Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma takes the No. 1 spot and the Eagles give up on Jalen Hurts in this aggressively early 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
It’s a quarterback-driven league and that’s evident in our latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Our first couple of picks in this incredibly early mock draft end up being quarterbacks, which shouldn’t be a surprise at all. Year after year, the teams that wind up picking in the top of the draft are the ones that need to get better under center.
With that said, we dive right into this mock, with Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler being the first name to be announced.
Note: As It has been for several of these mocks, the order is predicted by our latest 2021 NFL Power Rankings.
1. Houston Texans: Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma
It’s not going to be a good season for the Houston Texans. They went 4-12 last season and then hired David Culley in the offseason as their new coach.
While Culley might be a great guy, the truth is, he was arguably the most questionable hire of the offseason (although Dan Campbell might enter that chat before long).
Culley’s last few stops don’t really inspire confidence. He was the wide receiver coach in Kansas City when the team famously had no touchdowns from their wideouts. That was in 2014 and it was the first time since 1964 such a thing happened. He was then the quarterback coach in Buffalo when their quarterback play was awful — and Josh Allen started to improve after he left. Then the past two seasons, he has been the wide receiver coach in Baltimore where their receivers were among the least effective in the game.
So now, a guy with a lot of question marks takes over a team with some serious issues — and that’s before getting into the Deshaun Watson legal drama.
In the end, this will probably be a bad season for Houston but they can at least start over with Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma who snatches the top spot in this mock draft.
One of the players listed on the Davey O’Brien watch list, Rattler is coming off a fantastic 2021 campaign. That season, he finished with3,031 yards and a 28-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. On top of that, he ran six touchdowns as well for the Sooners.
He’s a great playmaker for Oklahoma and that’s exactly what the Texans need.
2. Detroit Lions: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
From one new coach to another. The Detroit Lions land at No. 2 in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft and while there might be questions about Dan Campbell as a head coach, there are no questions about his roster. That’s because it simply isn’t a great one.
Campbell has his work cut out for him but the Lions front office isn’t expecting him to turn water into wine in 2021. They know that this is going to be quite a rebuild, which is why they decided to move on from Matthew Stafford in favor of Jared Goff — and they picked up some great draft stock as well in the move. Now armed with two picks in the opening round, the Lions replace Stafford with North Carolina’s Sam Howell
There are those who have Howell as the No. 1 pick and when all is said and done, that could be the case. However, in this mock, it’s expected that Rattler will wow scouts with his overall athleticism whereas Howell could be dinged a bit due to the offense he plays in for the Tar Heels.
Still, he’s no consolation prize and Detroit should feel good about his chances of supplanting Goff and allowing them to move forward in 2022.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Three in a row when it comes to new coaches and it feels like it needs to be said at this point that this was not planned. As for the Jacksonville Jaguars, they find themselves in a different spot than the previous two teams with new coaches since they don’t need a new quarterback since they used the No. 1 overall pick in this past draft on Trevor Lawrence from Clemson.
All signs point to Lawrence being a legit player in the NFL and the only real question right now is whether or not Urban Meyer is the right coach. He comes in with an impressive resume at the collegiate level but making the jump to the NFL isn’t easy.
The front office will likely be patient with him though since this roster leaves a lot to be desired. Jacksonville has needs all over either side of the ball but with this pick, they take Kayvon Thibodeaux from Oregon.
Standing 6-foot-5 and 250-pounds, Thibodeaux is built for playing on the edge and he exploded in 2019 with nine tackles for the Ducks. In just seven games this past season, he saw that number drop to three but he still looks to be one of the better defensive linemen in the nation and is already a stud when it comes to defending the run.
Should he get his pass-rushing technique down, he’s going to be a star for many years to come — and the Jaguars need that on defense in the worst way.
4. Las Vegas Raiders: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
It’s tempting to predict the best player from Alabama or Clemson here since that’s what Mike Mayock and Jon Gruden have loved doing since taking their respective roles with the Las Vegas Raiders. However, we go with a player who is a great value pick here and who also fills a massive need by taking Derek Stingley, the cornerback from LSU.
Kent Lee Platte of the Pro Football Network says that Stingley is not only a top cornerback in this class but also a top player overall, which is why the Raiders would have no problem breaking their own unwritten rule and taking a player who didn’t go to Alabama or Clemson with their top pick.
