The leaves are changing and the divisions are shaping…it truly is the best time of the year. I have never been a big “way-too-soon” mock draft type of guy, but with the way some of these teams have played through the first month of the season…it really makes you scratch your head for what is in the future. There are still roughly seven months until the 2022 NFL Draft and I will be straightforward with you…the real NFL Draft is going to look a lot different than this Mock Draft. However, with that being said, there are a handful of players that make up the elite tier and are a lot to be selected on that fateful Thursday night. We have to start somewhere, so here we go.
1. Detroit Lions
Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon, Edge
Although Lions fan’s may be calling for Goff’s job, he is far from their biggest issue. Thibodeaux brings much needed energy to this defense and is defensive star that Detroit can build around.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (From Miami)
Evan Neal | Alabama, OT
I am not sure if Jalen Hurts is long for the league, but he has shown enough to at least keep the job while the Eagles attempt to rebuild their entire team.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Derrick Stingley | LSU, CB
Stingley has been the one bright spot on the Tigers since their 2019 National Championship run. The Jags whiffed on C.J. Henderson just two years ago in the 9th spot, but Stingley is pretty much a no brainer.
4. New York Jets
Aiden Hutchinson | Michigan, Edge
You could make the argument that the Jets need to spend as many picks as possible on the OL, but Aiden Hutchinson will be hard to resist. The Jets have plenty of capital left to surround Wilson with protection, so they can afford to use this pick on the best play available.
5. Houston Texans
Sam Howell | North Carolina, QB
The Texans take the first QB in the class at 5 with Howell, who has fallen on many big boards, but not ours. Howell has struggled due to being surrounded by one of the weaker supporting casts in the ACC, but still has flashed his elite ability.
6. New York Giants
Darian Kinnard | Kentucky, OT
The Giants have many issues to fix, but the biggest remains offensive line. LT Andrew Thomas has looked solid, but the same cannot be said about any of the other spots on the line. Kinnard has been a stud on Kentucky and is a big reason behind the Wildcats success both on the ground and through the air.
7. New England Patriots
Jordan Davis | UGA, DT
Davis was one of our top DTs in 2020, but he surprisingly returned to school to bet on himself. He has played phenomenal this season and has dominated on the line as one of the countries best defensive players.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame, S
The Eagles use their second top 10 pick on the defensive playmaker from Notre Dame, who can immediately bring some juice to the lagging defense.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (From Indianapolis)
Garrett Wilson | Ohio State, WR
If the Eagles cash out and land 3 top 10 picks, then they can get creative with their final pick of the round. Here they add to their young offensive core by locking down the top WR in the class.
10. Washington Football Team
Grayson McCall | Coastal Carolina, QB
Washington has been searching for a QB for years, but finally take a shot inside the top 10 for the first time since selecting RGIII. McCall is a deep sleeper at this point, but has absolutely shredded defenses through his first two years as a starter at Coastal Carolina. Don’t sleep on McCall.
11. Atlanta Falcons
Breece Hall | Iowa State, RB
The Falcons can’t rely on Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis to be long term options at RB, so instead they take the dominant playmaker from Iowa State.
12. New York Jets (From Seattle)
Ahmad Gardner | Cincinnati, CB
The Jets score one of the most technically sound players in the draft at pick 12. Gardner has remained one of the top corners in the country and is a HUGE reason why Cinci has reached the top 5.
13. Miami Dolphins (From San Francisco)
Tyler Linderbaum | Iowa, C
Linderbaum is a joy to watch on film and is an absolute mauler, something that Miami desperately needs to add.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
Desmond Ridder | Cincinnati, QB
Let’s face it, Big Ben is done. The Steelers could try to hold a competition between Haskins and Rudolph, but instead should decide to focus on the future and take the dual threat stud from Cincinnati.
15. Carolina Panthers
Jaxson Kirkland | Washington, OT
The Panthers are in desperate need on their offensive line and have a major hole at LT. After signing Taylor Moton to an extension, it seems that his true spot is on the right side. Kirkland is a high ceiling prospect that could be a day 1 starter in the LT position.
