2022 NFL Mock Draft: 2 complete first round mocks in one

What I would and would not do for the first round

Oct 15, 2021

The 2022 NFL Draft is still over six months away, which gives us at least six more months to study. Right now, I feel so much more comfortable naming the top 20 or 30 prospects (as of now) than I did six months ago, but becoming familiar with the best names for days two and three will take much more refinement. Mock drafts help.

Earlier this week, I posted the first 16 picks of a first round mock draft that took picks made by other writers and then giving an alternative view on what each team could do. I’ll post the results of that first, followed by picks 17-32. For “rules” on the mock draft, refer to Part I.

Here are the results of 2022 NFL Mock Draft part I

The Other People’s Picks Mock Draft:

Jaguars - DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
Lions - QB Malik Willis
Giants - OT Evan Neal
Texans - QB Matt Corral
Eagles - S Kyle Hamilton
Jets - CB Derek Stingley, Jr.
Falcons - DE Drake Jackson
Colts - CB Andrew Booth
Steelers - QB Carson Strong
Patriots - WR Treylon Burks
Vikings - LB Devin Lloyd
Dolphins - OT Jaxson Kirkland
Saints - QB Spencer Rattler
Jets - WR Chris Olave
Giants - DT DeMarvin Leal
Eagles - DE George Karlaftis

17. Washington - QB Sam Howell, UNC

CBS Sports’s Ryan Wilson had Washington picking Sam Howell and there is one obvious issue and one not-so-obvious issue.

The obvious issue is that Howell has not been playing like a first round quarterback. Wilson has Howell going 11th overall but I think he’s more likely to return to school than to be drafted in 2022.

The problem that isn’t so easy to see is that I don’t expect Washington to draft a quarterback. Far be it from the Football Team to do something illogical, but why would the franchise be so diligent about avoiding a quarterback in the 2021 draft only to come back a year later and then take a worse quarterback prospect in 2022? This isn’t the class to do it.

Washington has over $50 million in cap space next year, but likely more when they make some obvious cuts like Ereck Flowers and Landon Collins. As we’ve seen with Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford in the last two years, sometimes the best move to improve at the position is not the long play, but the short one. We can almost guarantee that another franchise quarterback will come available in 2022 and Washington has clearly set its focus on becoming a veteran destination, not a cocoon for a rookie.

My pick: CB Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, Cincinnati

I expect Washington to be an even worse team than is currently being projected. But most people seem to have them finishing over .500 despite playing extremely poorly so far, especially on defense. Hogs Haven sees the problem as “communication” and Gardner has been one of the best team leaders for a top-ranked defense. Frankly, I don’t know how well Gardner fits into Jack Del Rio’s defense (or if it will be “Jack Del Rio’s defense”) but I like players who produce and Gardner’s been the best corner in college football this season.

18. Las Vegas Raiders - CB Ahmad Gardner, Cincinnati

ProFootballNetwork has the Raiders picking Ahmad Gardner with the 25th overall pick. I can’t say I agree with that assessment of the Raiders but that would be a fine pick for Mike Mayock, who now goes from 49-percent power on personnel decisions to 51-percent. Who knows where Las Vegas goes from here with Rich Bisaccia.

Certainly it does not feel like Rich Bisaccia will be the head coach in 2022.

My pick: C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa

I would prefer to give the Raiders a center upgrade with perhaps the most impressive technician in the draft. That feels potentially like a Mayock decision.

19. Denver Broncos - OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State

I would call this a sensible pick by Glynn Morgan at Yahoo. I had Charles Cross marked off my list already, going to the Patriots. Clearly, I don’t have three AFC West teams making the playoffs. Of course, Denver needs a quarterback and that will be the most popular choice, if the Broncos don’t make a trade or a free agent splash. Like Washington, I expect them to try that route first.

And foremost!

The Broncos ranked 32nd on third down conversion, 29th in the red zone.