"“Stingley is considered a top corner and indeed one of the top players in the 2022 draft class. This is in part due to his 6 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery in 2019. He was challenged far less in 2020, not collecting a pick and only recording 27 tackles and 5 pass deflections in 7 games.” — Platte Pro Football Network"
The Raiders decision-makers have taken players such as Kolton Miller, so it shows they will go away from their preferred schools, and in this mock, it’s a wise move since they get a defensive playmaker who will instantly make them better.
5. Philadelphia Eagles: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Another quarterback makes the list and this one might feel a little early — but as we have seen in the past, it’s never too early to go after a signal-caller when your team really needs on. And while Jalen Hurts has all the intangibles, he doesn’t appear to be a legit NFL star which is why the Eagles find themselves in need of a quarterback.
Corral had a breakout season in 2020 for the Rebels completing just under 71 percent of his throws for 3,337 yards with 29 touchdowns and 14 picks. This was a huge leap from what he showed the prior season when he had 1,362 yards on 59 percent passing with six touchdowns and three picks.
In addition to his impressive accuracy, Corral is pretty mobile as well. He moves in the pocket to buy time and also had 506 yards rushing with four touchdowns during his redshirt sophomore season.
Entering 2021, he has a lot to prove in order to go this high but if he plays as well as he did last year, there’s no reason to think there won’t be at least one team ready to turn their offense over to him. And the Eagles will be more than happy to get someone they can believe in once again.
6. Cincinnati Bengals: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
When the Cincinnati Bengals were on the clock at No. 5 in the 2021 NFL Draft, just about everyone tuning in thought they were going to take Penei Sewell from Oregon. After losing Joe Burrow to a torn ACL, that would have been a pretty good move too.
Burrow spent his entire rookie season being hit by defensive linemen then he finally saw the year come to a premature end when he took a hit that messed up his knee. However, the Bengals elected not to take Sewell, instead grabbing Ja’Marr Chase from LSU.
Chase does make sense when not looking at the offensive line since he already has a rapport with Burrow. They were teammates in 2019 for LSU and the wideout was his favorite target. He will be once again and adding him to the same offense as Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd almost feels unfair.
Having said all that, they need to get an offensive tackle in this draft and they grab the No. 1 guy on the board in Evan Neal from Alabama. AT 6-foot-7 and 360-pounds, Neal is massive but he’s still pretty athletic and is able to hold up against both the run and the pass.
Cincinnati’s line just got a lot better with this pick and as long as they don’t get Burrow hurt again in 2021, their offense might finally start to come together and reach their full potential.
7. Carolina Panthers: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
The Carolina Panthers are a team that can go one of two ways, and it all hinges on how Sam Darnold works out for them. Darnold was added in the offseason in a trade with the New York Jets after Gang Green gave up on the former No. 3 overall pick.
Darnold struggled mightily in New York but he was also working under Adam Gase — and Ryan Tannehill has shown us how much better a quarterback can be once they get away from Adam “crazy eyes” Gase.
He’s also got some solid receivers with Robby Anderson (who he has a rapport with), D.J. Moore, and rookie Terrace Marshall, Jr. who could be a great find as long as he stays healthy. There’s also rookie tight end Tommy Tremble, an athletic player from Notre Dame who can develop into a real weapon.
What they can use is more help on the offensive line. There’s an expectation that Greg Little could develop into a decent left tackle and Taylor Moton has the right side locked up. They added Deonte Brown in the draft this season and now go with Kenyon Green from Texas A&M who can play guard or tackle at the next level. Ideally, Carolina will play him at left guard but they could use him to replace Little as well if he doesn’t become the player they hope he can be.
8. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
There was clearly a plan this offseason for the New York Giants — fix their offense. They’re trying to see if Daniel Jones is the guy and he won’t have any excuses after the moves they made.
New York spent big money on Kenny Golladay to give him a true No. 1 wide receiver. They also picked up John Ross and tight end Kyle Rudolph in free agency to make sure there was a speed element and a sure-handed wideout.
If that wasn’t enough, they also picked up Kadarious Toney in the draft. So with all that being said, why are they taking a wide receiver here? The reason is that there was already a question mark with Golladay who was injured in 2020 and he suffered an injury early in camp.
