The Jacksonville Jaguars kick off this 2022 NFL Mock Draft with a surprise pick at No. 1 overall while the Atlanta Falcons replace Matt Ryan
For the first time since early this season, our 2022 NFL Mock Draft isn’t starting with the Detroit Lions.
A winless team for much of the year, Detroit continued to camp out at No. 32 in our 2021 NFL Power Rankings, which we use to determine the order of our mocks. However, a couple of wins for the Lions — including a huge one over the Arizona Cardinals — have changed things up.
With them further down the list, we start out with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1 overall and while they can really use an offensive tackle, they make a surprise selection.
Latest first-round 2022 NFL mock draft with the Jaguars on top
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
The biggest win of the season for the Jacksonville Jaguars came when they finally fired Urban Meyer. It was clear that he wasn’t a good fit in the NFL and the Jags — who never should have hired him in the first place — wisely didn’t wait until the offseason to make their move.
With a new coach coming in, the Jaguars could go just about any direction here. Their entire roster is a mess and while it’s tempting to take Even Neal to protect Trevor Lawrence, they decide to take the top player on their board, and in this mock, that’s Aidan Hutchinson.
The Michigan defensive end will battle Kayvon Thibodeaux for the top pass-rushing spot in this class and here, he edges out the Oregon standout. It’s the third time in four seasons Jacksonville has gone for an edge player, but this one feels like it should be a home run.
2. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
The New York Jets are on the clock at No. 2 — and they have another selection coming up at No. 8 as well. With their first pick, they take Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was left for them by the Jags.
It’s been a long time since the Jets had a legit pass rusher and Thibodeaux gives them exactly that. Should Carl Lawson be able to return to health, this would give them two solid players on the edge to really open up the defense for Robert Saleh.
3. Houston Texans: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
This prediction is a tough one because the Houston Texans need a quarterback in the worst way. The problem is, they need a whole lot of other players as well since their entire roster is a problem.
They could also end up with a stop-gap quarterback via trade — especially if they decided to send Deshaun Watson to a team that’s looking to swap signal-callers in addition to draft picks. Should that happen, Evan Neal makes a lot of sense.
His addition could turn the offensive line into a strength and make things much easier on whoever ends up under center in 2022 for the Texans.
4. New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
The New York Giants are now on the clock and they too can go in several directions. There’s a real chance they could also have a new head coach which could change how this prediction goes but for now, it seems as though they could simply grab the best player available and re-tool the entire team.
Going BPA means they end up with Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame, who is a complete mismatch in the defensive backfield. Hamilton is capable of playing in deep coverage, as well as in the slot — and can bring the heat when going after the quarterback.
While playing for the Irish, he showed almost no weakness in his game and could instantly improve the Giants’ secondary.
5. Detroit Lions: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
If Aidan Hutchinson were still there, it would seem to be a perfect fit for Dan Campbell. But with the Michigan Wolverine off the board already, the Detroit Lions look elsewhere.
Jared Goff was great against the Arizona Cardinals but that seems to be the anomaly this season rather than the rule. For that reason, Detroit goes with Matt Corral at No. 5 overall. The presence of Goff means he won’t be forced to play immediately, if not ready, but Goff also isn’t the type of player they would have heartburn over benching should Corral leapfrog him on the depth chart.
There will be plenty of other holes to fill as well for the Lions but this is a solid start — and they do have another pick in this round as well to continue the rebuild.
6. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
After taking one pick off, the New York Giants are back on the clock. Like the Lions, it would be tempting to go with a quarterback but the Giants elect to give Daniel Jones one final season to prove whether or not he can be the guy. Perhaps with great coaching and a better defense, he can work.
New York will likely be looking for such a coach this offseason as Joe Judge is proving that he’s not it. As for the defense, adding George Karlaftis here after taking Kyle Hamilton earlier means they could be on the verge of being elite on that side of the ball.
7. Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
There’s a chance the Carolina Panthers go for a quarterback, but without too many elite prospects in this class, they could also elect to go with the best player on their board. That happens to be Ikem Ekwonu from North Carolina State ‚— as they don’t have to look too far for their top pick.
With Ekwonu being their selection, Carolina will likely try and see what happens when they let Sam Darnold, P.J. Walker, and perhaps Cam Newton (maybe?) fight for a spot in 2022. None seem to be the long-term answer but perhaps they can win with the right talent around them.
8. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
They took Kayvon Thibodeaux with their first pick which shores up the front of the defense for the New York Jets. Now at pick No. 8, they’re back on the clock and this time, the Jets take the best cornerback in the class as they choose Derek Stingley from LSU.
With Thibodeaux rushing the quarterback and Stingley covering the opposing team’s No. 1 wideout, this defense could look much better in 2022. Should Zach Wilson take his next step as a starter, the Jets could end up being a much better team this coming season.
9. Atlanta Falcons: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
Matt Ryan has been a solid starter for the Atlanta Falcons for a very long time but the Dirty Birds need to start considering moving on. They could have done so with Justin Fields last season but elected to go with Kyle Pitts. However, after another rough season, they need to really look hard at a new signal-caller since Ryan is quickly approaching 40.
With all that being said, the Falcons use their pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft on Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett. His greatest contribution to the NCAA might be his amazing fake slide that resulted in a long touchdown run and an eventual rule change.
Outside of that play, he was known as a great leader who could do it all. In Atlanta, he could learn behind Ryan and eventually be the new face of the franchise.
10. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Year after year, the New Orleans Saints enter the draft needing a wide receiver. And rear after year, they elect to go elsewhere with their first pick. But that won’t stop us from predicting they grab one — and in this mock they not only have their pick of the class, but the best players happen to come from Ohio State which seems to be their favorite school to draft from.
Chris Olave ends up being their choice as the Saints bring in one of the two top prospects from OSU. Olave seems to be a great fit for the New Orleans offense due to his precise route running and savviness in a timing offense. He would be a great fit across from Michael Thomas while also providing them a potential No. 1 pick if Thomas does miss more time in the future.
11. Minnesota Vikings: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Kirk Cousins continues to play well, but that’s pretty much his ceiling. The Minnesota Vikings brought him in hoping he would be the guy to put them over the top but they realize by now that he’s simply not someone who can put the team on his back and win it all. That’s not a knock on him as he still should be a starter in the NFL but the Vikings just don’t have the roster around him to succeed.
That’s why they need someone who is capable of making some plays by himself. Enter Malik Willis from Liberty. A former transfer from Auburn, Willis turned into a star over the past couple of seasons and should be an early pick in the upcoming draft.
Some pundits will point to his inconsistencies as a reason to skip on him but his ability to win with his arm and legs makes him someone worth rolling the dice on.
12. Las Vegas Raiders: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Hunter Renfrow has answered the call as of late for the Las Vegas Raiders but he’s not a true No. 1 wideout. He’s much better suited as a slot receiver who can hurt teams when they focus too much on another weapon. In 2022, that weapon could be Garrett Wilson who ends up landing with them at No. 12 overall.
Wilson, the second Ohio State wideout to be selected in this mock, has all the tools to be a top receiver for an NFL franchise. In a class with several great players at the position, he feels like one of the least risky selections.
13. Washington Football Team: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
The Washington Football Team was on a roll and the fans even began to chant “we want Dallas” as they closed in on the NFC East leaders. Then, Dallas knocked them off which was the first of two losses for WFT. Set to play Dallas again this weekend, they’re now 6-8 and trending in the wrong direction.
One of the reasons they struggled in that loss to their rival was an inability to protect their quarterback. Enter Kenyon Green from Texas A&M. Capable of playing either guard or tackle, Green will help shore up their line — and can fill in wherever he’s needed most.
14. Denver Broncos: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
Teddy Bridgewater has done a decent job as the quarterback of the Denver Broncos but he’s a free agent after the season and settling for decent is never good enough. That’s why they go with Sam Howell at No. 14.
The North Carolina product looked to be in contention for the top pick coming into the season but didn’t really take that next step as a signal-caller. That may have hurt his stock more than it should have because he still looks the part of an NFL starter. Throw him onto a roster with as much talent as Denver has and he could end up being very successful.
15. Cleveland Browns: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Some of us wanted the Cleveland Browns to go for a wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft but much like Thanos, those visionaries were called madmen. Fast forward to Week 16 of the season and not one player in Cleveland has more than 478 yards — and only two receivers are over 300 with Donovan Peoples-Jones sitting at 478 yards and Jarvis Landry netting just 397.
Tight end David Njoku is between the two with 436 yards but no player on this roster is keeping defensive coordinators up trying to figure out how to stop the passing game. That’s why they absolutely have to go for a wideout with their first pick and in this mock. the best available is Treylon Burks from Arkansas.
