2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0

With the NFL Draft around the corner, it is my turn to write my 2022 NFL mock draft 2.0. This draft got even more interesting after many chaotic off-season moves. I should note that these picks are what I would personally do, not what I think will happen. Now, let’s get right into it.

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan EDGE)

Although the Jaguars made some solid moves in free agency, they are far from a championship team. So, with the first overall pick you need to get the best player available. Hutchinson was the best EDGE rusher in college football last season. Although he isn’t the quickest EDGE in this class, his explosiveness is what separates him from the pack. The Jaguars would benefit from him because their defensive line has been a huge weakness the past few seasons. 

 

2. Detroit Lions – Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame S)

Similar to the Jaguars, they are far from needing to draft based on positional value. Grabbing Hamilton off the board now may be seen as a huge reach. However, Hamilton has all of the tools you want from a defender. He has tremendous size and athleticism which allows him to cover anyone and anywhere on the field. His run stopping ability is among the best in the nation. He can use his blend of size and speed to slip passed the blockers and make a play. Overall, the Lions can not miss with this pick although it may be seen as a reach. 

 

3. Houston Texans – Evan Neal (Alabama OT)

The Texans just traded away Deshaun Watson and announced that Mills is their QB going forward. It is time to get him the protection that he needs in order to succeed. If Leremy Tunsil will be sticking around, I would move Neal over to right tackle. Given Neal’s size, I am a little worried about his ability to stay healthy after seeing what is happening to Mekhi Becton. That is why I am moving him away from the blind side. This would help Mills because if he sees Neal struggle to block on a play, he can adjust accordingly. 

 

4. New York Jets – Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati CB)

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is one of the most impressive corners I have ever seen at the collegiate level. Sauce was a four-year starter for the Bearcats and did not give up a single touchdown. Now that I have caught your attention Jets fans, I should add that he has tremendous size. This allows him to line up against bigger receivers and make it difficult for them to make a play. 

 

5. New York Giants – Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon EDGE)

If I was the GM of the Giants and Thibodeaux fell to me, I would pull the trigger in seconds. Thibodeaux is one of the best athletes in this draft class. Although he is not as powerful as Hutchinson, he makes it up with his speed. One thing that also makes him a special player is the fact that he can drop back in coverage. His play style and strengths remind me a lot of T.J. Watt. 

 

6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu (NC State OT)

One of the biggest weaknesses for Carolina all season was the offensive line. Adding Ekwonu would be very beneficial to them because he is a fantastic run-blocker. McCaffrey’s production next season would skyrocket due to Ekwonu’s presence. Although run-blocking is Ekwonu’s forte, he will also give the quarterback plenty of time in the pocket. 

 

7. New York Giants – Charles Cross (Miss. St. OT)

This is a very obvious pick for the Giants. Similar to the Panthers, the offensive line has been one of the weakest points of their offense for years. Picking Cross here would be very beneficial for Daniel Jones because I feel like the clock is ticking on his time in New York. Cross is a very good pass-blocker with excellent athleticism. He is very technically gifted and can shutdown almost any defender. 

 

8. Atlanta Falcons – Garrett Wilson (Ohio St. WR)

With Ridley suspended and Russell Gage gone in free agency, the Falcons have the weakest wide receiver room in the NFL. Adding Wilson here would be a very smart move because he is a great plug & play receiver. Wilson will be able to come in day one and be a secondary target behind Pitts. Wilson is a fantastic route runner with great body control when going up and making a play on the ball. By making this pick, in a year they will have a solid young receiving core with Ridley, Wilson and Pitts. 

 

9. Seattle Seahawks – Malik Willis (Liberty QB)

Willis has been flying up draft boards the past few weeks because of his performances at the combine and his pro day. With drafting Willis, I would not make him a starter right out of the gate. Personally, I would let Drew Lock be the starting QB at the beginning of the season. If Lock is struggling, and the Seahawks are struggling to win games, the they can test out Willis. He would be a good fit for the Seahawks because they have two solid deep threat receivers. 

 

10. New York Jets – Travon Walker (Georgia EDGE)

Travon Walker would be a fantastic fit for the Jets. Personally, I would draft Walker with the intention of having him play primarily as a 4-3 defensive end. Although Walker does lack some short field acceleration, he has fantastic power. Walker is 6’5” and weighs 275 lbs. which allows him to play anywhere on the line. Having a defensive line consisting of Lawson, Martin, Williams and Walker would be very scary for opposing running backs. 

 

11. Washington Commanders – Devin Lloyd (Utah LB)

Although many people think that the Commanders should try and improve their offense, I think that their defense is a bigger question mark. Adding Lloyd to the middle of their defense would help them a lot in both run and pass defense. Lloyd also has all of the mental aspects that you want from your starting middle linebacker. He is a natural leader and communicator which will help him gain respect from his teammates immediately. 

 

12. Minnesota Vikings – Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU CB)

At the beginning of this season, I never would have guessed Stingley would fall out of the top 10. But, I think that Minnesota is a perfect destination for Stingley. The Vikings have a solid front seven and secondary, all they need is one more young corner to finish the puzzle. Stingley is fantastic in press coverage. When watching his film he looked like he was glued to the receivers. 