It’s not time to panic but if the injuries continue to pile up, the Giants are going to need another wideout. And even if he is able to stay healthy, putting Garrett Wilson on the opposite side of the field would be a great move — and then having Toney in the slot with those two would simply be deadly.
Of course, going this route is only possible if Daniel Jones does take his next step and prove he can be the guy.
9. Denver Broncos: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Denver Broncos have two quarterbacks under contract in Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater — and the saying is when you have two quarterbacks, you really have none. That’s possibly true for the Broncos as they saw Lock take a big step in the wrong direction during his second season.
He missed the majority of his rookie year in 2019 but when he was on the field that year, he led the Broncos to a 4-1 mark and there was a lot of hope he could be even better in 2020. When that didn’t happen, they elected to trade for Bridgewater who started for the Panthers last season before being displaced by Sam Darnold.
Bridgewater is a former first-round pick who has been able to come back from a serious knee injury that threatened his career to become a competent player. However, he’s more of a bridge player (no pun intended) that can be a great No. 2 quarterback.
With all that being said, the Broncos are likely going to be looking for a new quarterback unless Lock completely breaks out. This mock is predicting that doesn’t happen and they instead go for Desmond Ridder from Cincinnati.
Not everyone has Ridder in the first round yet but he’s a player to watch this season. He’s a dual-threat who can put himself on the radar with another big season for the Bearcats.
10. New York Jets: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Arguably the best coaching hire of the offseason (well, I won’t argue it, but some might) was Robert Saleh who will be taking over the New York Jets. Saleh is not only a great defensive mind but he’s also someone the players truly believe in.
He also brought in a Mike LaFleur to be the offensive coordinator, giving him an up-and-coming play-caller on the offensive side of the ball. Now, all they need to do is add the right players, and so far they seem to be doing well in that regard.
New York picked up Carl Lawson to give them a premium edge rusher in free agency and Corey Davis to give them a No. 1 wideout. Then in the 2021 NFL Draft, they picked up quarterback Zach Wilson and offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker in the first round and Elijah Moore in the second.
With all that help coming to the offense in the draft last season, they now turn their attention to defense in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft as they take Kaiir Elam from Florida. Elam has great length which Saleh loves in his defenders and he’s also very physical. He could develop into a No. 1 cornerback and the Jets could surely use that.
11. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Could the Atlanta Falcons go after a quarterback with the No. 10 pick in this mock draft? Absolutely.
Should they go after one when the real draft comes around? Probably.
Having said that, we don’t do that in this mock simply because the ones who are worthy of going in the opening rounds are already off the board. They could look to move up via trade but with this mock not having trade predictions, the Falcons end up sticking with Matt Ryan for another year.
As for their pick at No. 11, they wind up taking Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton who helps replace the two safeties they lost this offseason ‚— both Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee signed with the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason.
Hamilton is well-built at 6-foot-4 and 219-pounds and has been all over the field for the Irish. He has 104 tackles, 12 pass defenses, and five picks in two seasons and enters 2021 as the best prospect at the position.
He’s great in both pass protection and run support, essentially becoming a player who can be moved all around the field. Considering how bad the Atlanta defense was in 2020, landing a player who can do as many things as Hamilton can would be a huge plus for them.
12. Minnesota Vikings: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
The Minnesota Vikings finally got things figured out this offseason with Danielle Hunter and signed him to a five-year, $72 million extension. That means they have one elite pass rusher but they could use another.
That’s why they take George Karlaftis from Purdue at No. 12. He enters this season with plenty to prove after playing in just 14 games but Joe Marino of The Draft Network is a believer in him and thinks he has the makings of a first-round pick.
"“Karlaftis has only played in 14 career games but has compiled 19 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in those contests. He’s a powerful defender that knows how to reduce rush angles and squeeze gaps as a run defender. He’s primed for a big year in 2021 and has the makings of a first-round selection if he builds off his early success.” — Marino, The Draft Network"
There’s clearly an argument to be made for the Vikings taking a cornerback here, especially after cutting ties with Jeff Gladney but an edge rusher could help just as much. Sure, cornerbacks are important but adding another premium defensive end will force the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quicker, thus making things easier for the guys they do have on the back end.
