2022 NFL Mock Draft: Spencer Rattler goes 1, Broncos land new QB
By Cory Kinnan
![Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler (7) scores a touchdown during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Oklahoma won 41-13. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]Photo 7](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F82209683a2169ff8c52b279ee99abee897c3389f62fae512589def0ede2b5734.jpg "Oklahoma's Spencer Rattler (7) scores a touchdown during a Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. Oklahoma won 41-13. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]Photo 7")
13. Carolina Panthers: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
After back-to-back classes of great offensive line talent, the 2022 class looks to drop way back down to earth. The talent is nowhere near the talent of the past two classes, resulting in the first one hanging on the board until the 13th pick in the class. The Carolina Panthers land Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal as we approach the midway point of this first round.
In all reality, the Panthers are prime candidates to trade up for a new quarterback as the Sam Darnold experiment seems unlikely to thrive (fingers crossed!). However, with no trades, the Panthers take another key position and upgrade their offensive line, an area they opted not to use their first round pick on a year ago.
14. Minnesota Vikings: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
The Minnesota Vikings have dealt with failures at the pass rush position over the past year as Danielle Hunter suffered a season-ending injury and Yannick Ngakoue turned out to be a waste of draft capital. Now, Hunter wants out of Minnesota, making pass rusher a top need for the Vikings with the 2022 NFL Draft still far in the future.
The second pass rusher comes off the board here in the form of USC’s Drake Jackson as the Vikings look to build a formidable edge-rushing attack once again. The 6-4 and 255-pound pass rusher is coming off of a sophomore season with two sacks and five and a half tackles for loss in a shortened season. With a full season ahead, Jackson looks to solidify himself as one of the top defenders in the class.