The Seattle Seahawks traded away Russell Wilson but now own the No. 9 pick, which they use for a new signal-caller in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft
Free agency is about to open up which could change how the league looks ahead of the draft. Then again, there already was a huge shake-up when the Denver Broncos added Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Wilson joining the Broncos makes them contenders but then again, the AFC will be hard for anyone to crack since there are so many elite quarterbacks — and that was even before Wilson joined the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert in the AFC.
As for the Seahawks, they ended up with a lot of picks that they can use to rebuild their franchise. They attempt to do just that as they use the No. 9 pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft on a replacement for Wilson.
Here, we dive right in to see this pick and all the rest in this first-round mock.
Jacksonville Jaguars stick with an OT at No. 1 in 2022 NFL Mock Draft
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Ikem Ekwonu proved during the Scouting Combine just how talented of an athlete he is and that may have been enough for the Jacksonville Jaguars to make him the No. 1 overall pick. After adding Trevor Lawrence in 2021, they now get their starting quarterback a franchise left tackle who can help him feel more comfortable in the pocket.
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
During the combine, Aidan Hutchinson hinted that the Detroit Lions spent some time talking to him — and it would make sense if they did. He’s a perfect fit for their defense and can be a building block for them.
He does everything well and went from a borderline first-round pick to a player who has a real shot at going No. 2 overall — which means going back for his senior season was a brilliant move on his part.
3. Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
There were those who took just one thing away from Kyle Hamilton’s combine workout, and that was the 4.59 time in the 40-yard dash. While it seems he should have run faster than that, there’s always too much stock put into this number. The fact is, Hamilton is plenty fast enough to make all the plays and while his time wasn’t what he would have wanted, he looked good in every other drill.
He’s still an elite playmaker who can move all over the field and still goes third in our 2022 NFL Mock Draft to the Houston Texans. He joins a team that’s in desperate need of an infusion of talent and leadership — and Hamilton can bring both.
4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Entering the Scouting Combine, there were concerns about Kayvon Thibodeaux and whether or not he loved the game of football. He wanted to answer those questions and came out strong with 27 reps in the bench press and a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. But then, he decided to end the drills early.
That means teams will continue to question him and in the end, it could mean he simply won’t be the first defensive end taken in the draft. Still, he won’t last long since he’s so insanely talented and the New York Jets snatch him up at No. 4 overall.
Head coach Robert Saleh is a defensive-minded coach and landing a cornerstone edge rusher is exactly what he needs in order to take his team to the next level.
5. New York Giants: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
It’s hard to see any player who has had their stock increase more than Travon Walker. The Georgia defensive end had his best season as a collegiate player in 2021 with 33 tackles and six sacks but sometimes he was overlooked with so many stars on that defense.
But then he went to the combine and showed everyone how athletic he really is. Walker ran a 4.51 in the 40-yard dash — which is insane for a 6-foot-5, 272-pounder. He also had a vertical jump of 35.5 inches and a broad jump of 123 inches. Those are numbers a safety usually puts up, not a defensive end.
The New York Giants end up bringing him in at No. 5 in this mock draft as their new staff looks to rebuild their defense.
6. Carolina Panthers: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
Signing Cam Erving to be the starting left tackle went as expected for the Carolina Panthers. Sure, Erving is a fine player but he’s not a franchise blindside protector.
Evan Neal, however, could be. The Alabama product is a massive player at 6-foot-7 and 337-pounds and could be in play for the No. 1 pick. Right now, he’s barely edged out by Ikem Ekwonu which is fine by Carolina as they’re able to land a plug and play offensive tackle at No. 6.
7. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The New York Giants might have already invested a lot into their wide receiver corps, but that was under a different general manager and head coach. It also didn’t have the intended results — especially the signing of Kenny Golladay who ended up with zero touchdowns in his first season with the team.
Of course, there’s a reason to believe the issue is actually Daniel Jones but the Giants can still add more weapons to see if it works with him. And if not, they will have even more weapons for whoever takes his place.
