After losing Randy Gregory in free agency, the Dallas Cowboys could get desperate as they go for a splash in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft
With the calendar finally turning to April, we are officially entering the month of the 2022 NFL Draft. It’s hard to find another sport where so much anticipation and excitement builds for a draft as the NFL has done a fantastic job promoting the event and turning it into a spectacle.
All season long, we look at prospects who could be entering the league, and then as soon as the year ends, the workouts begin and get us even more excited.
Here, we continue to look ahead to the event with our first 2022 NFL Mock Draft for the month of April. Once again, the first round kicks off with a familiar name, and later in Round 1, the Dallas Cowboys land a surprising edge defender.
Jacksonville Jaguars land OT in 2022 NFL Mock Draft
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
The Jacksonville Jaguars seem very committed to making life easier for Trevor Lawrence in 2022. They added a couple of wide receivers as well as Brandon Scherff to play guard. Now, they continue that trend as they bring in Ikem Ekwonu from North Carolina State with their first pick in this mock.
Ekwonu showed out in the combine and was able to put himself ahead of Evan Neal and in the end, this leads to him being the first player chosen in this draft.
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
As good as Ikem Ekwonu is, there are still calls for Aidan Hutchinson to be the No. 1 player taken in this class. However, the need at left tackle for the Jags means that the Detroit Lions end up with a shot at Hutchinson with the second pick.
Hutchinson just feels like a player who fits what Dan Campbell wants and should be a centerpiece for their defense. He considered turning pro in 2021 but went back to Michigan for one more season and that ends up paying off in a big way.
3. Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Every year, those who study the draft start to overthink things. When this happens, they cling to something that doesn’t carry a lot of weight and use it to judge a certain prospect.
This is happening right now with Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. Once considered the most complete overall prospect in the class, Hamilton is starting to be questioned following a Scouting Combine where he didn’t put up elite numbers — and his 4.59-second time in the 40-yard dash seemed to really irk some.
It shouldn’t though. First off, that’s plenty quick enough for a safety. Second, the game is not played by running 40-yards as fast as you can.
Having said that, Hamilton showed on tape that he’s the best secondary player in this class and he still lands with the Houston Texans at No. 3 in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
While Hamilton is being questioned for his workout, there are other concerns circling around Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. Easily the most gifted defensive lineman in this class, there’s a belief that he might not love the game enough to be great.
Having to leave the combine early didn’t help quiet those whispers but he’s still too good for a team such as the New York Jets to pass on at No. 4. New York needs a dominant pass rusher and that’s exactly what this young man could become.
5. New York Giants: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The New York Jets landed their new star pass rusher at No. 4 as they took Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. Now, their roommates are on the clock and they’re going after a pass-rusher of their own.
At No. 5, the New York Giants bring in defensive end Travon Walker from Georgia. While playing on a stacked Bulldog defense, Walker was sometimes overlooked. However, he was always a player who did his job and when the offseason began, his workouts were beyond impressive.
Walker should be the guy to finally secure the edge for the Giants, who have a lot of work to do as they look to repair what Dave Gettleman left them with.
6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
One of the teams going after Deshaun Watson was the Carolina Panthers but they weren’t able to bring him in. Unlike the Atlanta Falcons, who brought in Marcus Mariota, the Panthers seem as though they might be ready to try their hand in the draft.
This makes sense as they failed with Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold, so a re-tread veteran isn’t what they’re after. This leads to the selection of Kenny Pickett from Pitt who becomes our first quarterback off the board.
Pickett had concerns about his hand size come up during the combine but as long as Carolina believes he can still make all the throws, he could wind up being their guy.
7. New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The New York Giants are a mess right now. Dave Gettelman vowed to fix the offensive line which he was unable to do — but he did spend a whole lot of money and they somehow have nearly no cap space.
While they can’t fix the cap in this mock draft, they can try and improve the offensive line. That’s exactly what they try and go for as they take Evan Neal from Alabama at No. 7. Neal joins Andrew Thomas as a starting tackles, which is a great start to finally putting a good unit together.
8. Atlanta Falcons: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
It sure seems as though the Atlanta Falcons are in tank mode. They currently have Marcus Mariota slated as their starting quarterback after sending Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. Mariota isn’t terrible by any means, but he needs a lot of help around him to find success — and the Dirty Birds don’t exactly have much help for him, especially at wide receiver.
