Final 2022 NFL Mock Draft - 1 Round w/o Trades

 Finally! It's about time for the 2022 NFL Draft and that means it's time for my final Mock. This mock WILL NOT have trades, although I will say that as we move closer to the draft it seems as though trade interest will be more centered on draft day slides rather than teams currently trying to move up. So, I don’t expect there to be much trade action anyway. This will essentially serve as my stab at round one as we sit today. That all being said, Let's get rippin':

Round 1

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE/Edge Aidan Hutchinson Michigan:

That's right, Ol' CardiO is NOT buying it. This pick will NOT be Travon Walker, I'm willing to bet on that. Pederson's Jags are faced with the classic draft day dilemma do you take the safe, #1 overall prospect with a high ceiling or the ultra-versatile, freak athlete who has possibly the highest ceiling in the draft but a much lower floor. Another issue I have with Walker is scheme fit: he can do a ton of things and fit any scheme in multiple ways but I don't see him as a definite day one contributor at any position. That's quite the risk at #1 or even the top 10 but GMs love home run potential so he's a top 10 lock at this point. Pederson goes with the sure thing in Hutchinson who's quite versatile in his own right and a dream fit for DC Mike Caldwell's scheme.

2. Detroit Lions- Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux Oregon:

On paper, most people would assume Detroit’s looking at Walker or Willis here and I think both are in play but we need to look at who’s making the pick. I think Lions GM Brad Holmes is a genius when it comes to scouting and drafting. The guy was involved in selecting Donald, Quinn, Chris Long, and Todd Gurley. These 4 names tell us two big things: Holmes has a fantastic pedigree when drafting pass rush talent and he will stay true to his board even if it surprises us (and it works!). I believe Thibodeaux is #1 on Detroit’s board even over Hutchinson. Look at the facts, Lions brass were in full force at Oregon’s pro day and Holmes even attended a game to see the man. They love him and there’s nothing wrong with going back to the same well that did you so right the year before. No to mention, your 2020 First Round pick is probably lobbying for him in house... I mean he's blocked him enough to know right?

3. Houston Texans- Edge Travon Walker Georgia:

Here’s a dream scenario for new Head Coach Lovie Smith. Smith will be like a kid in a candy store using the ultra versatile Walker, while having the defensive coaching skills to help him reach his potential. Nick Caserio is a former Patriot pupil and nothing is more patriot way than versatility on defensive. This is a really solid fit for Walker to succeed and I think we see him play 4-3 end, OLB, and DT in year one. He’s run support right now but Lovie can make him a supreme pass rushing chess piece that moves all around the front seven (maybe even MLB). 

4. New York Jets- CB Ahmad Gardner Cincinnati:

It’s no secret that The Jets love Sauce and it’s also no secret that he’s a great fit for Robert Saleh’s Defense. Let me say this, I do believe the hype around Stingley’s rising draft stock but make no mistake: Sauce is the draft’s best Corner. While Stingley has a slightly higher ceiling his floor is a lot lower. I see Sauce as a day 1 star and a perennial pro bowler, Stingley has a much more unpredictable/inconsistent feel.

5. New York Giants- CB Derek Stingley Jr. LSU:

As I said, I’m buying the Stingley draft stock hype. I think one of The Giants top 10 picks goes Tackle and the other is Wink Martindale’s to do what he chooses with. In this scenario, New York is elated to see Ekwonu and Neal sticking around and they’re now guaranteed to grab one at pick 7. Martindale gets the go ahead and goes after a position he loves in Cornerback. The Giants haven’t been quiet about their desire to move James Bradberry and Stingley will immediately fill that hole with great upside.

6. Carolina Panthers- QB Malik Willis Liberty:

I was hesitant on this pick after what I’ve seen from Bucky Brooks and Daniel Jeremiah, I think their the absolute experts on the draft today. That being said, I have to go my own way here I see no other move for Matt Rhule if he wants to stick around Carolina past this season. Their roster is loaded and the only major hole is QB, while this is a light QB class I think Willis has to be a top 10 lock. He’s the only guy I can say that about. Josh Allen and Pat Mahomes have set the bar so high today, GMs are now desperate to take chances on guys with that type of ceiling even if the floor is pretty low. Rhule’s dying to get a QB and has the roster to take a shot.

