2022 NFL Mock Draft (2/8/2022)- Post Senior Bowl (With Trades!)

This is my first 2022 Mock Draft since the Senior Bowl took place down in Mobile, and from that event we gleaned a lot of information about numerous prospects up and down the board. We got our first real official measurements, see a lot of individual and one on one battles, and got a really fun to watch game on top of it. Many players saw their draft stocks rise or fall during the week and this mock draft hopes to reflect those changing opinions. 

This mock draft does involve trades. For the purpose of fairness, all trades are assumed to be purely draft pick based, with no players involved.

1.) Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

    With having back to back 1st Overall picks after drafting Trevor Lawrence last year, it is clear that this team needs help at almost every position on the roster. While it is tempting to take one of the top edge rushers, the Jaguars need to invest in protecting and supporting Lawrence and that should start with their offensive line. Neal looks to be the top lineman of the class and has the size and talent to be an elite tackle for years to come. He is a fantastic run blocker and very solid pass blocker with the ability to shut down the edge with a quick jump off the line.

2.) Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

    Much like the Jaguars, the Lions have plenty of holes to fill across the lineup and though Thibodeaux may offer more potential upside at the next level, the Lions may keep the Michigan product in-state in Hutchinson. He shot up draft boards with an outstanding season that saw him enter the Heisman conversation. With 14 sacks on the year, Hutchinson displays great power and speed in his game and was viewed as a tremendous leader for the underdog Wolverines. Coach Dan Campbell will love his high motor and quick jump off the line for his upstart Lions in 2022.

3.) Houston Texans - Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

    Despite not being drafted at #1 like he's been projected to, Kayvon Thibodeaux is still an amazing edge rusher with elite level ability and potential. While there are some injury concerns, the athleticism and talent are there to be potential superstar in the NFL. The Houston Texans are in desperate need for a star talent, especially at the pass rush positions, and they may view Thibodeaux as their next J.J. Watt.

4.) New York Jets - Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

    Ekwonu has been one the biggest risers throughout the 2021-22 season, and for good reason. The tackle is a tremendous run blocker and has the ability to shut down opposing rushers with ease. While he should be a good Day One starter, he does need to clean up his footwork to truly succeed at the next level. The Jets invested their entire 2021 draft into the offense and believe in Zach Wilson as their QB.  Pairing Ekwonu with recent draft picks Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker should hopefully allow Wilson to reach the potential many were hoping he could reach.

5.) (TRADE)* Pittsburgh Steelers - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

    With both Neal and Ekwonu off the board, and with the Giants still holding the 7th overall pick, the Giants make a deal with the Steelers, who are desperate to find their replacement for Ben Roethlisberger. With QB needy teams in the Panthers and Broncos upcoming, the Steelers make a huge move and take the first quarterback of the draft in Liberty's Malik Willis. Out of all the QB's at the Senior Bowl, Willis did the most to improve his draft stock, potentially catapulting him over Matt Corral and Kenny Pickett. Reports from Mobile suggest that Coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers love what Willis brings to the table. He has a high velocity arm with the athleticism to be quite mobile as well. Two big question marks with Willis: 1) How will he handle a steep jump in competition from Liberty to the NFL? 2) His accuracy and decision-making was questionable at times in college, can that be corrected at the pro level?

6.) Carolina Panthers - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

    With having passed on Quarterbacks in the past two NFL Drafts, the Panthers are done with trying to find their next QB on the market and instead reach a little bit for one in the Draft. Pickett had a very good senior season at Pitt and is viewed as the most "ready" rookie QB in the draft class. He displayed good accuracy and decision-making this season, and while he is in no way a "mobile" QB, he can extend the play outside the pocket at times as well. However, there are questions about his arm strength, not to mention having the much-maligned, "small hands". This is apparently so much of a concern that Pickett did not have them measured at the Senior Bowl, unlike every other QB. Despite all of that, Pickett can be very successful at the next level with the right development.

7.) New York Giants - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

    Even with the trade down earlier, the G-Men still find themselves reaching for much-needed offensive line help. Time is running out on Daniel Jones in the Big Apple, and he would benefit very much from a new offensive tackle in Charles Cross. Cross played in a air-raid style offense at Mississippi State, so we got to see a lot of him in pass protection, where he was dominant most of the time. He has the tools to also succeed as a run blocker. The hope is that Cross and former 1st round pick Andrew Thomas can anchor the o-line for years to come.

