Updated 2022 Mock Draft Scenario: What happens in the top-8 ahead of Seattle?

Time to dig into what could happen before the Seahawks pick or trade in the first round

Them: “Derek Stingley just had an outstanding pro day!”

Me: Whuhhhht?

After Stingley’s underwhelming pro day results—the headlines say the opposite of this, but if Derek Stingley becomes a top-20 pick, he’ll be the first cornerback of his size, athleticism, tape, medical history to do so—I’m predicting a Derwin James-like fall for him in the draft.

Let’s be super duper clear: There’s a major difference between saying “This guy is not a great draft prospect” and “This guy will not become a great NFL player.”

I’m only evaluating players based on DRAFT RESUMES and what history tells us about comparing one profile to another. Cornerbacks who weigh under 190 and still only run in the mid-4.4 range, have under 31” arms, and have serious foot and leg injuries in their history, do not get drafted in the top-20.

Stingley could become the first. I can’t rule that out. But for the purposes of projecting a draft range, I won’t go off of pre-2021 narratives that Stingley-admirers clearly won’t let go of for literally any reason short of a gas mask scandal. And even then…

I think that Andrew Booth will be drafted ahead of Stingley and as he falls to the Seahawks at 9, people will be screaming for Seattle to make him the pick. Instead, I think the Seahawks trade down and that Stingley could still be available to them when they’re next on the clock.

And I still would be shocked if the Seahawks picked him then. Here’s a potential scenario I could see playing out, with three blockbuster trades before Seattle:

Top-8 mock draft

1-Jaguars select DE Aidan Hutchinson

2-Giants select DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (TRADE)

3-Texans select DE Jermaine Johnson II

4-Jets select CB Sauce Gardner

5-Lions select DE Travon Walker (TRADED DOWN)

6-Panthers select LT Charles Cross

7-Colts select OL Ikem Ekwonu (TRADE)

8-Chiefs select WR Garrett Wilson (TRADE)

Okay, I know, a lot just happened. Let’s review:

• Giants GM Joe Schoen falls in love with Thibodeaux, so he trades up to secure the one guy he wants to come away with in the draft… knowing he absolutely has to trade out of spot seven for financial reasons.

• Lions GM Brad Holmes wants to trade down. He gets his wish. There’s practically no reason for Detroit to stay at two in a weak QB class. Trade: Giants send picks 5, 67, 112 to the Lions for picks 2, 217.

• The Colts just traded for Matt Ryan, but their left tackle is Matt Pryor (one-year contract) and their right guard is Will Fries. Like I said, New York is in an impossible spot so why would they do this? They just need to trade out a 2022 first round pick for a 2023 first round pick. Why would the Colts do this? Ekwonu starts his career at guard, but pushes to be a left tackle in the near future. The Colts still have $20 million in cap space for 2022.

• Trade: Giants send pick 7 to the Colts for pick 42 and a 2023 first.

• At the end of the day, Schoen trades picks 5, 7, 67, and 112 for picks 2, 42, 217, and a 2023 first rounder. Is this a bad deal? How would you adjust it?

• Rumors emerged on Wednesday that the Chiefs want to trade into the top-10 for a wide receiver. The Falcons could stay at pick 8—they need a wideout too—but new GM Terry Fontenot knows that Atlanta is going nowhere fast with Marcus Mariota at quarterback. The Falcons should join the growing list of teams who are adding 2023 first round picks in the hopes of landing an elite QB prospect a year from now.

• Kansas City has $11 million in cap space—$13 million more than where Atlanta is currently projected—so the goal here is for the Chiefs to upgrade one of their first round picks, while the Falcons are looking to push first round financial commitments to 2023. Trade: Chiefs send picks 29, 62, 2023 first, 2023 fourth (from Miami) to Falcons for picks 8, 82 (via Colts). It’s a high price to pay but remember, Atlanta is essentially giving up their first round pick this year to do it: 29 to 8 is a massive jump. If the Falcons did this, they’d be picking five times between 29 and 74.

Who would be left on the board?

• OL Evan Neal, Alabama

• CB Derek Stingley, LSU

• CB Andrew Booth, Clemson

• DB Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

• DT Jordan Davis, Georgia

• QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt

• OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

• WR Jameson Williams, Alabama

• WR Drake London, USC

• WR Chris Olave, Ohio State

• DE George Karlaftis, Purdue

• CB Trent McDuffie, Washington

• LB Devin Lloyd, Utah

• G Zion Johnson, Boston College

• QB Malik Willis, Liberty

• QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

• OL Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan

Okay, so you’re the Seahawks, you’re on the clock, this is the board and teams are calling you to inquire about making a trade. What do you do?