Turning the page on Deshaun Watson in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft
3. Houston Texans: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
You can say all you want that the quarterbacks in this class aren’t good enough to liter the top-10, but we all know how it goes. When a team needs a quarterback, they take them in a hurry. And at pick No. 3, we already have a second team needing a signal-caller as the Houston Texans are on the clock.
They use their pick on Malik Willis from Liberty, who is one of the more exciting prospects in this class. Willis is a dual-threat who may need some time to develop, mainly because he played at a smaller program in Liberty. He originally started at Auburn but had to transfer to get the snaps he needed to succeed.
In Houston, they could look at the possibility of bringing back Tyrod Taylor, giving Willis a great mentor as he prepares for life at the next level.
4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
At No. 4, we have the New York Jets who luck out big time. The top player on the board is still available since other teams went with needs, leaving Kayvon Thibodeaux there for the taking. And if an elite pass-rusher is on the board, don’t expect head coach Robert Saleh to look in a different direction, even with Carl Lawson slated to return from surgery in 2022.
Saleh was at his best as a defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers when he had a plethora of pass rushers which included Nock Bosa, Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead. He starts building a similar line here with someone who will be a 10-plus sack player for years to come.