My pick: TE Isaiah Likely, Coastal Carolina

The story of the Broncos’ tight ends is a positive one and a negative one. On the bright side, Noah Fant and Albert Okwuegbunam are exceptional talents with a lot of promise and they require patience. The negative one is that how much “patience” is enough? Fant seems to be doing worse each year, and Albert O is back on injured R again.

This might be early for Likely now but he could be the tight end who establishes himself as a first rounder by April.

20. Cincinnati Bengals - OT Rasheed Walker, Penn State

WalterFootball has the Bengals making up for not choosing Penei Sewell in 2021, a derided decision at the time for going with Ja’Marr Chase instead. A choice that doesn’t seem so derided-able anymore.

Rasheed Walker has reportedly made “leaps” in his progress, according to his head coach, and he’s become a veteran leader for the Nittany Lions. He’s 6-6, 325 lbs.

My pick: OL Ikem Ekwonu, NC State

I’m not sold on the Bengals picking an offensive lineman. Not only did Cincinnati draft three offensive linemen in 2021, but all three (Jackson Carman, Trey Hill, D’ante Smith) could be starting next season. Smith had an excellent camp. However, potential is still only potential and the Bengals do need help offensively.

Ekwonu can play outside or inside so his versatility gives Zac Taylor options for some Tetris-style maneuvers on the offensive line next offseason.

21. Carolina Panthers - OT Darian Kinnard, Kentucky

Ryan Wilson went with an offensive tackle for Carolina, giving Sam Darnold more protection. I’ll instead go with less Sam Darnold.

My pick: QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss

There’s plenty that I don’t know.

I don’t know if Matt Corral will be rated to go this high, this low, or if it is fair.

I don’t know if Carolina will replace Sam Darnold another way.

I don’t know why the Panthers traded for Sam Darnold.

I think Matt Corral is pretty good. This is an area where I would be more comfortable with him than early, and clearly I am not projecting him as a top-10 pick. Yet.

22. Tennessee Titans - TE Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M

After not replacing Jonnu Smith in 2021, DraftWire’s Luke Easterling went with Jalen Wydermyer for the Titans. So far this season, Tennessee’s offense (except for Derrick Henry) looks like shit. Tennessee’s defense has been even worse.

I don’t think the Titans are going to make the playoffs, so I wouldn’t even say that I expect them to pick in the twenties. It might just come as a shock to some people that I really don’t think Tennessee can go in the wrong direction.

Despite being seemingly talented, the Titans need help everywhere. Yes, I include quarterback in that search, but the Titans definitely should not draft a quarterback in the first round next season. But maybe somewhere down the draft order.

My pick: LB Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina

It’s going to be a good year for pass rushers and the Titans have done a lot of swinging and missing in that area, other than Harold Landry. Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Caleb Farley look like good choices, Elijah Molden too, and Tennessee could be on the way defensively.

23. Green Bay Packers - LB Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina

I still want to see the Packers play really well this season before I project them anywhere near the Super Bowl.

Enagbare fits in a lot of places, including Green Bay. Of course, the question here is that if the Packers aren’t picking 31st or 32nd, is Aaron Rodgers out of town? Does the organizational philosophy now center around Jordan Love? Do the Packers even want to move forward with Jordan Love? The Patriots didn’t want to move forward with Jimmy Garoppolo.

My pick: OLB Adam Anderson, Georgia

I’ll just go with a different pass rusher, one who has been rising up the boards of late. “Adam Anderson.” It sounds like the alias for a superhero. So anonymous, you won’t even see him. Maybe the best attribute of a pass rusher on the field. Elusiveness.

Anderson has 10 sacks in his last 13 games.

24. Cleveland Browns - DE Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati

The Browns blog Dawg Pound Daily went with Myjai Sanders. There’s little question apparently about Cleveland’s two biggest needs: pass rush and receiver help. Despite such great efforts to be a team overloaded with weapons over the last few years, I don’t think the Browns bring a single receiver to Sundays who puts fear into the hearts of defensive backs. Odell Beckham gets worse every year, literally since his rookie season. Jarvis Landry isn’t a “dagger” and he isn’t healthy.

At this point, David Njoku is probably Baker Mayfield’s best receiver.