For that reason, they use the No. 8 pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft on Garrett Wilson from Ohio State
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Seattle Seahawks didn’t have a pick in Round 1 after trading for Jamal Adams. Now, they have one after sending Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Of course, they’re now in a much different position heading into the season since they don’t have a franchise quarterback to lean on.
As it stands now, they’re going to have Drew Lock as the favorite to start the season. There’s a chance they could go for Baker Mayfield as well, who is on the trade block but there have been no takers.
Either way, they need to make sure to build up the roster around either of those players to find success. That’s why they add Charles Cross from Mississippi State so they will at least have a franchise left tackle. They’ll likely be looking for another quarterback in the 2023 draft but at least Cross will help them truly evaluate whoever they have under center this year.
10. New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Back on the clock for the second time in the top-10, the New York Jets bring in Ahmad Gardner from Cincinnati. “Sauce” was dominant during his collegiate career as opposing wideouts could rarely beat him deep and he simply never gave up touchdowns.
Adding him and Kayvon Thibodeaux in the same draft gives the Jets an elite set of playmakers on defense as Robert Saleh looks for a huge improvement in year two as the head coach.
11. Washington Commanders: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
After going into the 2021 season with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Taylor Heinicke, the Washington Commanders decided they needed to make a move this offseason, which led to them trading for Carson Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts.
Wentz and the Commanders know one another well after he spent several years in the NFC East with the Philadelphia Eagles but the fact is, this is a guy heading to his third team in as many years. Washington is taking a risk on a talented player who continues to wear out his welcome.
Still, they seem committed and that’s why they use their No. 11 pick in this mock on Trevor Penning to help bolster the offensive line in front of Wentz. Penning comes from Northern Iowa but showed in the Senior Bowl that he can hang with top-tier talent and brings a nasty playing style that could be contagious.
12. Minnesota Vikings: George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
The Minnesota Vikings seem to have things figured out with Danielle Hunter and if he can get healthy again, they should have an elite defensive end on one side. But they could use another starter, and with Hunter missing so much time, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get someone early in this draft.
Enter George Karlaftis from Purdue who is an excellent fit on the opposite side of Hunter. He’s already NFL-ready but still an ascending player who will be much better in a couple of years as he continues to refine his technique.
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Drake London, WR, USC
The Houston Texans were part of one of the biggest trades ever this offseason when they sent Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns. The highlight of the deal was the three first-round selections Houston will get from the Browns, the first of which comes here at No. 13.
There’s no limit to where the Texans could look with this pick since their entire roster needs work. However, in this mock, they elect to add some firepower to their offense as they bring in Drake London from USC.
A tall receiver with a basketball background, London was a big play waiting to happen for the Trojans and should help them see what they have in Davis Mills this season.
14. Baltimore Ravens: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
Offensive tackle was a huge need for the Baltimore Ravens heading into the offseason but they made a very good, and underrated, move when they added Morgan Moses to play opposite Ronnie Stanley. That addition should solidify things up front and allow them to address another position, which they do here as they take Derek Stingley from LSU.
Stingley was widely considered the No. 1 cornerback prospect in this class but Sauce Gardner appears to have taken that role from him. Having said that, Stingley is no consolation prize as the Ravens get themselves a legit starting corner who can help from day one.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
This 2022 NFL Draft is going to be a weird one with so many teams having multiple picks in the opening round, but none ended up with more than the Philadelphia Eagles who are on the clock at No. 15, 16, and 19.
First is the 15th pick, which comes courtesy of the Miami Dolphins thanks to their trade in the 2021 NFL Draft. Philly uses this pick on Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis, who is a massive player at 6-foot-6 and 341-pounds. He also moves freakishly fast for such a huge human, as he went 40-yards in 4.78 seconds at the Scouting Combine.
The only knock on Davis is that he could have issues playing every down, but he’s so good when he is on the field that he’s still worth such a high pick.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts): Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Last year, the Georgia Bulldogs defense was the best in the nation, so why not go after another member of their front seven here? The Eagles add linebacker Nakobe Dean one selection after they took Jordan Davis and bringing them both in would instantly improve their defense.
Dean is capable of making plays from one sideline to the other and should be an instant starter for a team that can use a spark on defense.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
It wasn’t intentional, but we end up with the third member of the Georgia defense in a row as the Los Angeles Chargers land Devonte Wyatt at No. 17. Los Angeles already added Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears this offseason and now they add a dominant defensive tackle to play in between them.
