Folks, we’re just eight days away from the 2022 NFL Draft which means it’s time for our second to last mock of the season. They say time fly’s when you’re having fun and it’s definitely been a wild ride this draft season.
For this mock, we decided on no trades. Matt made the odd picks, I made the even picks. I provided the analysis for each pick in here.
Let’s get this train rolling!
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
There are still a ton of rumors that the Jaguars will go Travon Walker out of Georgia here but we just don’t see it. Aidan Hutchinson is the safest player in this class.
2. Detroit Lions: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
The Lions need to revitalize their defense. There are some question marks about Kayvon Thibodeaux but they have a perfect character reference in their locker room already in Penei Sewell who can vouch for him.
3. Houston Texans: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
The Texans are basically an expansion team at this point and they land a franchise cornerstone in Evan Neal who can start out at RT and eventually move to left.
4. New York Jets: CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati
The Jets need to get premier players at prime positions and they can’t resist throwing a little sauce on their defense.
5. New York Giants: OT Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State
If the board falls like this then Joe Schoen should be sprinting to the stage with his draft card. This would be a no brainer pick.
6. Carolina Panathers: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
The Panthers, who have become a poverty franchise, are desperately going to try and trade back if the board falls like this. If they can’t trade back, we can see them settling for a good, not great prospect in Charles Cross here.
7. New York Giants: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia
We don’t love this pick for the Giants (we wouldn’t hate it either) but we feel that this is what they will do here if they’re unable to move this pick back. Travon Walker has all of the traits but he never had a ton of production in college. This is a big time projection pick here.
8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
The Falcons are a total dumpster fire and they literally have no wide receivers on their roster anymore with Calvin Ridley suspended for a year for gambling on games. Taking Garrett Wilson here will be a safe bet for them.
9. Seattle Seahawks: QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
This is the shocker of the draft here but we have the Seahawks taking Desmond Ridder from Cincinnati. All signs point to them really liking him as a player and loving him as a person. He really could be the first quarterback taken which is mind boggling.
10. New York Jets: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
The Jets could use another weapon on the outside and they get a damn good one here with Jameson Williams.
11. Washington DC NFL Franchise Commanders: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
The Football Team Commanders have shown throughout their history that they sure do love the safety position. Kyle Hamilton will draw comparisons for Sean Taylor if they make this pick here.
12. Minnesota Vikings: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State University
The Vikings won’t be able to turn down Jermaine Johnson at this spot. He could come in and be a franchise player on defense for years to come.
13. Houston Texans: CB Derek Stingley, LSU
“This is where Derek Stingley’s career goes to die.”-Matt about 5 seconds after he made this pick.
14. Baltimore Ravens: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
The Ravens secondary is aging so let’s inject some youth into it. McDuffie is a really good player who plays with high intelligence that will fit in with what the Ravens do.
15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
The Eagles go to the receiver well for the third straight year and add another weapon to offense. We can guarantee that this is a better pick than Jalen Reagor.
16. New Orleans Saints: WR Drake London, USC
The Saints believe that they can win with Jameis Winston. Or do they? More on that later. Either way, they’ve gotta get some more weapons at wide receiver.
17. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
The Chargers get a solid right tackle with a high floor with this pick.
18. Philadelphia Eagles: ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah
Lloyd is a prototype linebacker who probably will not end up sliding this far. If he does then the Eagles got a steal.
19. New Orleans Saints: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
So this is the “or do they” portion of our “the Saints believe in Jameis Winston” take. They have to be tempted to take a quarterback here without a first round pick next year. This isn’t terrible value for Willis IF you believe in him. We just don’t.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: ILB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
The Steelers are going to be PISSED if they miss out on Malik Willis by one pick here. They’re known to really love him. Nakobe Dean is a great consolation prize, though.
21. New England Patriots: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
This just seems like a Bill Belichick pick. He is likely to slide due to his short arms and lack of bend but Belichick will find a way to turn him into a productive player.
22. Green Bay Packers: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
If the Packers pass on Burks here than Aaron Rodgers may end up retiring.
23. Arizona Cardinals: CB Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
Andrew Booth is going to be picked higher than a lot of people think. He could be as high as the third cornerback off the board.
24. Dallas Cowboys: DT Jordan Davis, Georgia
Dallas won’t be able to resist this pick and it matches need.
25. Buffalo Bills: DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
The Bills are great at drafting and developing these interior defensive linemen. Wyatt will do great things for Bills Mafia.
26. Tennessee Titans: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
The Titans need to hedge their bets at wide receiver (and no I’m not talking about trading for Calvin Ridley) in case AJ Brown ends up forcing his way out of town. Dotson is going to be really good.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: IOL Zion Johnson, Boston College
Protect Tom Brady at all costs.
28. Green Bay Packers: S/Nickel Daxton Hill, Michigan
The Packers land a versatile defensive back and one of my favorite players in this year’s class.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Kyler Gordon, Washington
With the rest of the AFC West getting better and the Chiefs getting worse on paper, they are going to have to at least try on defense next season.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
If you close your eyes really hard then you see Tyreek Hill. It’s just the Great Value version.
31. Cincinnati Bengals: C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Keep Joe Burrow safe at all costs and they could be Super Bowl contenders again.
32. Detroit Lions: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Dan Campbell has said that you don’t need an elite quarterback to win in the NFL so taking Kenny Pickett here makes sense.
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