Burks is a huge target at 6-foot-3 and 225-pounds and is averaging 16.4 yards per catch in his career. He would be a great fit in an offense that needs height, speed, and production at the position.
16. Philadelphia Eagles: DeMarvin Leal, EDGE, Texas A&M
On the clock at No. 16 is the Philadelphia Eagles, who will be heard from a lot in Round 1. This selection is their own pick but they still have the rights to the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins day one picks.
With their first move, they take Texas A&M defensive end DeMarvin Leal who is a 295-pound athletic freak. He moves like a player 40-pounds lighter and can hold up against the run and the pass. He should be a day one starter, helping to improve the Eagles defensive line.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t have bad statistics this season but the eyeball test shows that he has lost a lot of zip on his passes. He’s also been beaten up a whole lot in his long career, which is why there’s a strong belief that this will be his final season as the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In his place could end up being Desmond Ridder, who is the choice here. The Cincinnati product has put together an impressive career including a very strong 2021. There are concerns with his consistency but with solid NFL coaching, he could turn into a real playmaker.
18. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
They took Jalen Reagor in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and he’s been a major disappointment — but hey, when you draft a guy with bad hands who didn’t produce in a conference that doesn’t play defense, that’s kind of what happens. Then in 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles took DeVonta Smith and he’s been much better.
Here, they use the second of three Round 1 picks on yet another wide receiver as they take Jameson Williams from Alabama. Originally at Ohio State, Williams moved on to get more time on the field and ended up outperforming John Metchie. That lands him in Round 1 and the Eagles end up with a suddenly impressive receiver corps.
19. Baltimore Ravens: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Baltimore Ravens haven’t been the same team in 2021 that we saw the previous couple of seasons. Of course, the whole vibe around the team could be different had they beaten the Packers and Steelers on their two-point plays that ultimately cost them the game, but that wouldn’t mean they still had no issues — because they do.
Their main issue is easy to see as Baltimore’s offensive line has been less than impressive this season. They can address that here with the addition of Charles Cross, who feels like a steal this late. He should be a day one starter and will solidify the edge, helping Lamar Jackson play better than he has this year — and perhaps stay healthier than he has.
20. Buffalo Bills: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
The injury to Tre’Davious White highlights just how bad the cornerback play in Buffalo is outside of him. The Bills hope to address that here with the selection of Roger McCreary from Auburn who would be a welcome addition across from White.
He would also help them navigate the early part of 2022 should White not be at 100 percent by the time the regular season kicks off.
Listed at 6-foo0t and 190-pounds, McCreary has played against some of the best wideouts in the SEC and has been a ball hawk with six picks and 30 pass defenses in the past three seasons.
21. Cincinnati Bengals: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Cincinnati Bengals are still in great shape to try and win the AFC North and one of the main reasons they have been successful is the pick they made in 2021 which was widely criticized. Cincy took Ja’Marr Chase instead of Penei Sewell and while offensive line was a greater need, Chase has been an absolute stud for them.
And now, all is well as they do land an offensive tackle in Trevor Penning. Putting him on the same line as Jonah Williams and Quinton Spain could really turn this unit into a strength — especially if Jackson Carman can develop into a quality player.
22. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts): Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
On the clock for the third time, the Philadelphia Eagles now cash in on the Carson Wentz trade. Wents was sent to the Indianapolis Colts for a conditional second-round pick but that turned into a first when he became the starter for more than 75 percent of the snaps. Indy is surely happy with the deal since they now feel like they have their guy and the Eagles are as well since they get to own the night when the 2022 NFL Draft kicks off.
With this pick, they turn their attention to the secondary and take Kaiir Elam. The son of Abram Elam — and nephew of Matt Elam — Kaiir has NFL bloodlines and while that doesn’t always guarantee success, it never hurts.
23. Tennessee Titans: Drake London, WR, USC
A.J. Brown reminded the world how dominant he can be on Thursday Night Football when he had 145 yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions in the Tennessee Titans win over San Francisco. As good as he has been, the Titans haven’t been able to explode on offense the way they hoped when they paired him with Julio Jones.
For that reason, they elect to bring in Drake London with their first pick in the mock. London is another massive target at 6-foot-5 and 210-pounds and blew up in 2021 to put himself in the first-round conversation. He’s a former basketball star as well, who wins with insane leaping ability and body control.
He would be a great starter opposite Brown, once again given Tennessee two legit No. 1 wideouts.
24. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Miami Dolphins could have been players in the AFC East if they started out the season playing as well as they have been in recent weeks. In an effort to try and revamp the roster and start 2022 on the right foot, they bring in Tyler Linderbaum who is hands-down the best center in this class.
Linderbaum should be able to shore up Miami’s offensive line which will make life easier for everyone else on that side of the ball.
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Los Angeles Chargers have turned into a very fun team to watch. Their offense is full of big-name players led by quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Austin Ekeler, and wide receiver Keenan Allen. They could use a young tight end in this group as well but head coach Brandon Staley has a defensive background and that leads to the selection of Devin Lloyd.
The Utah linebacker proved to be a three-down player this year and that puts him in line to be the first at his position taken in this class.
26. Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
Over the past couple of weeks, the Dallas Cowboys offense has been stagnant whereas the defense has been playing lights out. Even so, there doesn’t seem to be a player they should take on offense at this point — unless they feel like it’s the best way to replace Michael Gallup who could be gone in free agency.
Even so, it feels as though they will continue to give Dan Quinn more weapons on that side of the ball and there’s not a bigger one than Jordan Davis available. Davis stands in at 6-foot-6 and 345-pounds and is exactly the type of player their defensive line is missing.
His ability to shut down the run is impressive but he can also generate a pass rush as a 3-technique. Should Dallas be able to retain Randy Gregory, they could end up with one of the best defensive lines in football with Davis, Gregory, and DeMarcus Lawrence. Throw in linebacker Micah Parsons and quarterbacks will hate standing in the pocket against this team.
27. New England Patriots: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The love for Mac Jones is well deserved. He’s easily been the best rookie quarterback and is a huge reason the New England Patriots are winning. Having said that, the biggest reason is their defense. Entering Week 16, they’re first in the NFL in points given up and third in yards surrendered — according to Pro Football Reference.
Even with that being the case, they continue to add talent to that side of the ball in this mock as they select Trent McDuffie from Washington. With them moving on from Stephon Gilmore this year, McDuffie can come in and start opposite J.C. Jackson, keeping that unit strong.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
This season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown they have a few flaws in their roster — mostly on defense. Their secondary has been suspect and that’s why they go for a cornerback in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Their choice ends up being Andrew Booth, Jr. from Clemson and while he’s not the top-rated corner in this class, he has had a lot of experience going up against some of the best wide receivers in the nation.
He won’t be asked to be a shutdown corner from day one but the Bucs will need him to at least improve their pass coverage as he adapts to the speed of the NFL game.
29. Arizona Cardinals: Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC
The Arizona Cardinals defense has been pretty good at getting after the quarterback this season. Markus Golden has been the best with 11 sacks and Chandler Jones has 9.5. However, Jones is a free agent this offseason, and Golden will be 31 in 2022 — plus he’s not been very consistent throughout his career.
That’s why the Cards bring in Drake Jackson from USC. Tall and long, Jackson is a great prospect to play in the stand-up pass-rushing role for Arizona. His addition also wouldn’t mean they have to let Jones walk because he could serve as a rotational player while getting his feet wet in the NFL.
30. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
They took a quarterback with their first pick and now the Detroit Lions are back on the clock at No. 30 — one of the two first-rounders they got from the Rams for shipping off their old quarterback. This time, they turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball where they land Nakobe Dean from Georgia.
A playmaking linebacker, Dean has racked up 132 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two picks the past two seasons for the Bulldogs. He’s always around the ball and should help get the ball back for the Lions’ offense much more than they’re used to.
31. Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Davante Adams recently got a lot of attention when he showed pictures in a press conference of how the Ravens were guarding him. Even with the insane attention he draws every week, the Green Bay Packers wideout is able to dominate. Imagine if they had more help on their offense.
That’s what they get here with the selection of Jahan Dotson who is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Of course, the big question will be whether or not they can re-sign Adams who is a free agent in 2022 — as well as if they can keep Aaron Rodgers from forcing his way out.
If they do keep them together, throwing in Dotson could make this already scary offense one of the most unstoppable ones we have seen in a while.
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Travon Walker, DT, Georgia
In recent weeks, the Kansas City Chiefs defense has picked it up. On top of that, their offense has also found their stride and they suddenly look like the best team in the NFL again.
Due to their stacked roster, they can go nearly any direction which, in this mock, leads to the selection of Travon Walker from Georgia. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 275-pounds, Walker is a former basketball player who knows how to use his athleticism and length to cause problems for the opponents.
His arrival in Kansas City would vastly improve their front seven.