13. New York Giants: Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
They already beefed up their offense and now the New York Giants are back on the clock with their own selection — their first pick in this mock was courtesy of the trade with Chicago who moved up to land Justin Fields.
Having two picks in the opening round is huge for them since it meant they could take the best player available earlier ‚— which was Garrett Wilson — and then land a player at a position of need with their second selection in the top-15.
That’s what they do here as they land Christian Harris from Alabama, who can come in and fill one of their interior linebacker roles. Harris is listed at 6-foot-2 and 232-pounds and enters 2021 with a lot of promise. He has played just two seasons so far but has already racked up 140 tackles and recorded 4.5 sacks last year as well.
He’s very athletic and that jumps out on tape but there are a few areas that he needs to clean up — with his consistency as a tackler being the main one. Of course, Alabama players are known to make huge leaps in their final seasons with the team, which is a testament to their impressive coaching staff.
As for the Giants, their roster could suddenly be a formidable one in the NFC East if these two picks pan out for them.
14. Los Angeles Chargers: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
Justin Herbert wasn’t just good in 2020 for the Los Angeles Chargers, he was great. The No. 6 overall pick not only had people asking how the Miami Dolphins passed on him for Tua Tagovailoa but there were even some legit questions about whether or not he was better than Joe Burrow.
Of course, the torn ACL for Burrow likely skewed that debate because he too was playing lights-out when he was healthy. For the Chargers, they don’t care if Herbert is better overall than Burrow, they’re just thrilled to have seamlessly gone from Philip Rivers to Herbert, giving them one franchise quarterback to follow their last — which isn’t an easy thing to do.
After he broke the NFL record for touchdown passes last season, Herbert enters year two with much higher expectations. He also has to get used to a new tight end with Hunter Henry heading to New England. The Bolts added Jared Cook who will be a great stop-gap but at his age, he won’t be the guy for long.
That leads to the selection of Jalen Wydermyer from Texas A&M. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 265-pounds, Wydermyer is a massive target who already has 12 touchdown receptions for the Aggies. Another big campaign in 2021 should solidify him as the top player at his position in the 2022 draft.
15. New England Patriots: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
This offseason was fun for New England Patriots fans who watched as their team completely changed their philosophy. After a losing season that saw them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2008, the Pats went out and spent some money.
They added Matt Judon, Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, and several others. They also added a new quarterback, taking Mac Jones in the first round and while he has to beat out Cam Newton this season, he should eventually be the No. 1 guy.
Even with those additions, the Pats don’t really have a No. 1 wide receiver. They have good players who can play their roles but they could use more, which is why they land Chris Olave from Ohio State at No. 15 in this mock.
Olave nearly went into the draft this past season and had he done so, he might have been a borderline first-round pick. He elected to return for his final season of eligibility with the Buckeyes and even though Garrett Wilson is the first from his school to be taken, Olave should still be able to prove he belongs in the first round this season.
New England would be landing a player who just does everything well. He might not stand out in any one area but he just doesn’t have many holes in his game and those are the players Bill Belichick loves.
16. Washington Football Team: Zion Nelson, OT, Miami
The Washington Football Team can be a sneaky good team this season. They won the NFC East last year with a record of 7-9 and while it’s easy to scoff at that and blame their division title on a terrible division, they did still exceed expectations.
Not only did they win their division but they did so while cutting a former first-round pick quarterback, dealing with another injury for Alex Smith (who was still the feel-good story of the season), and having to adapt to a new coach in Ron Rivera who was also battling cancer.
In all, they became an easy team to root for — as long as you could pretend Dan Snyder wasn’t part of the team — and they could be even more successful in 2021. Washington still boasts an elite defense and they added Ryan Fitzpatrick who was on a roll in Miami before being benched for Tua.
Fitzpatrick has been around since the late 1800s it seems, so he probably won’t be the starter for long, meaning Washington could go for a quarterback in this draft. But with how this mock has gone, it would be a stretch to take one here so instead they land a new offensive tackle in Zion Nelson.
He and Samuel Cosmi can battle one another for the starting left job with the other taking over at right tackle — and that would help the Football Team tremendously to have two capable — and young — offensive tackles to book end their line.