16. New York Giants (From Chicago)
George Karlaftis | Purdue, Edge
The Giants are desperate for a pass rush, so use their second pick on the edge rusher from Purdue. Karlaftis has struggled with sack production, but has shown on film that he absolutely can get to the QB. The Giants main priority this offseason NEEDS to be to surround DJ with as much help as possible, but if a stud like Karlaftis is still on the board, then it will be hard to pass.
17. Cleveland Browns
Treylon Burks | Arkansas, WR
The OBJ experiment has not worked in Cleveland, but the talented Burks could plug in as a big time playmaker in the run heavy Browns offense.
18. Kansas City Chiefs
Kenyon Green | Texas A&M, OL
The Chiefs have struggled thus far and that is mostly due to their defense. However, the offensive line has also been horrible since late last season. Green has been one of the best lineman in the country and could immediately be a building piece for this aging group.
19. Denver Broncos
Christian Harris | Alabama, LB
Harris has been an underrated key to Bama’s strong defense and would pair nicely with Bronco’s emerging star linebacker Alexander Johnson.
20. Minnesota Vikings
Andrew Booth Jr. | Clemson, CB
Clemson has been one of the biggest disappointments in college football, but Booth has been on of the few studs on the defense. If he falls to 20, any team on the clock should immediately turn in the draft card with his name on it.
21. Tennessee Titans
Demarvin Leal | Texas A&M, Defensive Line
Leal was a hot commodity in August, but his stock has taken a hit this season due to a dip in production. He is a bit of a Tackle/Edge tweener, but lacks the ideal size to be an NFL tackle and the ideal speed and technique to be a sack machine. However, his ceiling remains through the roof.
22. New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave | Ohio State, WR
The Saints have been a trainwreck for a while now, but can start to turn things around by taking another top receiver from OSU.
23. Las Vegas Raiders
Drake Jackson | USC, DL
The Raiders seem to be on the right track and certainly should start drafting better with Gruden finally out the door. Jackson can be the guy who turns around the Raider’s recent history with missing in the 1st.
24. Green Bay Packers
Zach Harrison | Ohio State, DL
Green Bay always is alive with Rodgers, but has struggled to assemble an elite DL. Harrison certainly can bring youth to the defense and add pressure on an every down basis.
25. LA Chargers
Roger McCreary | Auburn, CB
McCreary is a dark horse, but has dominated this season in SEC play. He has struggled with consistency, but has some of the best ball skills in the class.
26. Cincinnati Bengals
Trent McDuffie | Washington, CB
McDuffie is a classic PAC12 CB….oily hips, raw athleticism…but one thing he brings that many don’t is a fundamentally sound skillset. McDuffie could emerge as a clearcut 1st rounder by the end of the season.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Isaiah Spiller | Texas A&M, RB
Who knows how many years Brady will play, but if there is one thing we know is that he loves to assemble a crew of backs that can catch. Spiller certainly fits in that category.
28. Detroit Lions (From LA Rams)
David Bell Jr. | Purdue, WR
Detroit needs to give Goff weapons and David Bell Jr. has absolutely proven his NFL potential. Bell can be a true WR1 in the league and is at a great discount this late in the 1st.
29. Buffalo Bills
Jahan Dotson | Penn State, WR
The Bills can’t rely on Beasley and Sanders for much longer, so it is time to bring some youth to the Buffalo WR group. Dotson has gone off this season and has remained a constant security blanket for Sean Clifford.
30. Dallas Cowboys
Phidarian Mathis | Alabama, DT
I always thought Mathis was better than Barmore last year and I think both with find their chance to become big time playmakers in the NFL.
31. Baltimore Ravens
Kaiir Elam | Florida, CB
Elam has become one of the top CB prospects in the class and could slide down the board due to the solid depth. The Ravens look like one of the most unstoppable teams in the league, but always can add young talent to their secondary.
32. Arizona Cardinals
Drake London | USC, WR
The Cardinals remain undefeated, and despite the fact that I don’t think they have a chance at a Super Bowl, I left the order consistent with the current standings. A.J. Green is far too old to have any sustained success in that role, so why not take a shot on a high ceiling, big bodied WR for Kyler?
You are right about the Packers–with Zadarius Smith’s bad back and high price tag, they will looking for his replacement in Round One come this spring.