8.) Atlanta Falcons - Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU

    The Falcons are in a very odd position with their current roster. They have a fairly young defense that still needs some talent to come together, with an aging QB trying to win now. There are a lot of questions marks on both sides of the ball and it is very tempting to have them draft a wide receiver given the questions around Calvin Ridley and pending FA Russell Gage. However, the Falcons have been investing heavily into their secondary in past few drafts, such as drafting AJ Terrell, who had a breakout season this year, and safety Richie Grant. Drafting Stingley Jr could give them a seriously strong 1-2 punch at corner, given how high of a ceiling there is for the LSU product. Stingley was a monster as a freshman, but had his sophomore and junior seasons derailed by injuries. If he can stay healthy, Stingley has the potential to be a ball-hawking, shutdown corner for a long time in the NFL.

9.) Denver Broncos - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

    There's two Draft Day scenarios for the Broncos heading into the 2022 NFL Draft. The first is that they draft a QB here, like Matt Corral or Sam Howell. The second is that they have addressed their QB situation either through trade or free agency, such as acquiring Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson or somebody else. In this scenario, the Broncos can use this pick to bolster one of the few roster positions they are fairly weak in, linebacker. Nakobe Dean was the field general for the outstanding Georgia defense who offers a decent amount of pass rush ability while being aggressive in coverage as well. If Denver is able to add a QB and Dean, the Broncos will be a team to watch out for next season.

10.) New York Jets - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

    There's a good chance that Kyle Hamilton does not make it this far down the board, but the Jets would be glad to take the Notre Dame safety if he were to fall. Hamilton is a potentially generational safety prospect and can enter into a variety of roles for any given defense. He is good in run defense, a solid tackler, and can also help out in coverage over the top. His horizontal speed from one end of the field to the other is outstanding, which can cause nightmares for opposing QBs. The Jets may potentially lose pending FA Marcus Maye and are still looking to replace Jamal Adams; Hamilton could potentially be better than both in a few years.

11.) Washington Commanders - Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

        With a new name and a desire to start fresh from an era of controversy and mediocrity, the newly-minted Commanders make a big splash by taking Matt Corral to be their next QB. While Taylor Heinicke's story is phenomenal, he was just okay as a starter this year. Corral has the talent to start over him day one, but may benefit from sitting behind him as well. Corral is a good athlete who has been used to an RPO-heavy offense at Ole Miss. There are questions about his accuracy and his ability to move past his first read, but the hope is that a year or two of development can help him better round out his game. Corral has the potential to be a very good starter for a new era of Washington football.

12.) Minnesota Vikings - Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

    "Sauce" Gardner was an extremely good cornerback for the Bearcats, not giving up a single touchdown in his career. He plays a very smooth and fluid game and can mirror most opposing wideouts step for step down the field. Gardner can be physical when he needs to be, and has decent enough ball skills to come down an interception if played right. The Vikings have invested heavily in their secondary for years at this point, yet none of them have seemed to stick. Gardner hopefully bucks that trend this time around.

13.) Cleveland Browns - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

    It would be pretty shocking for the Browns to not take a wide receiver with this pick, and in this scenario they would have their pick at any of them. Wilson could be kept in-state and hopefully become the dominant target that the Browns hoped Odell Beckham Jr. would have been. Wilson is a crisp route runner with extremely soft hands. While he does not have immense speed like some of other wide-outs on the board still, he can still burn opposing DB's when he wants to. Wilson may be the most complete receiver in the class, and should be ready to step in an help Baker Mayfield from the get-go.

14.) Baltimore Ravens - David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan

    Playing on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson, one would think it would be pretty hard for Ojabo to stand out. However, Ojabo flashed some major potential with his play at Michigan. He's a lot less experience than Hutchinson, but showed as much, if not more explosive ability off the edge as a rusher. He is quite bendy, allowing him to shed blockers quickly and efficiently with great finesse. He definitely is not the strongest rusher, and does need to work on his run defense a bit, but overall Ojabo is a solid rotational piece with an extremely high ceiling. The Ravens still need pass rushers despite drafting the impressive Odafe Oweh last year, and Ojabo fits their mold of a raw, but highly skilled player that they hope to turn into a star.

15.) Philadelphia Eagles - Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State

    Before the Senior Bowl, Johnson was a fringe 1st round talent, likely to be an early to mid Day Two pick. Now, he is being regarded as potentially one of the top edge rushers of the class after dominating in Mobile. Johnson is a freak athlete, boasting good size and power as well as sneaky agility. He is an outstanding run defender and excels in pursuit of the ball carrier. In pass rushing scenarios, Johnson displays a variety of moves at his disposal that can be extremely effective, which makes it all the more frustrating as he sometimes seems to rush without utilizing them. His brute force may allow him to set a solid edge in the NFL, but may struggle to get by much bigger and established NFL-caliber tackles. Still, the Eagles, who need to rebuild their pass rush with an aging Fletcher Cox, get a potentially dominant edge defender for years to come.