 

13. Houston Texans – Trent McDuffie (Washington CB)

In this draft the Houston Texans need to draft the best players available in all 7 rounds. Drafting Evan Neal was a solid start to strengthen the offensive line, now it is time to focus on defense. McDuffie is drawing a lot of comparisons to top defensive backs in the NFL because of his natural instincts. When watching his film, he rarely let a receiver leave him in the dust. On the rare occasion that it did happen, McDuffie was right back on top of them in seconds. He is also one of the best tacklers in this draft class and not just at the corner position. Overall, the Texans would be adding a player similar to Tyrann Mathieu.

 

14. Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Davis (Georgia DT)

Throughout the past few years, the Ravens have been adding lots of fantastic defenders to their team. I think adding Davis to this young defense would be the final piece of the puzzle. Davis is one of the most athletic big guys I have seen come to the NFL. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Davis ran a 40-yard dash time that was faster than Patrick Mahomes. There are lots of questions surrounding his longevity and how many snaps he can play in a game. Right out of the gate, I would start Davis as a rotational nose tackle. This would slowly get him conditioned to play up to play more than 3 snaps per possession. 

 

15. Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis (Purdue EDGE)

The Eagles have really struggled on the defensive side of the ball for several years now. Personally, I would prioritize adding several powerful defenders to that defensive front seven. This is exactly what you are getting with Karlaftis. He has tremendous power and active hands which allow him to tear apart any lineman that gets in his way. I would start Karlaftis right out of the gate and line him up opposite of Haason Reddick. This would let them constantly penetrate through the opposing offensive line to pressure the quarterback all game. 

 

16. Philadelphia Eagles – Devonte Wyatt (Georgia DT)

Since Jordan Davis is already off the board at 14, I would go out and get his teammate Devonte Wyatt. Although Wyatt’s game may not be as appealing at Davis’, I assure you that he is just as talented. He may not be as physically gifted as many other defensive tackles, but he is more productive than most of them. Wyatt would act as Fletcher Cox’s long-term replacement due to him getting up there in age. Eagles fans, imagine a defensive line of Reddick, Wyatt, Hargrove and Karlaftis. This would be enough to keep opposing offensive linemen up at night. 

 

17. Los Angeles Chargers – Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa OT)

With the Chargers making big moves to create a deadly defense in the offseason, it is time to protect Herbert. Although Penning is naturally a LT, I would start him at RT immediately. If I was Herbert, I would be ecstatic knowing I have two of the most athletic young tackles in the league protecting me. I was a little on the fence about Penning, until I saw his performance at the Senior Bowl. Penning put on displays of amazing power. There were multiple snaps where he threw the defender he was blocking.

 

18. New Orleans Saints – Drake London (USC WR)

Drake London is another guy that has been flying up draft boards the past few weeks. I have even seen some analyts project him in the top 5 of the draft… WHAT? Although London is a very talented receiver, I think that there are some question marks surrounding his route running. So that is why I have him going to the Saints at 18. London would be a good fit for the Saints because he has tremendous size and athleticism. His background in basketball allows him to use his vertical to make him play a lot taller than he already is. This would be perfect for Winston because it would take little effort to get the ball to London. 

 

19. Philadelphia Eagles – Nakobe Dean (Georgia LB)

With the Eagles’ third pick in the 1^st round, they continue to solidify their front 7. Personally, I would not blame them if they wanted to go out and draft Georgia’s defense because of how talented they were. Dean would immediately start as the SAM and would play directly behind Karlaftis. Although there are some doubts about his lack of size, he has enough talent where that won’t be a factor. Dean is a fantastic run-stopper, his ability to read where the running back is going is insane. 

 

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan OT)

I found it to be very interesting that the Steelers decided to go out and sign Trubisky to a 2-year deal. Personally, I would have used this pick to draft a starting QB like Pickett or Corral. But, since they have signed their guy, why not go out and get him some extra protection? Although he could start on either side of the line, I would put Raimann at LT to protect Trubisky’s blind side. Raimann is a very versatile tackle. He is elite at both run and pass blocking, which would be perfect for the Steelers. Having a young lead blocker for Najee Harris would be another huge benefit of this pick. 

 

21. New England Patriots – Jameson Williams (Alabama WR)

We have seen the Dolphins and Eagles do it, so why not the Patriots? It is time to reunite Mac Jones and Jameson Williams once again, but this time in New England. This would be very dangerous because not only is Williams an elite athlete already, Jones is already comfortable with Williams’ style of play. Personally, I think that Williams would come in as a rookie and be the primary target for Jones. Williams is very versatile due to the fact that he can line up on the outside and the slot. Overall, if Mac Jones is the long-term answer at QB, why not make him comfortable?

 

22. Green Bay Packers – Chris Olave (Ohio St. WR)

After losing Davante Adams to the Raiders, it is time to completely rebuild the wide receiver core. Olave is one of the most polished wide receivers in college football last season. He has tremendous speed and acceleration, which is a huge benefit for Aaron Rodgers. His speed will allow him to be where he needs to be, when he needs to be there. This is a big reason why I think that Rodgers and Olave will be dangerous for years to come. Olave is also very good at tracking the deep ball which is a big part of being successful in the Packers’ organization. 