That’s why Garrett Wilson is the selection here as they use their first of two picks in Round 1 on the Ohio State wideout. This class is loaded at receiver and Wilson has a real shot of being the first chosen due to his combination of speed, hands, and route-running.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC
Two wideouts in a row come off the board as the Atlanta Falcons take Drake London out of USC at No. 8. They traded Julio Jones away in 2021 and now lost Calvin Ridley to a suspension, although he apparently already wanted a fresh start away from the Falcons, which is why they need to rebuild the wide receiver corps.
As for London, he’s a 6-foot-4 wideout who has insane leaping ability and remarkable hands. He went off in just eight games this past season for the Trojans and has all the tools to be special at the next level.
Seattle Seahawks use No. 9 pick in 2022 NFL Mock Draft to replace Russell Wilson
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
It’s not going to be easy to replace Russell Wilson but the Seattle Seahawks have to do just that. They did land Drew Lock in their trade with the Denver Broncos but it’s unlikely that he’s anything more than a backup plan. However, they won’t need that backup plan since they have a decent option fall to them at No. 9 in this mock.
Kenny Pickett from Pitt might have taken some slack for his hand size but he still showed during the combine that he can throw the ball very well. Seattle brings him in as their replacement for Wilson and the only question will be if he can beat Lock out to start from Week 1.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Seahawks ended up with the No. 9 pick but had they not made their trade for Jamal Adams, they would have had two picks in a row. As it stands, the New York Jets are back on the clock for their second selection, which they use on Ahmad Gardner from Cincinnati.
The definition of a shutdown corner, Gardner joining Kayvon Thibodeaux could give the Jets a vastly improved defense in 2022. The Jets still need to improve on offense but these selections set them up nicely on this side of the ball.
11. Washington Commanders: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
Derek Stingley might be getting passed over by Ahmad Gardner who really stood out late in his career but that doesn’t mean he’s not still an elite prospect. The Washington Commanders end up taking him at No. 11 as they look to rebuild their defense.
There was a real chance they were going to use this pick on a quarterback but that changed when they just made a recent trade for Carson Wentz from Indinanapolis. Wentz is now on his third team in as many years so there has to be pause before claiming he’s the franchise quarterback for them but he does at least buy them enough time to avoid a quarterback here.
12. Minnesota Vikings: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
Aidan Hutchinson has been on the radar for a very long time as a great defensive end prospect but in 2021, his teammate David Ojabo burst onto the scene. A breakout campaign from Ojabo is enough to catapult him into Round 1 where he lands with the Minnesota Vikings in this mock.
He might not be as well-rounded as his Michigan teammate (at least at this point) but Ojabo is incredibly explosive and that was easy to see at the combine. His addition can help Minnesota rebuild their once scary defensive line.
13. Cleveland Browns: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
So many wideouts got to show off their skills at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, but one of the biggest names was missing. Jameson Williams was unable to participate after tearing his ACL in the NCAA Championship Game against Georgia. It’s a shame too because he likely would have given us even more excitement.
Despite missing the event, there’s little doubt that Williams is a No. 1 receiver at the next level, and the Cleveland Browns desperately need a new No. 1 receiver. There will be calls for them to go after Chris Olave at this spot since he was an Ohio State Buckeye but Williams is the better option for them and should be the pick.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
The Baltimore Ravens will be tempted to go for an offensive tackle and in the end, they might decide that’s the best move. But in this mock, the top fit for them feels like Jermaine Johnson from Florida State.
A standout edge rusher, Johnson stands in at 6-foot-5 and 254-pounds. He ran a 4.58 and seems as though he could be a great fit in the Ravens’ 3-4 defense as a pass-rushing linebacker. They will still need to do something to help keep Lamar Jackson from getting beat up again in 2022 but Johnson offers the most for them — and with their defensive approach, it feels like a move they would make.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
With the 15th pick, which the Philadelphia Eagles obtained in a trade last draft with the Miami Dolphins, Philly brings in Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis. He measured in at 6-foot-4 and 266-pounds at the Scouting Combine and had some good workouts including an impressive vertical and broad jump.
Karlaftis is widely considered a plug-and-play starter and it’s easy to see why. He has very few holes in his game and could be exactly what the Eagles need to step in and replace Derek Barnett who is set for free agency.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts): Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Right back at it with the 16th pick is the Philadelphia Eagles who obtained this selection when they traded Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts. Clearly, the Eagles won the trade as they landed a day one pick and the Colts already traded Wentz away — as he will now be a rival of the Eagles with Washington.
