2022 NFL mock draft: Raiders make surprise pick, Saints steal a QB
The latest 2022 NFL mock draft involves a first-round steal at QB for the New Orleans Saints and a surprise addition on offense for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The 2021 NFL season is over for all but eight teams heading into the NFL’s Divisional Round of playoff action. For 24 other teams, it’s onto the offseason and onto the 2022 NFL mock draft season.
This year’s draft class is an interesting one. There is no clear overall top player at this point. Most draft classes have a clear-cut top prospect at quarterback, off the edge, or at offensive tackle. This draft class has really been floating between four or five guys at the top, so it’s not necessarily the greatest year for the Jacksonville Jaguars to have the top pick.
After landing Trevor Lawrence last year, though, they shouldn’t have much reason to complain. Let’s take a look at how the first round of this draft might shake out without any trades (though mock drafts with trades will be coming soon…)
Jacksonville Jaguars take Alabama OT Evan Neal in latest 2022 NFL mock draft
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Alabama. Evan Neal. player. 52. 1. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT
What is the clear direction for the Jacksonville Jaguars here? Before I decided to make this a non-trade mock draft, I toyed with the idea that some team might trade up into this slot, but for which player?
The Jaguars might be motivated to trade down, but they might have to trade down a long way to find a team that might be interested in moving up for someone like Evan Neal or Aidan Hutchinson.
I’m not as bold as Dane Brugler, but maybe you can also factor Ikem Ekwonu in that discussion. Why not?
One way or another, if the Jaguars have to make the choice here between adding a solid EDGE player or taking an offensive lineman that could truly help the development of Trevor Lawrence, they have to go with the latter option.
Right?