 

23. Arizona Cardinals – Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa C)

Linderbaum is arguably the most polished offensive lineman in this draft class. The Cardinals are in desperate need of offensive linemen who can give Murray time in the pocket. Linderbaum has a lot of strength, which will easily translate to the NFL. In high school, Linderbaum pinned former Iowa teammate Tristan Wirfs in a wrestling match to go to state. One reason why he is such a polished run-blocker, is his ability to get downfield to be a lead blocker. 

 

24. Dallas Cowboys – Treylon Burks (Arkansas WR)

The Cowboys has one of the best all-around teams in the NFL. After having to make the tough decision to trade away Amari Cooper, they need to add another weapon at wide receiver. Burks has a rare blend of size and strength, which reminds me a lot of A.J. Brown. Burks would open up the field for the Cowboys, allowing Lamb and Gallup to be the deep threats. I should also add that Burks has solid speed as well as size, so I think he would be a great fit. 

 

25. Buffalo Bills – Andrew Booth Jr. (Clemson CB)

After adding Jamison Crowder, the conversation of the Bills needing to improve their offense is off the table. The biggest weakness on the Bills defense is their defensive back core. Adding Booth to the Bills would make their defense immediately scarier. Booth has fantastic field vision and awareness that will make him a very good corner in the NFL. I should also note that he needs to improve his ability in press coverage. This is because he rarely lined up in press coverage at Clemson. 

 

26. Tennessee Titans – Jermaine Johnson II (Florida St. EDGE)

Johnson II is one of the most physical EDGE rushers I have seen in this draft class. Johnson II has a fantastic blend of speed and power that is so fun to watch. He can push a lineman off balance with ease and then use his speed to get the QB to force an error. Although the Titans don’t need a defensive lineman, as the GM, I would play Johnson as a 3-4 OLB and play a similar role as Rashan Gary. One of the biggest red flags that I saw when watching his film was his ability to get passed bigger linemen. But after some experience in the NFL, this will eventually go away. So with the 26th pick of my 2022 NFL mock draft 2.0 Johnson gets the nod.

 

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Zion Johnson (Boston College G)

With Tom Brady coming back for yet another season, the Buccaneers need to give him another bodyguard. Johnson would be a perfect fit for the Bucs’ offensive line. Just like Tristan Wirfs, Johnson brings a toughness that you love to see from an offensive lineman. He also has fantastic balance and is almost like a brick wall when pass protecting. When a defender is bull rushing him, he does a great job of setting his feet and stalling the defender. 

 

28. Green Bay Packers – Jahan Dotson (Penn St. WR)

No, you are not hallucinating, the Packers are drafting two wide receivers in the first round. This would make three first round receivers the Packers have taken in 20 years. Jahan Dotson would be a fantastic complimentary piece to Chris Olave. Dotson is a fantastic plug and play receiver which will help the Packers for years to come. He is also a solid deep threat who could replace Marquez Valdes- Scantling and allow Allan Lazard play where he will be the most comfortable. 

 

29. Kansas City Chiefs – Boye Mafe (Minnesota EDGE)

This pick is very simple, the Chiefs need to improve their defensive line. Ever since the Senior Bowl, Mafe has been rising up draft boards. A big reason why is because he is very versatile. Not only is he a fantastic pass rusher, he is also solid in zone coverage. Although he is a very good pass rusher, he does struggle to stop the run. But, after a few seasons in the NFL, I don’t think that will be an issue. 

 

30. Kansas City Chiefs – Kaiir Elam (Florida CB)

Elam is the best press coverage corner in this draft class. He is a very underrated do-it-all corner with a solid future ahead of him. Although he is very good in press coverage, that is not the most impressive quality that he has. His vision is what separates him from the pack. When in coverage, he does a fantastic job of reading the QB’s eyes. The Chiefs would benefit from Elam because many pass-heavy teams like the Bengals exposed their secondary last season. 

 

31. Cincinnati Bengals – Jalen Pitre (Baylor DB)

Jalen Pitre is one of the most interesting players in this draft class. He is not a traditional safety that excels in two-deep systems. He is better as a slot corner or stack linebacker. If the Bengals add Pitre to their defensive back core, it would make their defense almost impossible to beat. Pitre is not only an elite run-stopper when compared to other DBs, he is elite compared to all positions. I would immediately stick Pitre in the slot in order to help in run- defense.

 

32. Detroit Lions – Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati QB)

I understand this pick may be shocking considering Pickett is still on the board, but let me explain. The Lions don’t need a QB to step in immediately and make an impact. Ridder has a fantastic work ethic and that is primarily why I have him going off the board this early. If I were the GM of the Lions, I would draft a QB who can learn as much as possible while on the bench. 

Ridder is also one of the most athletic QBs in this class, for his size he has fantastic mobility. In order for him to be a solid starter in the NFL, he needs to improve up on his accuracy.

2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 analyst-Matthew Lewis