Nason’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Post Free Agency

I feel like normally I would have put out Mock 4.0 sometime in February or early March in a normal year. Not just because I love to make them, but because usually there are certain breaks in the NFL offseason where things calm down and there’s more time to assess team needs and rosters. Well, this year we didn’t get much of a cooling off period, as the NFL gave us the single greatest and most entertaining offseason of all time!

Tom Brady retired, then un-retired, Russell Wilson became a Bronco, Deshaun Watson became a Brown, Davante Adams landed with the Raiders, and even Tyreek Hill got traded! Those are just a few of the crazy things that have happened in the last month and a half, and it has dramatically shifted draft needs (and picks) for NFL teams. Below is a look at how I see round 1 shaking out as things stand now. If you want a breakdown of this mock draft, check out the latest episode of Tailgate Talks, Draft Prospect Preview, where my cohost Bobby Dawe and I discuss each pick and the thought behind them.

Post Free Agency Mock Draft: Round 1, No Trades

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2. Detroit Lions: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia 
3. Houston Texans: OT Ikem Okwonu, NC State
4. New York Jets: Edge Kayvon Thibideaux, Oregon
5. New York Giants: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
6. Carolina Panthers: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
7. New York Giants (via Chicago): CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
9. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver): OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
10. New York Jets (via Seattle): S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
11. Washington Commanders: WR Drake London, USC
12. Minnesota Vikings: CB Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
13. Houston Texans (via Cleveland): DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
14. Baltimore Ravens: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia 
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis): WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
17. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Trevon Penning, Northern Iowa
18. New Orleans Saints: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
19. Philadelphia Eagles: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh 
21. New England Patriots: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
22. Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas): WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
23. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Boye Mafe, Minnesota 
24. Dallas Cowboys: OT Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan
25. Buffalo Bills: CB Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
26. Tennessee Titans: OC Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OG Zion Johnson, Boston College
28. Green Bay Packers: OG Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
29. Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami via San Francisco): WR Christian Watson, NDSU
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Edge David Ojabo, Michigan
31. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
32. Detroit Lions (via LA Rams): LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia 

Image: (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)