7. New York Giants- OT Evan Neal Alabama:

As I mentioned, one of New York’s top 10 picks will be going to Tackle. Matt Peart is unavailable and now The Giants must fill a spot that was already a top weakness. This will give Daboll’s squad two massive maulers on the edges just like he had last season in Buffalo. Neal is a crazy good steal at 7 and I’d feel the same about Ekwonu here too, they were 2 and 3 in my last mock.

8. Atlanta Falcons- WR Garrett Wilson Ohio State:

It seems like Atlanta feels okay potentially taking a year with Mariota and I can’t blame them, this QB class feels pretty weak. I also don’t think there’s much, if any, interest in Malik Willis but they do seem fairly hot on the Pickett trail. If I were doing trades, I’d think Atlanta would be looking to slide back and grab Pickett a bit later. In this scenario where they’re staying put WR is the only logical move and they get a great one in Wilson. I think he’s just about a top 10 lock at this point as well.

9. Seattle Seahawks- OT Ikem Ekwonu NC State:

What a day this would be for Seahawk fans, ridiculous steal here at 9. Seattle desperately needs help on the O-Line and they find a great solution in Ekwonu. Ekwonu and Neal both have top 5 potential and grabbing them anywhere later than that is an insane value. Seattle’s long term QB 1 is going to love this rebuilt line.

10. New York Jets- OT Charles Cross Mississippi State:

We’ve all heard the rumors The Jets could very well not even pick here if they get Samuel, but as it sits today they’re picking at 10. I think it’s clear at this point that New York will acquire a veteran receiver whether it’s Samuel or not. RT has been a big hole on this roster and now we have this whole Mekhi Becton fiasco unfolding. Tackle has become a big need and much bigger than receiver. If I’m GM Joe Douglas I’m trying to keep this pick for a Tackle and package Becton in a deal for a receiver. Cross is close to as good as Ekwonu and Neal, just not as high of a ceiling but he’d be a nice upgrade at a Tackle spot even if Becton stuck around.

11. Washington Commanders- WR Drake London USC:

The word on the street is that Washington is determined to get a running mate for Terry McLaurin. The Commanders seem to truly be all in on Wentz and they want to give him the weapons to succeed, this is a good move for doing just that. London will pair perfectly with McLaurin and company giving Wentz a great jump ball target resembling his connection with Alshon Jeffery. I personally think this is a bit early for London but then again I wouldn’t take a WR at all here… for me Hamilton would be a no brainer.

12. Minnesota Vikings- S Kyle Hamilton Notre Dame:

The Vikings are in a great spot here at 12, they have quite a few spots that could benefit from an upgrade but no clear needs. New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah comes from an analytical background and will relish the chance to sit back and take the player sitting atop his board due to the lack of desperation within this roster. Minnesota could consider McDuffie, Wyatt, and Jordan Davis here as well but I love Hamilton as a fit. He’ll sure up the backend rather quickly and give Minnesota a super versatile safety tandem. Having a Notre Dame alum running their backend has served the Vikings well for the last decade and when Harrison Smith is ready to pass the torch ND’s Hamilton will be ready to keep the tradition alive.

13. Houston Texans- C Tyler Linderbaum Iowa:

This is pick checks all the boxes for Houston. They have holes across the line minus Tunsil, it’s a high value pick at 13, a very high floor player, and a high character guy. Culturally this pick fits exactly what Caserio is trying to build and I believe Texan fans should be very happy walking out of Day 1 with Linderbaum and Walker. This is also the type of pick you make if you believe in Mills as your franchise QB. Him and Linderbaum can fortify this offense for the next decade.

14. Baltimore Ravens- DT Jordan Davis Georgia:

The pick every Steeler fan is dreading. Davis is a freak athlete and I think he’ll become one of the best Interior D-Lineman to come out in the past decade. Davis will likely find a home at Nose in the Ravens 3-4 base D with the ability to flex to his left and give big Calais Campbell a breather. He’s a great fit for what Baltimore looks to do up front and he’ll remind fans of what Haloti Ngata brought to the table.

15. Philadelphia Eagles- CB Trent McDuffie Washington:

McDuffie is the last top tier cornerback available, In my opinion he’s closer to Stingley and Gardner than Booth, Gordon, etc. Philly is sitting in a really nice spot. They have no glaring needs but two firsts in the next two years. I’d still say DB is their top need and if McDuffie became a lockdown corner they’d have quite a tandem there. Taking best available and filling a need is always a recipe for success.