Wyatt doesn’t get as much love as Jordan Davis, but he probably should. He’s still over 300-pounds and put up some impressive numbers in his workouts as well. There are also no conditioning concerns for Wyatt.
The AFC West is suddenly loaded now that Russell Wilson has joined the Broncos. Los Angeles has the offense to keep up with the division, but adding Wyatt means they could have the defense to slow them down as well.
18. New Orleans Saints: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Jameson Williams broke out for the Alabama Crimson Tide this past season but suffered a huge setback when he tore his ACL in the NCAA Championship Game. However, he’s already working his way back and Adam Schefter says he expects to be running before the draft.
This should give teams hope that he can play early in the season and the New Orleans Saints decide it’s worth rolling the dice at No. 18. Williams could end up being the best wideout in a loaded class and landing him after two others have come off the board could make the Saints look brilliant in a couple of years.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Back at it again, the Philadelphia Eagles pick up Chris Olave at No. 19. The odd thing about this selection is that it would be the third season in a row where they take a wideout in Round 1. However, that wouldn’t have to be the case if they hit on the 2020 selection of Jalen Reagor.
With Reagor not working out, they need to move on, and adding Olave would give them two players capable of picking apart secondaries with him and DeVonta Smith. It’s also worth it to go for a splash with three picks in this round.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Right now, the Pittsburgh Steelers have Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph competing for a starting job. While we can’t say who the winner of that battle should be, we do know the loser of this showdown is the people of Pittsburgh.
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In need of a new quarterback they can believe in, Pittsburgh adds Malik Willis from Liberty at No. 20. Willis is an interesting prospect who has a powerful arm and can destroy teams with his legs. He needs to round out some of his game but the Steelers coaching staff is strong enough to get him up to speed quickly.
Even if he’s not the guy in 2022, Willis should be the starter for the foreseeable future, and help the Steelers stay competitive for another decade-plus.
21. New England Patriots: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
After a one-year absence from the postseason, the New England Patriots were back in the playoffs in 2021. Quarterback Mac Jones had a lot to do with their success as he was a steadying force on the offense.
Of course, he was also mainly a game manager — which isn’t a bad thing despite the term getting a negative rap. Jones did what was asked of him and didn’t cost them games. He relied on the run game and defense to do their jobs as well, and they did them exceptionally well.
Looking forward, the Pats continue to build up a strong roster as they bring in Jermaine Johnson from Florida State. He could end up being a guy who gets 10-plus sacks per season, which should help this defense take their game to the next level.
22. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas Raiders): Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Davante Adams was sent to the Las Vegas Raiders, which means the Green Bay Packers are yet another team with more than one pick in Round 1 this season. With the selection they got from Vegas, they add a new wideout as they bring in Jahan Dotson from Penn State.
Dotson might not have prototypical NFL size but his ability to break big plays and get yards after the catch make him an ideal fit alongside Randall Cobb in this offense.
Dallas Cowboys land Boye Mafe after Cards snatch up Tyler Linderbaum in 2022 NFL Mock Draft
23. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Rodney Hudson is 32-years old and coming off a rough season for the Arizona Cardinals. That could lead to them looking for his replacement and they find that in this draft as Tyler Linderbaum is available at No. 23.
Linderbaum is easily the top interior line prospect in this class and not only could he provide an upgrade over what Hudson did in 2021, but he could allow them to make a cost-cutting move as well. And with Kyler Murray wanting a new deal, that’s something they may be needing to do.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Dallas Cowboys are another team that could be looking at Tyler Linderbaum, but with him going off the board one pick before they’re up, they change course and bring in Boye Mafe out of Minnesota.
It might feel like a stretch for Mafe to go into Round 1, but it probably shouldn’t be. While he might not be ready to start from day one, he is a guy who plays with a non-stop motor and showed an increase in performance every season with the Gophers, as pointed out by Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network.
"” I do believe Mafe is more of a developmental player than a plug-and-play starter, but the trajectory of Mafe’s play with the Gophers has been on a steady increase for the entirety of his career with the program, culminating with a career year in 2021 with six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 30 tackles (all career highs). Mafe has bright flashes of nuance at times but the consistency is where his NFL team is going to require patience from him as he continues to grow a better feel for the game, particularly in deconstructing blocks and being a persistent threat as an outside pass rusher.”"
