January 10, 2022
1. Jacksonville Jaguars
Kayvon Thibodeaux | Oregon, Edge
It seemed like mock draft’s have been split down the middle between the top 2 edge rushers going 1st overall, but the Jags elect to roll with the higher ceiling player that compares to past prospects like Jadeveon Clowney and Miles Garrett.
2. Washington Commanders(?) (from Detroit)
Detroit trades the 2nd overall pick to Washington for the 11th overall, 42nd overall, 189th overall and a 2022 1st Rd pick.
Kenny Pickett | Pittsburgh, QB
Boom! We have our first big action of the draft here, where Washington takes their shot at landing the QB of the future. There has been a QB selected inside the Top 3 in every single NFL draft since 2000…are we really convinced this year is different? The positional value in addition to the disparity leads Washington to pull the trigger and land the new face of the league’s latest re-branded franchise. Pickett’s underrated athleticism and arm strength reminds me of Joe Burrow and is why I am now convinced he is the QB1 of the class.
3. Houston Texans
Evan Neal | Alabama, OT
The Texans may have found something in Davis Mills, so now they need to give the young QB a fighting chance and draft the highest rate offensive lineman in this class. Neal is enormous (6’7″ & 350 lbs), but moves with grace and elegance that you won’t find often on the offensive line.
4. New York Jets
Derek Stingley | LSU, CB
The Jets could go edge here, but instead use the value to take the top overall cornerback in the class and hope they have landed a generational talent. Stingley missed time throughout his career at LSU, but was a pure lockdown corner while on the field and an integral piece of their championship season in 2019.
5. New York Giants
Aidan Hutchinson | Michigan, Edge
The Hutchinson “skid” ends at 5, where the Giants elect to take the edge rusher instead of investing in some support for Daniel Jones. Although the line is a bigger need, they have their second pick of the draft just two picks away with plenty of options in this deep OL class.
6. Denver Broncos (from Carolina)
Carolina trades the 6th Overall pick to Carolina for the 9th Overall, 60th Overall and 143rd Overall.
Matt Corral | Ole Miss, QB
Carolina has a lot of leverage with this pick, as they too are in need of a QB. However, they are also in need of draft capital (just 1 pick in the top 100), which is something that Denver has plenty of following the Von Miller trade. Corral has displayed a ton of potential on tape and is a quick decision maker with excellent mobility and arm talent.
7. New York Giants (from Chicago)
Kenyon Green | Texas A&M, IOL
The Giants took a gamble by picking Hutchinson at 5, but land one of the top interior lineman in the class at 7. The versatile lineman started in 4 different positions across the Aggies offensive line and can become an integral piece in the Giants’ never-ending rebuild.
8. Atlanta Falcons
DeMarvin Leal | Texas A&M, DL
The Falcons are rumored to be committed to Matt Ryan another year and clearly have holes to fill throughout their roster, especially on defense. Leal brings a ton of versatility to the putrid Falcons defensive line and can evolve into one of the most feared defenders in the NFL.
9. Carolina Panthers (from Denver)
Charles Cross | Mississippi State, OL
Carolina got just what they needed most with the 6th pick…more picks. Sam Darnold is likely the QB headed into 2022 and I will go out on a limb and say that this team is not winning the Super Bowl. Regardless, they had one of the worst offensive lines in the entire league that would’ve even held Matt Stafford back. There is still a lot of work to be done with this unit, but Cross is a step in the right direction.
10. New York Jets (from Seattle)
Jameson Williams | Alabama, WR
Perhaps the biggest riser in the class, Jameson Williams joins the Bama trend and is the 5th WR drafted in the 1st Round in the last three classes. The Jets seem to have found a stud in Elijah Moore, but Williams can help blow the top off of defenses and become one of the best WRs in the NFL.
11. Detroit Lions (from Washington)
George Karlaftis | Purdue, Edge
The Lions have the worst roster in the NFL, but have acquired the capital they need to successfully complete a rebuild. Karlaftis is an absolute freak of an athlete and would have been the first edge rusher drafted last year.
12. Minnesota Vikings
Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame, S
I’ve got Hamilton as #2 on my big board, but the positional value of safety just isn’t up to par with others in the NFL. Harrison Smith has been one of the best in the league for the last several years, but the 33 year old has a potential out in his massive contract following next season and likely could be a cap casualty with a brand new regime in town. Hamilton is a bit of a jackknife, but is too valuable of a player for a struggling and aging defense to pass up.
13. Cleveland Browns
Garrett Wilson | Ohio State, WR
It is still unknown what direction the Browns go at QB, but it is obvious that they also will need to improve on WR to have a fighting chance to compete in the AFC North. Wilson is a freakish athlete who can play any receiver position and contribute right away.
