2022 NFL MOCK DRAFT

By : Mike Rifkin

Draft season is upon us and here is how I see the first round going down.

1. Jaguars – Aidan Hutchinson – DE Michigan : Hutchinson is the best player in this draft according to everyone. Pairing him with Josh Allen can give the Jags a dynamic duo rushing the passer.
2. Lions –  Kayvon Thibodeaux – DE – Oregon : Lions could go a lot of different directions here including trade down but they get the Oregon defensive end with high upside
3. Texans – Ickey Ekwonu – OT NC ST – Houston like Detroit could go in a lot of different directions. Here they take Ekwonu and protect Davis Mills. 
4. Jets – Ahmad Gardener -CB – Cincinnati – fills a need for the first of two Jets top 10 picks. 
5. Giants Evan Neal – OT – Alabama – Things could change if Gardener were to be here. But the Giants have a lot of questions along the offensive line. 
6. Panthers Charles Cross – OT – Mississippi ST – YES the Panthers need a QB but trading for either Jimmy Garropolo or Baker Mayfield makes more sense. Cross gives them a tackle they could really use.
7. Giants – Jermaine Johnson – EDGE – FSU – A lot depends on what the Giants do at 5, but at some point the Giants need to address the pass rush that had 34 sacks last season.
8. TRADE : Commanders : Kyle Hamilton Safety – Notre Dame – Atlanta gets multiple picks for their rebuild (which was desperately needed) Washington takes the best safety in the draft to replace Landon Collins who they released earlier this offseason. Also could be a spot where a team looking to add a receiver could move up into this pick.
9. Seahawks : Malik Willis : QB : Liberty – Willis is a dual threat quarterback who could be the long term solution after Seattle traded Russel Wilson.
10.  Jets : Garrett Wilson : WR : Ohio State – good speed and good route runner should help the development of Zach Wilson.
11.  Falcons : Travon Walker : DL : Georgia – Falcons need to address pass rusher after finishing last in the NFL in sacks with 18 a year ago. Walker didn’t have great numbers at Georgia but was heavily involved on the best defense in the country.
12.  Vikings : Derek Stingley Jr.: CB LSU: When LSU won the National Championship Stingley was sensational. The past couple of years he hasn’t but pairing him with another LSU alumni Patrick Peterson could be what the doctor ordered.
13.  Texans : Trent Mcduffie : CB : Washington : Mcduffie isn’t a long cornerback but he is very good at everything and can help that Lovie Smith Defense.
14.  Ravens : Jordan Davis : DT Georgia: Not going to lie this would be my favorite pick of the first round. Watch Davis highlights from the combine and he was in the middle of that great Georgia defense.
15.  Eagles : Drake London – WR USC : Jalen Hurts was inconsistent at times last year but he definitely needs more weapons London gives him a target with size.
16. Saints : Trevor Penning : OT : Northern Iowa : Terron Armstead left for Miami. Penning has high upside and played both tackle spots on the offensive line.
17.  Chargers : Chris Olave – WR -Ohio ST: Keenan Allen will be 30 soon and Olave is very similar to Allen, great footwork and excellent route runner and gives Justin Herbert another weapon.
18.  Eagles – Andrew Booth – CB – Clemson – Booth is a very good corner who will learn a lot playing with All Pro Darius Slay on an Eagles secondary that needs help.
19.  Saints – Desmond Ridder – QB -Cincinnati : The Saints usher in their next franchise qb they hope. All Ridder did at Cincinnati was win. Once Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton are ready to pass the torch Ridder will be ready.
20.  Steelers – Matt Corral – QB – Ole Miss – Steelers signed Mitch Trubisky this offseason but they should draft any QB remaining here. All of them give them mobility which is something Mike Tomlin said he wanted. 
21.  Trade : Lions : Kenny Pickett : QB : Pittsburgh: The Lions want in on the quarterback fun and trade with New England to acquire Pickett. Pickett could give Jared Goff a run for his money as starting qb.
22. Packers : Treylon Burks – WR- Arkansas : Packers need to address receiver after trading Davante Adams and losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. Burks is big and fast and possess great hands. Just watch the Alabama game.
23.  Cardinals – Zion Johnson – OL – Boston College : If the Cardinals are going to pay Kyler Murray the money they want him, Johnson can be very helpful in protecting Murray, on the interior of the Offensive line.
24. Cowboys  –  Kenyon Green – OL – Texas A&M – Tyron Smith is getting older and hasn’t played a full season since 2015. Connor Williams left for Miami so Dallas bolsters their offensive line.
25.  Bills – Kyler Gordon – CB – Washington – The Bills have a need at corner right now and Gordon possesses great athletic ability and is versatile enough to play outside or nickel.
26.  Titans- Tyler Linderbaum – Center – Iowa : Ben Jones has an out in his contract after the season and is 33 years old. Linderbaum is the best center in the draft and is extremely effective in run blocking which would help Derrick Henry. 
27.  Bucs – Kaiir Elam – CB – Florida –  Tom Brady is back for the Bucs. Elam gives the Bucs depth at corner they need with three corners up after the season and Todd Bowles can get the most out of Elam who is extremely talented.
28.  Packers : George Karlaftis – Edge – Purdue : The Packers need to replace Za’darius Smith who left for Minnesota. Karlaftis has a great motor but needs to work on his run defense. 
29. Chiefs – Jahan Dotson WR- Penn State –  This is the pick the Chiefs got when they traded Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins ( couldn’t help myself). I am not saying Dotson will be Hill but he is fast and has great catch and run ability for the Chiefs offense.
30. Chiefs – Daxton Hill – Safety – Michigan : Hill can play either Safety or corner and the Chiefs need bodies in their secondary. 
31. Bengals – Perrion Winfrey – DT – Oklahoma – Larry Ogunjobi is still unsigned. Winfrey can create chaos in the middle of a Bengal defense that almost won the Super Bowl. 
32. Patriots – Devin Lloyd – Linebacker – Utah – This is the pick Detroit moved up to get Kenny Pickett. Lloyd can play multiple linebacker positions. He is a very good tackler who can also rush the passer. Kind of feels like a Patriot.