Cleveland could just as easily go with an edge rusher like Sanders though.

My pick: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

On my board, Wilson is still available and right now many people would consider this a steal at 24. The receiver class remains open-ended and there are a lot of names in contention for the first round. Nobody has that Ja’Marr Chase-like lock to go early, however.

25. Dallas Cowboys - DE Logan Hall, Houston

Logan Hall is the choice for the Cowboys at Walter Football. Logan Hall was a three-star recruit out of Texas in 2018. He is 6’6, 275, and he has played both inside and outside on the defensive line. Hall has seven tackles for a loss and four sacks this season, breaking out after only posting one sack in his first three years.

My pick: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

Maybe this is just my way to finally get Kaiir Elam drafted. Don’t tell anybody that I let him slip outside of the top-20, I’ll get killed!

The Cowboys have done impressive work rebuilding the defense, with recent picks like Trevon Diggs, Micah Parsons working out especially well, and Randy Gregory finally hitting his stride. Maurice Canady will be a free agent in 2022 and Elam could fit in nicely with Diggs and 2021 third round pick Nahshon Wright.

26. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State

CBS went with Jahan Dotson for the Chiefs, shoring up a clear need for weapons to surround Patrick Mahomes with following the departure of Sammy Watkins this year. Though Watkins wasn’t especially productive, we see now just how bad the depth is after Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.

My pick: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama

Nothing against Jahan Dotson or John Metchie, but if I had to choose a receiver who I’ve been really impressed with this season, it would be Jameson Williams at Alabama. The junior transfer from Ohio State has caught 27 passes for 510 yards with five touchdowns in six games this season, grabbing hold of a “WR1” role that everyone expected to go to Metchie.

27. Arizona Cardinals - CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

Fantastic, now I can check Elam off of my “Other People’s Picks” draft because that’s where Ryan Wilson has him going. The Cardinals may have found a number one corner in Byron Murphy and this year they also drafted Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan. But with as many talent receivers as there are coming into the NFL, the value of corners is only increasing. As many teams in the NFC West are finding out, cornerback depth can become a scary issue quickly.

My pick: LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia

PFN describes Dean as more of an edge rusher and a run stopper than an inside rusher or a coverage linebacker. Great, because for Arizona, I’d just be looking for an edge and a run stopper!

Chandler Jones wants a new contract. Though Dean is undersized at 6’, 225 lbs, he’s been a force for the country’s best defense.

28. Baltimore Ravens - OT Zion Nelson, Miami

The Ravens lost a tackle when they traded Orlando Brown to the Broncos, they gain one here in a CBS mock draft. Look, you can’t go wrong if you draft a solid tackle, but is “right tackle” the best value play for John Harbaugh in an effort to take his team from just “competing for Super Bowls” to winning one again?

My pick: LB Christian Harris, Alabama

I don’t believe Baltimore’s defense is as bad as some numbers indicate (29th in passing yards allowed, 17th in YPC allowed) but there is a mass exodus that’s been happening in the front-seven and it figures to continue in 2022. Players like Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, Pernell McPhee, Justin Ellis, and Justin Houston aren’t just free agents, they’re also on the older side. Despite drafting Patrick Queen in the first round in 2020, the Ravens need more help in their linebacker corps and Harris has been referred to as a top-10 pick in the recent past. For some, that hasn’t changed.

The Ravens taking an Alabama linebacker? Yes, I’ll take it.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - RB Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M

People are split on if a running back will go in the first round, perhaps even more split on whether it will be Spiller or somebody else. The thought of the Bucs using a first round pick on a back isn’t that crazy; Bruce Arians likes a good running back more than Tampa’s rushing attempts would indicate. But after seeing what happened with Kansas City’s decision to draft Clyde Edwards-Helaire last year…really?

I’m pro-running back too. I just can’t endorse the pick for a team that is so old (talented, but old) at so many other positions of greater importance.

My pick: WR George Pickens, Georgia

Will it be a Georgia-heavy draft in 2022? It is very possible. And Pickens hasn’t even played yet this year.