https://abstractrome.blogspot.com/2022/02/jermaine-johnson-ii-edge-rusher-florida.html

16.) Philadelphia Eagles - Andrew Booth Jr, CB, Clemson

    With their second pick in a row, the Eagles again improve their defense by taking Booth Jr. to aid their ailing secondary. The Clemson product is a twitchy man coverage corner who excels at shadowing receivers down the boundary. The ball skills are there to grab picks if the opportunity arises and he possesses the speed and physicality to make it at the NFL level. Despite his high motor, there are some tackling concerns with Booth, but there is hope that can be coached up. The Eagles would likely view Booth Jr as their future replacement for Darius Slay down the road, though he has the potential to be an impact player right away.

17.) Los Angeles Chargers - Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

    Jordan Davis is a mammoth of a nose tackle prospect that aims to take out one or two blockers on any given play. With his size and strength, Davis does have an element of pass rush to his game, even if he may not finish with the sack. The Chargers desperately need to improve their defense, especially in their run-stopping ability and Davis projects to fill a huge amount space in the middle of the line that should hopefully allow their linebackers and edge rushers a chance to make a play.

18.) New Orleans Saints - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

While it is tempting to take a QB here, there is a good chance that pending FA Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill get another shot at being the starter next season, and for either to succeed they desperately need new weapons. Despite his ACL tear in the College Football Playoff, Jameson Williams projects to be a perfect foil to Michael Thomas if he return to New Orleans for next season. Williams has true burner speed and an ability to explode off the line of scrimmage and create separation. While he can definitely be a home-run hitter, he also has the ability to utilize his speed in shorter plays after the catch.  

19.) Philadelphia Eagles - Drake London, WR, USC

    Rounding out their three 1st Round picks, the Eagles give Jalen Hurts another weapon to pair with Devonta Smith. London has the potential to be the top wide receiver in the class, and stands out with his huge 6'5 frame. He is a physical wide-out with a knack for out-muscling opposing DBs for the football in contested catch scenarios. He also possesses solid footwork and route running, and is good after the catch as well. The Eagles lack that big and strong possession target in their air attack, and London should command good volume from the start.

20.) (TRADE) New York Giants - Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

    Originally the Steelers pick, the Giants continue to bolster their offensive line by adding interior lineman Kenyon Green. Green projects to be a guard at the NFL level, but has played every position but center for the Aggies in his collegiate career. He is a physical specimen that pairs power with a surprising amount of speed  and quickness. He reminds me a great bit of Elgton Jenkins, both with his size, style and versatility.

21.) New England Patriots - George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

    The Patriots improved dramatically last season, yet it still feels like they have a few holes to plug on their roster. They invested into their defensive line quite a bit last season with signing Matthew Judon and drafting DT Christian Barmore. Adding Karlaftis, a versatile power rusher to the mix should dramatically help the Pats' run defense and pass rush ability. The junior out of Purdue is atheletically gifted despite not possessing the same explosiveness or bendiness of the top edge rushers of the class. He can jump right in on the other side of Judon from day one and create havoc for QBs and RBs alike.

22.) Las Vegas Raiders - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

    The optimist in me desperately wanted to give the Raiders some offensive line help, or continue adding to their secondary. But this is the Raiders we are talking about, and despite having new leadership at the top, they may still fall in love with the athleticism and sky-high ceiling for Treylon Burks. They do have a void to fill at the receiver position, and while Burks may not be the burner they are looking for, he brings a very unique skillset and build to the table. Burks was utilized heavily in the screen and short pass game, which is unusual for someone 6'3, 215 lbs. Burks is a physical specimen who has huge big play potential. He has a huge catch radius and will fight through contact to get to the football. Many view Burks as potentially the top receiver of the class, and he has the talent to do so. However, he needs to expand his route tree and may need to be schemed into getting the football.

23.) Arizona Cardinals - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

    The Cardinals defense suffered a major collapse down the stretch and their secondary was a main cause of their issues. Trent McDuffie a solid, all-around cornerback who can succeed in both man and zone coverage schemes. He can play both on the boundary and in the slot/in a nickel role. While his versatility is a major point in his favor, he does fall into the "jack of all trades, master of none" kind of stereotype. Still, the Cardinals should value what McDuffie can bring to the table.

24.) Dallas Cowboys - Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

    While Trevon Diggs had a breakout season last year, the Cowboys are still on the hunt for a true lockdown corner. While there are concerns about McCreary's size and length, McCreary has some of the best tape from last season while at Auburn. He is excellent in zone coverage and, despite his reach disadvantage, has shown the ability to be very sticky in man coverage as well. He should pair well with Diggs and bolster their CB position to keep them in contention for next season.