Here, they use the pick acquired for their former starting quarterback to get Jalen Hurts another weapon in Chris Olave. One of the many wideouts to show off a blazing 40-yard dash, Olave is known for his ability to get deep. Pairing him with DeVonta Smith could be exactly what this offense needs to take their next step.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Chargers greatly improved their pass rush when they added Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears. They now have two elite defensive ends in Mack and Joey Bosa. L.A. also kept their offense intact as they agreed to an extension with wideout Mike Williams.
After all that, they can now go for the biggest impact player left on the board, which is Jordan Davis. Adding the massive nose tackle from Georgia to a line that already has Boas and Mack will almost feel unfair. Then again, in a division that now has Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes, they probably need an other-worldly D-line.
18. New Orleans Saints: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
The New Orleans Saints were able to keep Michael Thomas happy which means they should have their No. 1 wideout back and happy in 2022. They also should be bringing back Jameis Winston who was really playing well for them before tearing his ACL.
That means they can use their first pick in this mock draft on another cornerback to pair with Marshon Lattimore. Their selection is Andrew Booth, Jr. from Clemson. Booth might be overshadowed by Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley but he’s a legit starter at the next level and will give the Saints a great one-two punch in the secondary.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Philadelphia Eagles are back on the clock and this time, it’s with their own selection. They use this one on Nakobe Dean from Georgia, giving them a big-time playmaker at linebacker.
Dean became a household name during the Bulldogs’ title run as he seemed to make one huge play after another. He’s undersized at 5-foot-11 and 229-pounds but in today’s pass-happy NFL, that’s not as much of a detriment as it used to be.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
There were rumors that the Pittsburgh Steelers were trying to get Russell Wilson and they also wanted to make a run at Aaron Rodgers had the Green Bay Packers made him available. With Rodgers staying in Green Bay and Wilson heading to Denver, the Steelers need to figure out what to do under center.
In this mock, they end up getting lucky as Malik Willis is still on the board at No. 20. And if the real thing shakes out like this, they need to run to the podium to make the selection.
Willis is a dual-threat quarterback who can beat teams with his legs but he also showed off how accurate he can be with some of his throws at the combine. He’s not a perfectly polished player but the coaching staff in Pittsburgh knows what they’re doing and if they can refine his passing, he could be the steal of the draft.
21. New England Patriots: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Trent McDuffie had a chance to meet with Bill Belichick and was impressed with the New England Patriots head coach. He was also impressed with their defense, saying it’s a “lot of fun.”
"“It was cool, getting to know Bill Belichick is a DB Dude,” said McDuffie via Mike Dussault of the Patriots’ official team website. “You could see all their DBs, their defense. That’s a defense that is a lot of fun. One of my old teammates, Myles Bryant, plays for them. [He] just has had an amazing experience being there. He’s learned so much football knowledge. Just talking to them was really cool, just being able to sit there and being in the presence of the Patriots and all of these defensive-minded players.”"
New England could be in the market for a new cornerback if they don’t retain J.C. Jackson, who seems to believe he could be on the way out. McDuffie could come in and start right away and is also praised for his ability to help the rest of the defensive backs due to his high football IQ.
22. Las Vegas Raiders: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Las Vegas Raiders need a new boundary wide receiver and Treylon Burks fits the bill. One of the bigger receivers in this class at 6-foot-2 and 225-pounds, Burks didn’t blow anyone away at the Combine but did enough on tape to still be a Round 1 pick.
For the Raiders, he could be a great fit on the outside while Hunter Renfrow continues to eat in the middle of the field.
23. Arizona Cardinals: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Kyler Murray saga seems to have been put to bed as the Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback added them back to his friend’s list ‚— or something like that — on social media. Now, the Cardinals look to try and make life easier for him on the field as they use their first pick in this draft on Charles Cross from Mississippi State.
Cross is a great prospect at left tackle and the Cardinals can use an upgrade in that spot. He should be a starter from day one and will help Murray avoid taking off as quickly as he has had to in the past.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
All season long, we saw the Georgia Bulldogs defense dominant and in the 2022 NFL Draft, we will see that happen again in Round 1. Here at pick No. 24, Devonte Wyatt gets in on the fun as the Dallas Cowboys elect to bring in the Georgia defensive tackle.