While Georgia is humming along, Pickens is rehabbing an ACL tear and hoping to return later in the year. The 6’3, 200 lb receiver is no less going to be on the first round radar after catching 85 passes for 1,240 yards and 14 touchdowns over his first 20 games as a true freshman and sophomore.

Chris Godwin is playing on the franchise tag. Antonio Brown is 33. Rob Gronkowski is 32. Mike Evans is 28. Picks on Tyler Johnson and Jaelon Darden were fine to do, but doesn’t fill the need of maybe needing a true number one in two years. All the better that Pickens, who has had some character red flags brought up at Georgia, goes to a team with Tom Brady and veteran leadership that can bring him along slowly.

Six of my last seven picks have either been a receiver or a linebacker.

30. LA Chargers - RB Breece Hall, Iowa State

See, I’ll draft a running back in the first round. I actually didn’t see a mock that did this, but all the mocks I found were picking a player who is already off of the board here. I like the Breece Hall pick, which is why I made it, he has 26 broken tackles on his first 60 rushing attempts in 2021, I’ll just make a different one now.

My pick: OL Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

As a tackle, or as a guard, Kenyon Green would be of great help to the Chargers and Justin Herbert.

31. Detroit Lions (via LAR) - CB Trent McDuffie, Washington

Earlier in the Other People Draft, the Lions picked QB Malik Willis. This now goes to the other side of the ball, where CBS had McDuffie going to the Lions. Now seeing Byron Murphy working out, and the Seahawks praying for help from Sidney Jones, maybe the Huskies can get some more ‘DBU’ credit going with Trent McDuffie.

There’s no wrong ‘need’ pick for the Detroit Lions. They need almost everything.

My pick: WR John Metchie III, Alabama

Yes, this is the seventh wide receiver off the board in ‘my’ draft. This year, six of the top 34 picks were receivers. In 2020, a record 13 receivers were picked in the first two rounds, including six in the top-25, eight in the top-34, and 11 in the top-50.

The Lions have many needs but one that everyone can agree on is receiver.

32. Buffalo Bills - WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

Thank you, Luke Easterling for helping me get Wilson into the first round with the Bills. Though Buffalo appears to have receivers galore, Emmanuel Sanders is 34, Cole Beasley is 32, and Stefon Diggs is 28. I’m a big fan of Gabe Davis, a player who can’t buy a bucket in Buffalo with only eight targets this season, but Wilson makes sense to me too.

My pick: S Jaquan Brisker, Penn State

Speaking of age, safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are 31 and 30, respectively. Kyle Hamilton is the best safety in college football because he’s maybe the best player in college football, but in many years, Brisker would be the top safety in the nation.

That’s the conclusion of the mock, I’ll post both complete without commentary below. Please sign-up if you haven’t already!

The My Pick Draft:

Jaguars - OT Evan Neal
Lions - DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
Giants - QB Malik Willis
Texans - CB Derek Stingley, Jr
Eagles (via MIA) - DE Aidan Hutchinson
Jets - S Kyle Hamilton
Falcons - WR Drake London
Colts - OT Trevor Penning
Steelers - DT DeMarvin Leal
Patriots - OT Charles Cross
Vikings - QB Kenny Pickett
Dolphins (via SF) - WR Treylon Burks
Saints - WR Chris Olave
Jets (via SEA) - DE Drake Jackson
Giants (via CHI) - LB Devin Lloyd
Eagles - WR Justyn Ross
WFT - CB Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner
Raiders - C Tyler Linderbaum
Broncos - TE Isaiah Likely
Bengals - OL Ikem Ekwonu
Panthers - QB Matt Corral
Titans - LB Kingsley Enagbare
Packers - LB Adam Anderson
Browns - WR Garrett Wilson
Cowboys - CB Kaiir Elam
Chiefs - WR Jameson Williams
Cardinals - LB Nakobe Dean
Ravens - LB Christian Harris
Bucs - WR George Pickens
Chargers - OL Kenyon Green
Lions (via LAR) - WR John Metchie III
Bills - S Jaquan Brisker