.
10. New York Jets - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Another New York pick?! I can hear fellow WEEI.com scribe Andy Hart weeping in the other room. Excellent pick by the Jets to cap the Top 10.
11. Washington Commanders - Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
Ron Rivera loves his defensive pieces and Kyle Hamilton might be one of the best overall prospects in the entire draft.
12. Minnesota Vikings - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
Plain and simple, the Vikings need help on the defensive side of the football and with the top two corners off the board, going with a monster of a pass rusher seems like the easy choice. Jermaine Johnson could end up being the steal of the draft at No. 12.
13. Houston Texans - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia
The darling of the combine finds a home in Houston as they try to bolster the line on both sides of the ball and create some sort of strong foundation to build on. Let me tell you, you physically could not find bigger men to start your foundation with that’s for sure.
14. Baltimore Ravens - Drake London, WR, USC
Baltimore throws a curveball at the last second and instead of bolstering their already strong defense, they try to get Lamar an excellent outlet on cheap money as they get ready to pay their superstar quarterback.
15. Philadelphia Eagles - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Philly is chock full of first round picks over the next two years and the first one will be to grab a wide receiver they love before he gets scooped up and then address another need a few picks later.
16. New Orleans Saints - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
I know the Saints tend to be a little crazy with trading up, but you don’t move up like this unless there is a quarterback you love.
17. Los Angeles Chargers - Trevor Penning, OL, Northern Iowa
Anchoring your offensive line with a stud like Rashawn Slater in 2021 and then adding another massive, corn-fed boy opposite him in Trevor Penning is exactly how you want to support Justin Herbert.
18. Philadelphia Eagles - George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Karlaftis may not excite you, but you’ll be able to count on consistent, impactful production from him for years and Philly desperately needs pass rush help.
19. New Orleans Saints - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
You got your quarterback with Willis, so let’s give him a fun weapon to learn alongside with Michael Thomas’s future with the franchise still a mystery.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers - Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Mike Tomlin has had his eye on every single quarterback in the draft and even if Malik Willis seemed more of an exciting prospect, waiting for Ridder and getting more of a sure thing without giving up any assets felt like a much better plan.
21. New England Patriots - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Not exactly sure how a talent like Devin Lloyd fell quite this far in the draft, but Bill Belichick is laughing hysterically from his beach side property in Nantucket.
22. Green Bay Packers - George Pickens, WR, Georgia
I mean Green Bay’s only notable receivers at the moment are Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins. They need absolutely anything at the position and so in desperation, they grab one of my favorite prospects in George Pickens.
23. Arizona Cardinals - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Arizona needs defensive help desperately and McDuffie is the first step to solidifying the defensive backfield.
24. Dallas Cowboys - Zion Johnson, OL, Boston College
Jerry was really hoping one of the exciting young receivers would fall in his lap like Ceedee Lamb did two years ago, but to no avail. Instead, he grabs a big boy to lock up the offensive line with the ability to slide Zion Johnson in at guard or kick him out to tackle.
25. Buffalo Bills - Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
An absolutely massive swing by the Bills to go running back at the back end of the first round. Luckily for them, their roster is already so good that adding the most electrifying running back prospect in the draft seems like the perfect way to make their offense as potent and diverse as possible.
26. Tennessee Titans - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Mike Vrabel might just be done with Ryan Tannehill so it’s about time he adds a young quarterback prospect to either push Tannehill to the next level or out the door.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bernhard Raimann, OL, Central Michigan
Raimann is a very late riser on a lot of draft boards and the best way to keep Tom Brady happy is to keep him upright on the field.
28. Green Bay Packers - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Got Rodgers a receiver with their first pick in the draft and now it’s time to bolster the defense and get things going on both sides of the football.
29. Kansas City Chiefs - Daxton Hill, Safety, Michigan
The first of back to back picks gets you a replacement for Tyrann Mathieu and a great piece to play alongside newly signed Justin Reid.
30. Kansas City Chiefs- Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
You just traded away Tyreek Hill so you need to replace him with something and Dotson is the best receiver left.
31. Cincinnati Bengals - Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa
Most people would argue that a center shouldn’t be taken in the first round. I believe when your weapons are as good as Cincinnati’s, acquiring the guy who will play great football in front of Joe Burrow for the next ten years is an easy decision to make.
32. Detroit Lions - Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
I dare you to name the second cornerback on the Lions roster after Jeff Okudah because I bet you cannot.