14. Baltimore Ravens
Jordan Davis | UGA, DT
The mighty Baltimore Ravens defenses have become a thing of the past, but Jordan Davis is a game wrecker that can anchor the defensive line and bring youth to the front 7.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami)
Drake London | USC, WR
The Eagles have found something in Devonta Smith, but are still paying for the Jalen Reagor pick from 2020. They pick wide receiver for the third straight year, but land a gamer that can help out in the red zone and give Jalen Hurts a bigger target. London is labeled as a great contested catch receiver, but he is absolutely a do-it-all prospect that could form one of the best young duos in the NFL.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis)
Roger McCreary | Auburn, CB
Darius Slay has been phenomenal this season, but he is the only NFL-worthy starter in the Eagles secondary. With their second pick, the Eagles take the long lockdown corner from Auburn who played some of his best outings against Jameson Williams, John Metchie and Treylon Burks.
17. LA Chargers
Nakobe Dean | UGA, LB
We just watched the Chargers pull a Charger by blowing another close game, but this time the entire season was on the line. It is clear that this team cannot defend the run, so naturally they can start from within and draft their defensive quarterback.
18. New Orleans Saints
Ahmad Gardner | Cincinnati, CB
The Saints just dropped a bag on Marshon Lattimore, but add Ahmad Gardner here to play as his counterpart. Gardner was one of the most impressive cornerbacks over the last two season, but will need to improve on his tackling and physicality when he gets to the next level.
19. Philadelphia Eagles
Tyler Linderbaum | Iowa, IOL
We rarely see center’s drafted highly, but many have Linderbaum pegged as a surefire first round pick. I’m still skeptical, but with the news of Jason Kelce’s retirement, the Eagles elect to take the solid interior lineman to immediately take over for the future Hall of Famer.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers
Sam Howell | North Carolina, QB
The Steelers go QB in the 1st for the first time since 2006 and attempt to replace a legend with the versatile dual threat QB from North Carolina. Howell had a rough season in 2021, but has shown plenty on film and has special arm talent and athleticism. Progressions, development and consistency will all be key areas to improve on and keep Howell very much in the “project” category, but the raw ability is clearly there.
21. New England Patriots
Devin Lloyd | Utah, LB
The Pats have exceeded expectations this year, but Dont’a Hightower will be 32 next year and has steadily regressed since opting out of the 2020 season. Lloyd can come in right away and learn from the veteran, while also contributing.
22. Houston Texans (from Miami, from San Francisco)
Miami trades the 22nd overall pick among others to Houston for Deshaun Watson.
Treylon Burks | Arkansas, WR
It’s no mystery that the Texans will be dealing Deshaun Watson and land a package of picks from the Dolphins here. Houston makes a splash and lands Mills a dominant WR in a TEs body.
23. Las Vegas Raiders
Ikem Ekwanu | NC State, OT
The Raiders spent a first round pick on starting guard Alex Leatherwood last year, but further add to the offensive line by taking the best player available, Ikem Ekwanu.
24. Arizona Cardinals
Andrew Booth, Jr. | Clemson, CB
The Cardinals had one of the most improved defenses in the league, but Marco Wilson has shown to be one of the biggest liabilities in the NFL. Andrew Booth is an absolute stud that checks all of the protocol necessary to succeed in one of the heaviest passing divisions in football.
25. Cincinatti Bengals
Trent McDuffie | Washington, CB
Awuzie has been one of the biggest surprises in the league this year, but the Bengals secondary would take an additional step up by swapping Trae Waynes with a long term replacement.
26. Buffalo Bills
Breece Hall | Iowa State, RB
The biggest hurdle the Bills have yet to clear is finding a consistent run game that will require less of Josh Allen. We know they wanted Etienne last year, but land Hall after suffering with a committee of broken backs for years.
27. Detroit Lions (from LA Rams)
Darian Kinnard | Kentucky, OT
The Lions address their OL with the second of their 1st round picks and take the talented All-American from Kentucky. Kinnard was successful in the RT spot and can significantly strengthen the Lions OL along with Penei Sewell.
28. Dallas Cowboys
Jaquan Brisker | Penn State, S
Regardless of the hype, the Cowboys secondary is the clear weakness of this team. Brisker brings ballhawking skills and elite athleticism to a team that has relied heavily on their turnover ratio.
29. Kansas City Chiefs
Chris Olave | Ohio State, WR
The Chiefs have been unable to find a clearcut number two wide receiver, but could add a high ceiling stud with track speed here. Olave is perfect for the Chiefs offense and would immediately become one of Mahomes’ top target as a rookie.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jahan Dotson | Penn State, WR
The Bucs are one of the most solid rosters throughout, but lost Antonio Brown and likely will be without Chris Godwin for a majority of the season, if he even returns. Dotson is a crisp route runner with one of the most refined skillsets in the class and could be another dominant weapon for Tom Brady.
31. Tennesse Titans
Tre McBride | Colorado State, TE
The Titans have struggled to find a long term Tight End, but McBride is a great receiving prospect that could add an extra element to this offense. As we know, Tannehill has loved his Tight Ends through the years.
32. Green Bay Packers
Trevor Penning | Northern Iowa, OT
Despite Rodgers’ success, the biggest weakness for this Packers team is the offensive line. Trevor Penning comes from the FCS level, but has been one of the most dominant offensive lineman in any division of football. Penning can come in and learn from Bakhtiari and has the ceiling to become one of the best offensive lineman in the NFL.
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