Wyatt didn’t get as much hype during the season as teammate Jordan Davis but he was still just as disruptive. He also showed that he can move for a big man as the 304-pounder ran the 40-yard dash in just 4.77 seconds.
Dallas hasn’t had an elite defensive tackle in years but Wyatt could develop into that for them.
25. Buffalo Bills: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
Tre’Davious White going down with an injury exposed the rest of the Buffalo Bills cornerbacks, but even if he was there, they might not have been able to stop the Kansas City Chiefs on their 13-second scoring drive or their overtime touchdown drive that ended the Bills magical season.
That’s why they focus on the secondary here as they add Roger McCreary from Auburn with their first-round pick. McCreary is listed at 5-foot-11 and 190-pounds and excels in press coverage. He can be a team’s No. 1 corner but working as the No. 2 guy across from White will help him find success even quicker at the NFL level.
26. Tennessee Titans: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 296-pounds, Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum is hands-down the best center prospect in this class. He plays with a bit of a mean streak which is contagious on an O-line.
For the Tennessee Titans, who could be losing current starting center Ben Jones in free agency, adding Linderbaum keeps them strong in the middle of the line. He should also be able to help minimize the loss of Roger Saffold who was a top guard for them as well but was just released ahead of free agency.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were able to keep Chris Godwin as they franchise tagged him yet again. They also still have Mike Evans but their offense was at its best when they had three legit wideouts, which included Antonio Brown.
With their first pick in this mock, they try and replace that firepower on offense as they take Jahan Dotson from Penn State. Dotson is a great fit in this offense where they have players who can already excel on the outside which would allow him to work underneath as a slot receiver who has the ability to break off big plays after the catch.
Tampa Bay will still have to figure out what to do under center but whoever ends up with the job will at least have plenty of options in the passing game.
28. Green Bay Packers: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Aaron Rodgers is staying with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, and he could be under contract for three years after that. Unless he isn’t.
Originally, it was said he would be there for four seasons making $50 million per year but then he rebuffed that. We might not know what the deal truly is, but we do know he will be there in 2022 and the front office will probably still not draft him any playmakers.
Instead, they add Devin Lloyd from Utah, beefing up the defense even more.
29. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco 49ers): Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Trevor Penning has seen his stock rise quite a bit since the Senior Bowl. The Northern Iowa product has the talent to go even higher than this but the problem is, there are some pretty good offensive tackles in the first round of the draft.
For the Miami Dolphins, this ends up working out. They need some help on the line and it appears Austin Jackson isn’t the answer at left tackle. Adding Penning gives new head coach Mike McDaniel a player he can believe in to man that spot.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
It looks as though Tyrann Mathieu is about to leave in free agency. The Kansas City Chiefs might believe they can replace his production on the field but there’s also something to be said for the veteran leadership that Mathieu has been providing as well.
Of course, we see it time and again in the NFL and it appears the Chiefs will be in the market for a safety. At No. 30 in this mock, they find themselves able to take one of the better options in Daxton Hill from Michigan.
A smooth runner who can play in deep coverage as well as in the slot, Hill offers great versatility for the Chiefs as they begin a defensive youth movement.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenyon Green, OT/OG, Texas A&M
The workouts for Kenyon Green didn’t seem to go as expected. He wasn’t bad, by any means, but he didn’t have the athleticism teams want to see at tackle. That hurts his stock but he’s still arguably one of the top guards overall in this class. And it’s also still not out of the question for him to play right tackle at the next level.
That’s the plan here as the Cincinnati Bengals add Green with their first-round pick. With so many other tackles already gone, they grab the best offensive lineman remaining on the board and will figure out from there how to line them all up.
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Desmond Ridder had a great showing during the NFL Scouting Combine as he continues to make a case for being a first-round pick. He’s still on the borderline but in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, he does end up making the cut as the Detroit Lions close things out in this opening round with the selection of Ridder.
Detroit has said they believe in Jared Goff but there’s nothing wrong with competition. And Ridder has more than enough tools to come in and compete with Goff.
On top of that, they will be able to keep Ridder in town for five seasons by taking him with the 32nd pick rather than waiting until they’re back on the board a couple of picks later in Round 2.