It is that time of year when everyone does a mock draft, I feel obliged to do the same. Call it peer pressure or just the anticipation of actually nailing a pick or two.
In the meantime, be sure to check out the 2022 Consensus Big Board I put together!
1. Jaguars: Travon Walker, edge rusher, Georgia.
The Jags are going to take Walker or Hutch, and the betting markets indicate it’s leaning towards the upside of Walker.
2. Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher, Michigan.
The Lions would be elated to end up with the local boy to lead their pass rush.
3. Texans: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, cornerback, Cincinnati.
The Texans need pretty much every position, so they take the player with the biggest impact.
4. Jets: Kavon Thibodeaux, edge rusher, Oregon.
Robert Salah loves his pass rush and I’m beginning to wonder if the bad press about Thibodeaux doesn’t originate from New York so he falls right in their lap.
5. Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, tackle, N.C. State.
The Giants want to provide relief for Daniel Jones or at least protect his replacement next year.
6. Panthers: Evan Neal, tackle, Alabama.
They need a quarterback, but if Neal falls to 6, I’d be shocked if they pass on him.
7. Steelers (TRADE w/ Giants): Malik Willis, quarterback, Liberty.
They need a quarterback and can’t afford to let fate dictate which one (if any) falls all the way to 20.
8. Falcons: Jameson Williams, receiver, Alabama.
The Falcons have holes throughout their lineup, but adding another weapon for the future franchise quarterback wouldn’t be a bad start.
9. Seahawks: Charles Cross, tackle, Mississippi State.
The Seahawks once again had a terrible offensive line, which means they will probably draft a cornerback.
10. Jets: Derek Stingley, Jr., cornerback, LSU.
I know that the Jets don’t desperately need a corner, but there is no way in hell they pass up the opportunity to draft one as good as Stingley.
11. Commanders: Kyle Hamilton, safety, Notre Dame.
With a void left by Landon Collins, the Commies replace him with arguably the most talented player in the draft.
12. Vikings: Trent McDuffie, cornerback, Washington.
The Vikings secondary used to be a strength, now it’s devolved into a major liability.
13. Texans: Garrett Wilson, receiver, Ohio State.
There’s a million different directions the Texans could go here, but getting some weapons for Davis Mills is a high priority.
14. Ravens: Jermaine Johnson II, edge rusher, Florida St.
The Ravens will take BPA as always, and Jermaine Johnson gives them a legit pass rush with Odafe, which they will need playing against Watson, Willis and Burrow twice a year.
15. Eagles: Drake London, receiver, USC.
Jalen Hurts may or may not be the future, but the only way to find out is surrounding him with explosive weapons.
16. Saints: Trevor Penning, tackle, Northern Iowa
The Saints have a glaring hole on offense, but it’s not the position you might think.
17. Chargers: Jordan Davis, defensive tackle, Georgia
The Chargers have loaded up on defensive pieces this offseason, Davis would be the cherry on top.
18. Eagles: Andrew Booth, Jr., cornerback, Clemson.
The Eagles may finally draft a first round linebacker, or defer until the second round.
19. Saints: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt.
The Saints may have three QBs on their roster right now, but none look like the future of the franchise.
20. Giants (TRADE from Steelers): George Karlaftis, edge rusher, Purdue.
The Giants trade back and still get a very talented and dependable pass rusher that seems to be sliding down boards for some reason.
21. Patriots: Devin Lloyd, linebacker, Utah.
The Pats get the top linebacker prospect after losing *checks notes* all of theirs from last season.
22. Packers: Chris Olave, receiver Ohio State.
If the Packers don’t draft Rodgers a pass catcher in the first round this year, I don’t think they ever will.
23. Cardinals: Devonte Wyatt, defensive tackle, Georgia
Outside of JJ Watt, that defensive line is really lacking.
24. Cowboys: Kenyon Green, guard, Texas A&M.
Do they draft another linebacker this year? Probably.
25. Bills: Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State.
The Bills would love for a cornerback to fall, but in this situation they don’t.
26. Titans: Treylon Burks, receiver, Arkansas.
The Julio Jones experiment didn’t work out, and they still don’t have someone to pair with AJ Brown.
27. Buccaneers: Zion Johnson, guard, Boston College.
The Bucs don’t really have any pressing needs, but there’s no downside in beefing up the O-line.
28. Packers: Bernard Raimann, tackle, Central Michigan.
It would be a real olive branch to Rodgers to not just draft one, but two offensive pieces in the first, which means they will probably draft a long snapper instead.
29. Chiefs: Arnold Ebiketie, edge rusher, Penn State.
The Chiefs need to generate more pressure and Ebiketie is rising fast on draft boards of late.
30. Chiefs: Daxton Hill, safety, Michigan.
The secondary is tattered and Hill would really beef up the back end.
31. Bengals: Tyler Linderbaum, center, Iowa.
Sure, the Bengals have heavily invested in the O-line during free agency, but this doesn’t preclude them from taking the highest graded center prospect in recent history.
32. Lions: Nakobe Dean, linebacker, Georgia.
This pick is going to be in play for a team that wants to trade up for that elusive fifth-year option on (presumably) a quarterback.
Ice Analytics 