16. New Orleans Saints- OT Trevor Penning Northern Iowa:

If NOLA doesn’t jump on Penning here he’ll be gone at the next pick. The Saints now have a gaping hole at LT with the departure of Terron Armstead and Penning gives them a capable day one starter. This is also a great move for setting a physical tone upfront and will help continue the hard nosed culture built by Sean Payton. I could see an argument for Jameson Williams here and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the pick when someone leap frog’s New Orleans to nab Penning.

17. Los Angeles Chargers- OT Bernhard Raimann Central Michigan:

While this may be a bit of a reach, albeit only by less than 10 picks, this is a good selection for The Chargers. This is a team very much in playoff contention with quite a few holes to fill and several of which being on the O-Line. Therefore, It’s O-Line or bust here in my opinion and there isn’t much downside to reaching a bit on a high ceiling athletic Tackle like Raimann if you can’t get your hands on Penning. Raimann’s best football is ahead of him, but despite making the switch to Tackle from TE not long ago, I see him as an immediate upgrade at RT. He can contribute right now and eventually help the Chargers boast one of the best Tackle tandems in the league.

18. Philadelphia Eagles- DT Devonte Wyatt Georgia:

Initially I thought this pick would be Treylon Burks but I’ve talked myself into a DT here. Wyatt would be such a nice fit for what Philly expects from their D-Line and a great eventual replacement for the aging Fletcher Cox. I think this would be the top player on their board at this point and I love it. Philly bolsters their Defense in the first round and still has two picks next year if the Offense can’t take that leap. This is the perfect thing to do in a situation when there’s still a bit of uncertainty around your young QB and his also very young arsenal.

19. New Orleans Saints- WR Jameson Williams Alabama:

The Saints would’ve been happy taking Williams at 16 and are shocked to have him sitting here 3 picks later. This is one of a few players left on the board that would likely have a team move up and steal them in the event of a draft day slide like this. The Saints are playoff contenders with Jameis and Michael Thomas healthy giving them the luxury of being able to sit and wait on Williams who will eventually take this group over the top. Great fit.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers- WR Chris Olave Ohio State:

Man, I’ve been so back and fourth on this pick. The only real needs on this roster are a true NT and another WR in my opinion but there’s other spots with room for upgrade. It does feel like GM Kevin Colbert staying on only for the draft symbols the Steelers taking a QB but there seems to be a lot of confidence in Trubisky amongst Steelers brass. If it were me, I’d shoot for the top of my board and see if a QB I like is sticking around in the 2nd. Jordan Davis would be a fit if he slid a bit but Olvae is such a Steeler pick. Colbert has an unmatchable resume drafting a few things: Ohio State Guys, Receivers, and players with blazing speed.

21. New England Patriots- OG Kenyon Green Texas A&M:

An interesting name to watch here is George Karlaftis, he’s slipping too low and has the versatile Belichick loves. Karlaftis would be a perfect fit defensively but the need for a starting Guard is immense. Keeping Jones healthy will be priority one and Kenyon Green has the skill to be a top half run blocking Guard in this league as a rookie. He’s a great fit for New England’s scheme and their playing style will hide his few deficiencies when it comes to pass blocking.

22. Green Bay Packers- WR Treylon Burks Arkansas:

I believe Burks is fairly high on some teams’ boards and he’d be a great fit for Rodgers in Green Bay. The Packers have positioned themselves to need upgrades at a few spots, mostly WR and OL, allowing them to be patient with their bounty of picks. Green Bay will be ecstatic to see one of their highly graded WRs sitting here without them having to make a move to get him.

23. Arizona Cardinals- Edge Jermaine Johnson Florida State:

Here’s one of those players that should be gone already. Johnson is a top 10 talent rushing the passer and his skillset will quickly transfer to the NFL level. I think the Cardinals would be absolutely shocked to get him here, so would I. If I were doing trades in this mock I’d expect the price for Johnson to be a good bit earlier (Maybe around 12-14). So why did Johnson and still available Karlaftis drop? As usual with the draft there’s some key positional runs at spots with a lot less depth than Edge Rusher. This position is so deep that I fully expect the second tier to be pushed outside the top 10.

