2022 NFL mock draft: Full first-round mock after huge Eagles-Saints trade

2022 NFL mock draft, picks 3-4

3. Houston Texans: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

The Michigan ties to those that have worked in New England recently are as strong as ever. There are a few college coaches that Bill Belichick has clearly preferred over the years in terms of bringing guys to the NFL and near the top of the list are Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh.

Nick Caserio showed last year in Houston that the ties to Michigan were not limited to Bill Belichick when he traded up for former Wolverines star receiver Nico Collins.

I think Caserio and his new head coach Lovie Smith would be thrilled to add a stud like Aidan Hutchinson here at pick no. 3 overall. This pick could come down to Hutchinson, Travon Walker, Sauce Gardner, or Ikem Ekwonu.

4. New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu, OL, North Carolina State

Even if Ekwonu ends up playing guard at the NFL level, the New York Jets have a bit of a luxury here of having that 10th overall pick and being able to just take the best guy on their board.

I do think Ekwonu is a tackle at the next level and he would really complete the Jets’ new-look offensive line which, after this pick, would look really solid on paper from left to right: Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Connor McGovern, Laken Tomlinson, Ikem Ekwonu.

That is a big, strong, nasty offensive line.