17. New Orleans Saints: Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
Stop me if you’ve heard this before — the New Orleans Saints need help at wide receiver. Sure, they have Michael Thomas who is one of the most productive in the game but outside of him, there’s a lot to be desired.
On top of that, they suddenly have some issues with Thomas. After scoring no touchdowns in an injury-plagued season, whispers of discord between Thomas and the team started to surface. Now, there are even more disturbing reports about him ignoring calls from the team following the 2020 season with Patrik Walker of CBS Sports saying simply “things are rapidly deteriorating between the All-Pro and the team.”
Of course, everything in the NFL is salvageable as we have seen time and again but the Saints do have an issue on their hands. Even if they get Thomas back on their side, history might not be on their side and any solution they find this year could be temporary.
That’s why they have to land a wideout in 2022 — which they do here with the selection of Justyn Ross from Clemson. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 205-pounds, Ross had 112 receptions for 1,865 yards and 17 touchdowns. As a freshman, he averaged 21.7 yards per catch, showing his ability to get deep.
Ross sat out the 2020 season but is back in 2021 and if he continues on the path he was on in his first two seasons, he should solidify his position as a top receiver in the draft.
18. Tennessee Titans: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
In 2020, the Tennessee Titans tried to fix their pass rush by signing Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley. Clowney would play opposite Harold Landry who had a breakout season in 2019 with 68 tackles and nine sacks.
Those signings didn’t work out as both players ended up not recording a single sack for them. Beasley was actually waived in November when they realized he wasn’t a fit whereas Clowney at least played well in the run game but was sent to the IR with a shoulder injury after just eight games.
Now in 2021, they’ll be expecting to see Bud Dupree fill the role after signing him to a long-term deal. The problem is, Dupree is also coming off an injury that could hurt him this year. It might also make it hard for them to extend Landry who is entering the final season of his deal. Throw in the fact that Landry hasn’t proven to be an elite pass rusher and the Titans could elect to go with youth across from Landry.
That’s why this pick is Myjai Sanders from Cincinnati who has 11 sacks in the past two seasons. The 6-foot-5, 258-pounder has played on the line for the Bearcats but has the right frame to make the shift to a stand-up pass rusher in the Titans’ scheme.
19. Indianapolis Colts: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
This season seemed like it could have been a lot of fun for the Indianapolis Colts after they added Carson Wentz in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, Wentz went in the wrong direction with the Eagles after signing his extension but he was at his best when Frank Reich was his offensive coordinator.
Now reunited with Reich, the head coach in Indy, Wentz was ready to hit the fountain of youth. But then fans were reminded of one of the reasons the Eagles gave up on the former second overall pick when Wentz suffered a foot injury and needed to have surgery.
He shouldn’t miss the entire season but it’s a stark reminder that he’s not someone who they can truly rely on unless they have a huge stock of antacids available.
Looking past their concerns there, the Colts will have to continue to build around Wentz to give him players who can help him succeed — and the better their roster is, the better Jacob Eason can do in his absence. One area of weakness is at wide receiver which is why they take George Pickens at No. 19.
The Georgia receiver has elite size at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. He had 513 yards and six touchdowns in eight games last season and is a player to watch this year. If he refines his technique, he could become a potential No. 1 at the next level.
20. Arizona Cardinals: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
The Arizona Cardinals went with linebackers in the first round of each of the past two drafts, adding Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Zaven Collins in 2021. Simmons is a hybrid player who can be moved all around the defense whereas Collins is more of a traditional linebacker even though he’s built like a defensive end.
They also added Rondale Moore this year but they could stand to put more young talent on the offensive side of the ball to help their star quarterback Kyler Murray. They already saw how much he can grow as a player when they gave him help as Murray and the Arizona offense looked much better in 2020 with the addition of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
That leads to the selection of Rasheed Walker from Penn State who would fill a major need for them. Arizona has plenty of talent on offense but their line needs some work. Currently, D.J. Humphries and Kelvin Beachum are slated to be the starting tackles with Josh Jones being groomed behind them.
Even if Jones reaches his potential, Arizona will need another starter at the position and Walker should be a long-term player in the NFL. He’s built perfectly at 6-foot-6 and 320-pounds and has more than enough athleticism to make it as a left tackle which the Cards could use.
21. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
Running backs going in the first round of the draft has always been a hot topic. However, Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network pointed out that two went in this past draft on day one and says teams aren’t devaluing the position as much as it seems when the player’s skill set warrants it.
He then asks if Breece Hall from Iowa State could be the next to go in Round 1.
"“The debate regarding the value of running backs will wage on for years to come, but NFL teams don’t seem keen on devaluing the running back’s skillset within the league itself. Two running backs — Najee Harris and Travis Etienne — were drafted in Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft. And over the past four drafts, an average of 4.5 running backs have gone in the first two rounds. Running backs who can create to some degree will always be valued over their counterparts. Looking at his scouting report, does Iowa State RB Breece Hall have the skill set to be valued as such in the 2022 NFL Draft?” — Cummings, Pro Football Network"
Cummings says that Hall could have a shot at landing in the first due to his great burst, vision, and ability to change direction. He does need to get better at creating yards after contact but Hall is still a player who can really open up the Miami offense.
This team is close to being contenders and adding a workhorse back who can put up insane numbers could be the difference.
22. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Back on the clock for the second time in this mock, the Detroit Lions now get to use the Los Angeles Rams first-round pick which was part of the Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff swap. They already went with Sam Howell at No. 2 which allows them to either move on from Goff next year or at least develop Howell behind him (which isn’t the best idea but that’s an argument for a different day).
Now, they get Howell a new No. 1 wide receiver by taking Treylon Burks from Arkansas. It’s been a while since an Arkansas wideout has been in the discussion for first-round consideration (Cobi Hamiltonin 2013 was the last) but Burks put himself in the discussion with a fantastic 2020 campaign.
That year, he hauled in 51 passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games — which eclipsed his numbers from his freshman campaign.
Standing in at an impressive 6-foot-3 and 225-pounds, Burks has more than enough size to win against any defensive back. But he’s not just a big-bodied receiver either. He’s averaging 16.2 yards per catch for the Razorbacks and has more athleticism than the average player of his size.
Detroit lost Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones this past offseason and they begin the rebuild with Burks, who could prove to be a lot of fun to watch.
23. Dallas Cowboys: Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern
This one might be tough to see coming to fruition because the Dallas Cowboys need a safety more than anything but their front office seems to avoid the position like most people avoid the automated calls attempting to convince them to extend the warranty on their car.
Having said that, they did prove during this past offseason that they could be finally considering making some moves at safety. They signed two guys who could be playmakers in Malik Hooker and Damontae Kazee. They’re each coming off injuries so there are questions and they have one yeard deals apiece, so if they do well it’s likely they leave and Dallas is in the same boat they’ve been in for years (since they aren’t likely to pay them unless it’s at a major discount).
That’s a whole lot of words to say that they should take Brandon Joseph from Northwestern at No. 23. Joseph went off in 2020 with 46 tackles and an impressive six interceptions while playing only eight games in 2020.
He came from out of nowhere and can put himself into the first round with another season like he had during his sophomore campaign. And for Dallas, he could provide a major solution to a problem they hate admitting they have.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
There once was a time when the Pittsburgh Steelers defense was the absolute best in the NFL. That was something that was the norm from year to year and while they’re not where they used to be, they’re still trending back in that direction thanks in large part to players such as T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick who are both one of the more dominant names at their respective positions.
What they don’t have at the moment is top-tier cornerbacks. Sure, Joe Haden was once in that category but at 32, he’s on the back nine of his career. Justin Layne and Cam Sutton are also both solid players but neither seem set to take over for Haden as the No. 1 corners.
In an effort to find someone who can be developed into that, they take Andrew Booth, Jr. from Clemson. Booth is a guy who excels due to his physical and aggressive play at cornerback. He can mirror the receiver but has no problem also playing in zone.
Booth also shows fearlessness as a tackler in run support. He’s still rather inexperienced but if his play continues at the level he showed during 2020, he should be one of the top players at his position in the 2022 draft.
25. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina
One name to watch this season in the SEC is Kingsley Enagbare from South Carolina. The senior defensive end broke out in 2020 with 30 tackles and seven sacks in eight games.
That was enough for the Gamecocks defender to be put on the Chuck Bednarik watch list. Should he win the award, he would be the first-ever from his school to do so according to Jacob Elsey from Garnett and Cocky.