24. Dallas Cowboys- OT Tyler Smith Tulsa:

This is a candidate to look to move back with someone looking to slide in for Karlaftis or maybe even a Linebacker here. Dallas needs to address RT at all costs, losing Collins is a big hit to one of the main things Dallas has done well in this era. If forced to stay put, Smith would 100% be the pick. He’s by far the best Tackle left and his physical demeanor would be a huge asset in its own right even if he needs a bit more polish technically. I see him as more of an early second rounder but everyone needs a Tackle this year, so a rise for Smith isn’t shocking.

25. Buffalo Bills- HB Kenneth Walker Michigan State:

Running Back to Buffalo in the first is trending and I love it! I’ve been lobbying for this in the last 3 drafts and it looks like there’s finally a chance it may happen. If you look at Buffalo’s other needs, they’d all be just as much a reach at this point. The question is Hall or Walker? I think Hall has greater upside but Walker will definitely be a day one stunner and he’s a great scheme fit for Bills Mafia. My brains still telling me it won’t happen but my heart wants it so bad.

26. Tennessee Titans- QB Kenny Pickett Pitt:

The Titans could use a lot of help in several areas but let’s face it, this nucleus of talent isn’t getting any younger. If anything, Tennessee has proven that under Vrabel’s tutelage they usually win if their QB limits mistakes. The only thing that’s been holding them back is a normal amount of mistakes by Tannehill but his underwhelming skill level to ever make up for them. While Vrabel and company are a bit more linked to Ridder, I think they’d be really excited to run into Pickett here and he’d be a great fit for this offense.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- OG Zion Johnson Boston College:

The Bucs really just need a Guard and Some D-Line upgrades, both are going to be available later. So who’s the best player on the board that makes sense? That’s right, it’s still a Guard! Johnson is a very talented and powerful Guard who will slot right in and start week 1. He has some athletic deficiencies but that shouldn’t show up very much in Tampa’s scheme, especially with it looking like they’ll transition to a bit more of a downhill running approach since giving the keys complete to Fournette. This is a great situation for a young guard, Tampa has all the tools to develop him right.

28. Green Bay Packers- LB Devin Lloyd Utah:

There’s a few more spots where Green Bay could use an upgrade and Linebacker is one of them. Lloyd would be a great fit next to De’Vondre Campbell and be able to put his playmaking skills on full display. I think this would be a great fit here, especially with the way O-Line (Which I mentioned with their last pick) has flew off the board.

29. Kansas City Chiefs- Edge George Karlaftis Purdue:

If Karlaftis is there, KC would absolutely sprint this pick to the podium. In a scenario where trades are allowed this wouldn’t be the case. Someone would be jumping into the top 15 to grab Johnson and Karlaftis would have a very low chance of getting past Arizona at 23 even if no one leap frogs them to get him. That being said, in this mock an outstanding edge rusher with IDL versatility drops right into KC’s lap and makes their defense 10x better come week 1.

30. Kansas City Chiefs- CB Andrew Booth Clemson:

Booth reminds me of another Andy Reid pick at Corner a few years back in Marcus Peters. Booth’s ball skills are phenomenal, I believe in year one he’ll transition well and bring in at least 3 picks. The issue with Booth is his limited experience, so expect there to be just as many let downs as game changing plays in 2022. He has the it factor but needs to be on the field and suffer through the growing pains which could push him into the 2nd if a team like KC isn’t sure the good as a rookie will offset the bad.

31. Cincinnati Bengals- LB Nakobe Dean Georgia:

Sometimes the player out-weights the need. Cornerback would make a ton of sense here for Cincy and help them stay in contention with the heavy passing AFC Juggernauts: KC and Buffalo. Nakobe Dean is just too good for them to sit tight and go corner here, not to mention they could use additional Linebacker help anyway. Dean is a difference maker and will immediately be the top LB on this defense.

32. Detroit Lions- QB Desmond Ridder Cincinnati:

This very well may not be the pick for Detroit here but Ridder will go toward the end of the round. I’d look to Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Indy, and Seattle to all consider sliding up to nab the signal caller. I personally would be shocked to see Detroit take a QB, they just aren’t far enough into Goff’s deal (3 years left). He would be a good fit with Dan Campbell thought. That all said, I’m putting Ridder here because he’ll be going somewhere right around this pick and rightfully so.

Final Thoughts

As a parting word, thanks for checking out all my mocks this season. I may throw in a day two one tomorrow morning we’ll see. Last piece of bonus content: Word just came down that NYG won’t exercise Jones’ option. Look for them to potentially swing on Willis. We’ve seen how well a similarly skilled player in Josh Allen worked for Daboll in Buffalo.