Dallas can actually take their time with Mafe since they have DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, and Dorance Armstrong and in the end, Mafe could become a fixture in their defense.
25. Buffalo Bills: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Buffalo Bills nearly made it to the AFC Championship Game, but the 13 seconds they left on the clock for the Kansas City Chiefs was simply too much time. They were then unable to get the ball back in overtime, which led to some rule changes this coming postseason for overtime.
Even with the new rules where both teams get the ball, the team that loses the coin toss will have to make sure they can keep the opposing team out of the end zone at some point. That’s why Buffalo works to improve their secondary with the addition of Trent McDuffie here.
Known for his high IQ, McDuffie is considered a coach on the field and will help with his communication skill as well as his ability in coverage.
26. Tennessee Titans: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
There was a time when the Tennessee Titans were one of the best defenses in the NFL. In recent seasons, that hasn’t been the case. They have a great running game but could stand to get better at slowing down the pass — especially in the stacked AFC.
That’s why they grab Andrew Booth, Jr. from Clemson who is a steal this late. He’s not as flashy as some of the other names but he’s a legit starter who will make the Titans secondary much better.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan
Things got interesting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers recently as their head coach, Bruce Arians decided to call it a career and they turned to Todd Bowles as their new head coach. Bowles has been with this team since 2019 and has done a fantastic job rebuilding the defense, so they will be in great hands.
With Tom Brady back (after a 30-minute retirement), he and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will continue to handle the offense — and they will excel. For Bowles, he needs to get some more youth on defense, especially on the edge. They address that with this pick as they bring in David Ojabo from Michigan.
Ojabo exploded last season but a torn Achilles suffered during his Pro Day has hurt his stock. For him, it works out as he lands with the Bucs where he can take his time to get healthy and then join a great franchise once he’s ready to roll.
28. Green Bay Packers: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Earlier in the draft, the Packers picked up Jahan Dotson to improve their receiver corps. Now at No. 28, they add Devin Lloyd from Utah to bolster the linebacker position.
Lloyd is a player who went from a potential Day 2 pick to a Day 1 guy as he proved he can play all three downs. He improved drastically in pass coverage in his final season with the Utes and that should help him as he transitions to the NFL.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via San Francisco 49ers through Miami Dolphins): Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
In a move that still feels a bit shocking, the Kansas City Chiefs moved on from Tyreek Hill as they sent him to the Miami Dolphins for a bunch of picks. The first of those comes in at 29, which is one selection before the pick Kansas City possesses on their own.
With this one, they decide to bring in Treylon Burks from Arkansas. Clearly, a big-bodied wideout such as Burks cannot replace what Hill did as a deep threat, but he can replace him as the No. 1 target at receiver for the Chiefs.
Things will look different with a receiving corps built around Burks and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but there can still be a lot of success for Kansas City.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
Kansas City added a new top receiver at No. 29, now with their own pick at 30, they land a new pass rusher in Cameron Thomas from San Diego State. The Chiefs haven’t gotten the success they have been hoping for from Frank Clark so they bring in Thomas who can work his way into being the No. 1 guy on the edge.
Thomas is a bigger end at 6-foot-4 and nearly 270-pounds, which means he can also move inside on third downs. Kansas City will love his versatility as he takes a lot of pressure off players such as Clark and Chris Jones.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Travis Jones, DT, Uconn
Entering the offseason, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that the Cincinnati Bengals were taking an offensive lineman with their first pick in this draft. But then, they added Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins in free agency. After fixing three starting positions, they can now go for another spot in the draft which leads to them taking Travis Jones at No. 31.
Jones can replace Larry Ogunjobi and while he’s not as good in the pass-rushing department, he will be able to shut down the opposing teams running game. Cincy was close to winning it all and they continue to stockpile great talent as they look to finally win their first Lombardi Trophy.
32. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
The Detroit Lions already took Aidan Hutchinson at No. 2 overall and they have another pick coming up early in the second round ‚— which they could use on Desmond Ridder should they want to add the Cincinnati quarterback. However, it’s smarter to take Ridder here as they would be able to give him a fifth-year on his rookie deal should he develop into a starting quarterback.
There are those who are still not sold on Ridder but he did a lot with Cincy and was absolutely dealing in the College Football Playoffs — even though there were a lot of drops in that game.
Detroit would be wise to bring in competition for Jared Goff and Ridder could end up being a diamond in the rough.