"“The edge rusher was recently named as a preseason nominee for the Chuck Bednarik Award watchlist. The honor is given annually to the nation’s top defensive player, and past winners have included Julius Peppers, David Pollack, Ndamukong Suh, and Aaron Donald. Enagbare will have the chance to become the first Gamecock to ever win the award, but it will take another impressive performance. He finished in the top 30 in the nation in sacks a game, averaging .75 quarterback takedowns per contest. That was the second-best mark in the SEC.” — Elsey, Garnett and Cocky"
He lands here with the Philadelphia Eagles who could be in the market for a new defensive end with Brandon Graham getting a bit long in the tooth and Derek Barnett still not meeting his full potential.
26. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Cade Mays, IOL, Tennessee
The second pick in Round 1 that the New York Jets received from the Seattle Seahawks in the Jamal Adams trade (they absolutely fleeced the Seahawks in that one by the way) comes due here and they use this one to try and help their young quarterback, Zach Wilson, get more comfortable in the pocket.
New York picks up Cade Mays who could take their offensive line from good to great. New York drafted Mekhi Becton last season and he played well enough to give them confidence that he’s the future left tackle for them. They also added Morgan Moses to play on the right side, solidifying their bookends.
Inside, they now have Alijah Vera-Tucker who they took in the first round this season and in the middle is Connor McGovern who has proven in the past he can be a solid center even though he did decline some in 2020 with the Jets.
Mays can slide into the right guard spot giving them five very capable starters. The Jets have several key pieces and while it’s tempting to add another playmaker, fielding a line that can dominate the opposition would make things even easier for those who are already on the roster. And most importantly, it would help Wilson succeed since he would have more than enough time to sit in the pocket and make his reads.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Sevyn Banks, CB, Ohio State
The Baltimore Ravens have a very talented secondary as it stands now. There’s Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, and Jimmy Smith already under contract. However, Smith is 33-years of age and is playing on his second consecutive one-year deal.
He found out that in free agency, no one was going to give him a better contract than the Ravens but considering his age and the fact that he hasn’t played a full season since 2015, Baltimore is clearly just biding their time before finding someone else who can solidify their secondary.
They also have shown in the past that they will find a future starter to play behind a veteran — such as J.K. Dobbins behind Mark Ingram. They’re a smart team who always keeps one ye down the road which is why taking Sevyn Banks at No. 27 feels like something they would do.
Not only does this allow them to move on from Smith but they could also look to replace any of their other veterans if they needed to free up cap space.
Banks is the next in a long line of Ohio State cornerbacks who have plenty of potential to be a No. 1 corner at the next level. He needs to improve his ball skills — only one pick in three seasons — but he does a lot right in coverage and would get great coaching in Baltimore to help him reach his full potential.
28. Cleveland Browns: John Metchie, WR, Alabama
The Cleveland Browns returned all 11 starters on offense this season which is an uncommon thing to do. It’s great for them, however, since they really had a good offense in 2020 — which is easy to recognize when you see they won 11 games despite having a terrible defense.
Looking forward, those 11 won’t be the same starters in 2022. Cleveland has two high-priced receivers in Odell Beckham, Jr. and Jarvis Landry who each have not had the production that their pay suggests they should.
They elected to stick with the same starters in 2021 and added rookie Anthony Schwartz as a rotational piece but they will need a new No. 1 threat soon which is why John Metchie makes perfect sense for them.
Metchie was a star for the Crimson Tide in 2020 with 916 yards and six touchdowns. He also averaged 16.7 yards per catch, which is a healthy average and the Browns could surely use someone who is able to get deep and beat man coverage.
Cleveland has been able to look the other way with some of their current underperformers but now that they extended Nick Chubb and will need to lock up Baker Mayfield, Denzel Ward, and Wyatt Teller, they’re going to need to get younger — and cut some payroll — in other spots. And this is the one that makes the most sense.
29. Buffalo Bills: Tyler Linderbaum, IOL, Iowa
Josh Allen just got a lot of money.
The Buffalo Bills forked out $258 million over the course of six seasons for Allen which is an average of just under $43 million per year. It was also a brilliant move by the Bills. By locking up Allen now, their average per year payment will be the lowest between Baker Mayfield, Lamar Jackson, and Allen.