25.) (TRADE) Los Angeles Chargers - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

    The Chargers believe that their time is now with Justin Herbert still on his rookie contract. With Lloyd still on the board, they are able to strike a deal with the loaded Buffalo Bills back into the first round, who get some 2nd and 3rd round picks to bolster their depth later in the draft. Lloyd balled out for the surprising Utah Utes last season and was easily their best player on either side of the ball. He has can move all over the field, making him dangerous in both run and pass defense. He has solid coverage ability and is a sure tackler; a real playmaker at the linebacker position, which is something the Chargers desperately need to shore up their front 7.

26.) Tennessee Titans - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

    The Titans have a well-rounded team on paper and don't really have a pressing need they need to fill at the top of the draft. In this instance, they take potentially the best player left on the board in FCS tackle Trevor Penning. Penning is a bit of a project, and does need to develop to reach his starting potential, which should be possible given he should start behind Taylor Lewan. Penning was dominant at the FCS level, especially in the running game, but did struggle to adapt to the much higher competition at the Senior Bowl at times. Still, he should be a valuable piece down the road for Derrick Henry and the Titans.

27.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

    The Bucs find themselves at a strange crossroads with the retirement of Tom Brady. On one hand, they have a veteran team that is built to win now on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. However, there is a massive void at both QB and also WR if pending FA Chris Godwin decides to move on with Brady gone. It is very possible they take a QB like Sam Howell or Desmond Ridder at a spot like this, but in this case they try and help out whoever their starter is going to be by giving them a solid weapon on the outside. Olave has found himself further down the board with the emergence of a few other receivers in the class, but the opinion of him has not really changed around the league. Olave is a great route runner who aims to create separation with good footwork and shiftiness. He does struggle to make the contested catches at times, but has the YAC ability after the catch that should demand a high volume of targets, even if a few hit the ground.

28.) Green Bay Packers - Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia

    Another team where their future plans revolve around what happens at their QB position; is Aaron Rodgers returning or is it the beginning of the Jordan Love era? There are plenty of pending free agents across the roster and their window to win another Super Bowl seems to be shutting as we speak. There still is quite a large part of me that wants to take a receiver here, but with Olave off the board, the Packers shore up their d-line with adding Walker out of Georgia. Walker is an explosive pass rusher who has a large bag of tricks and moves up his sleeve to shed blockers. He has big play potential, but can struggle to find consistency during a game. When he is on his game though, Walker can be a top edge rusher at the next level.

29.) Miami Dolphins - Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

    The Dolphins have continually made their offensive line a priority in the past few drafts and take a potentially elite-level center in Linderbaum here. While center is not a position of priority, Linderbaum has too much value to be still on the board at this point in the draft. The Iowa product projects to be a solid day one starter with elite potential, as he excelled in the run game in college. There is still some development needed with him, and he may need to put on some weight for the next level, but the Dolphins should have their center of the future here.

30.) Kansas City Chiefs - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

    The Chiefs, as usual, have the luxury of taking whoever they think the best player left in the draft is with their 1st round pick, and they hope to compliment and even potentially replace the great Tyrann Mathieu down the road by taking Hill here. The Michigan man is a solid corner with the speed to play over the top very well. He is a sure tackler, though should be kept away from the box with his smaller frame. There is a large contingent that view him as a valuable nickel defender and his skillset does compliment him fitting into that type of role.

31.) Cincinnati Bengals - Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

    Every person familiar with the Bengals roster knows what their main point of weakness is, their offensive line. Its honestly a miracle and testament to QB Joe Burrow that he was able to still produce at an extremely high level given the lack of protection for him at times this season. Johnson was another major riser at the Senior Bowl, and showed that he could not only hang with the elite edge rushers of the class, but at some points even dominate them. There is still a ways to go with Johnson in terms of succeeding at the NFL level, especially in his footwork at times, but he has tools and willingness to reach his potential.

32.) Detroit Lions - David Bell, WR, Purdue

    The Lions got a steal in 4th round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown last year, but still desperately need pass catchers if Jared Goff has any chance of succeeding next season. While Bell will not wow anybody with his athleticism or frame, he is a highly intelligent and shifty possession receiver. Bell may be the top route runner in the class, and is how he creates separation as he lacks the speed of many other receivers in the class. He possesses an elite ability to high point the football and come down with contested catches. Despite not being the biggest or strongest receiver, Bell is extremely physical and will draw defensive pass interference calls frequently. There are questions if he could get open at the NFL level, but I believe in his ability to make a contested catch when the need arises.