Sure, you could make an argument that Allen is the best of the three at this point but that doesn’t matter. The way contracts work is, whoever signs last becomes the floor. So Jackson and Mayfield’s representation will start at $43 million and before long, Allen’s deal will look fine — especially considering it’s for six seasons. By the final couple of years of the contract, his will look like a steal.
With all that being said, the Bills now need to make sure Allen is taken care of. They’ve done a tremendous job putting talent around him and they continue to do so here with the selection of Tyler Linderbaum, the center from Iowa.
Currently, Buffalo has Mitch Morse who has had a solid career but will be 30 next season and did decline some in 2020. On top of that, he’s scheduled to count $11.25 million against the cap in 2022 and the Bills could save $8.5 million by cutting him and replacing him with an inexpensive Linderbaum, who could eventually prove to be an upgrade as well.
30. Green Bay Packers: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Green Bay Packers desperately need to get another wide receiver for Aaron Rodgers but that hasn’t led to them drafting one in years, so why start now? On top of that, they made a very weird move behind the scenes this offseason where they basically asked Rodgers to come back for one more season and they would allow him to bash them openly to the press, bring Randall Cobb back for him to have his favorite slot receiver, and on top of that, they will also let him leave in 2022 if he wants.
Look, Rodgers is one of the best to ever play the game so it’s understandable why they want him there but this screams of a toxic codependent relationship. The Packers are allowing Rodgers to do whatever he wants simply to be able to stay with him — and there’s no way this won’t affect the rest of the team, especially when they all know he’s probably just leaving next year anyway.
To summarize, Green Bay would probably be best served to rip off the band-aid and getting as much as they can in a trade for Rodgers and to let Jordan Love see the field so they know whether or not they need to make a move for a quarterback here.
They won’t do this, however, so they instead take Devin Lloyd from Utah to help bolster their defense. Lloyd could end up starting alongside Kamal Martin the Packers 3-4 scheme which would give them two solid, young players in the middle of their defense. They just better hope their quarterback can play — or maybe, they can give Rodgers more money and allow him to openly bash them again next year for a chance at maybe 17 more games from him.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
They made it to the Super Bowl for the second season in a row last year but they fell short as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to upset the AFC champs. Now heading into 2021, the Chiefs are motivated to get back to the big game and win it all again.
They’ve gone out of their way to fix their offensive line which needed to be done after Patrick Mahomes spent the entire Super Bowl game running from pass rushers. Looking ahead to this draft, they’ll again be in a good spot where they can draft the best player available which leads them to Owen Pappoe from Auburn.
Undersized at 6-foot-1 and 226-pounds, there will be some teams that balk at taking Pappoe simply for this reason. That was the case with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah last year — although he also had a heart issue that was cleared but may have swayed some decision-makers.
Like JOK, Pappoe is capable in both run defense and against the pass. He’s also been making plays since his days as a true freshman for the Tigers (or War Eagles, or whatever they’re called). He will also be one of two interior linebackers in the Chiefs 3-4 alignment and should have no problem making a name for himself with an incredibly talented team.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Tom Brady was already considered the GOAT by anyone who was being objective. He spent 20 seasons in New England and led the Patriots to six titles. Some wanted to say it was the system but that system missed the playoffs and had a losing season when he left.
The team he went to, however, was fantastic. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the playoffs for the first time since 2007 then went and won it all. Now, they return all 22 starters on both sides of the ball which is unheard of.
As much respect and credit as Brady gets — as he should — Tampa Bay still has a lot of talent around him on both sides of the ball. They’re not just being carried by Brady and their defense proved that when they made Patrick Mahomes look human in the Super Bowl.
The only issue is, there’s a lot of experience on the defensive line, meaning some of the players could be nearing the end of the line. For that reason, they use the final pick in Round 1 of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft of Aidan Hutchinson of Michigan.
Hutchinson is well-built and could have been a second-round pick in 2021 had he entered the draft. He elected to return for his senior season and that helps him sneak into the first round here.
Whether or not he starts as a rookie will be dependent on whether or not some of their starters retire, but even if it takes a couple of seasons, they will have a long-term edge defender with this pick.