Nason’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Final Mock & Player Rankings

Finally, we have arrived. The 2022 NFL Draft is upon us at last, and it’s safe to say, I really have no idea what is going to happen this Thursday night. Between the lack of true, blue chip talent, the low end quarterback class, and a lot of teams with way way way too many needs to address, this has been the most difficult draft I have ever attempted to mock. As I sit here on Wednesday night writing this out, I can’t even tell you with confidence who will be the 1st pick. Last year, I could have told you it was Trevor Lawrence back when he was a freshman. This year, it could be Travon Walker, the ultra athletic, high upside edge defender who lacked production, Aidan Hutchinson, the Heisman finalist who many have as the top player in the draft and a guy who might be the safest pick here, and Ikem Okwonu, the dancing bear offensive linemen with some of the best run blocking tape I have ever watched.

There will be a ton of head scratching picks Thursday night, that is for sure, but whether I get 8 picks right or 2, I’m just happy that draft night is here. Below is my best guess at what round 1 will look like, along with my final rankings at each position. As always, thanks for a great draft season everyone! I am already looking forward to 2023!

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia
2. Detroit Lions: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
3. Houston Texans: OT Ikem Okwonu, NC State
4. New York Jets: Edge CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
5. New York Giants: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
6. Carolina Panthers: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
7. New York Giants: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
9. Seattle Seahawks: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
10. New York Jets: WR Drake London, USC
11. Washington Commanders: CB Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
12. Minnesota Vikings: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
13. Houston Texans: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
14. Baltimore Ravens: DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
16. New Orleans Saints: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
17. Los Angeles Chargers: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
19. New Orleans Saints: S Lewis Cine, Georgia
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
21. New England Patriots: DB Daxton Hill, Michigan
22. Green Bay Packers: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
23. Arizona Cardinals: OL Zion Johnson, Boston College
24. Dallas Cowboys: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
25. Buffalo Bills: WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
26. Tennessee Titans: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Travis Jones, UConn
28. Green Bay Packers: OL Tyler Smith, Tulsa
29. Kansas City Chiefs: WR George Pickens, Georgia
30. Kansas City Chiefs: DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
31. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
32. Detroit Lions: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Final Positional Rankings

Quarterbacks

1. Malik Willis, Liberty
2. Sam Howell, North Carolina
3. Matt Corral, Ole Miss
4. Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
5. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Running Backs

1. Breece Hall, Iowa State
2. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
3. James Cook, Georgia
4. Dameon Pierce, Florida
5. Jerome Ford, Cincinnati

Wide Receivers

1. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
2. Jameson Williams, Alabama
3. Chris Olave, Ohio State
4. Drake London, USC
5. Treylon Burks, Arkansas

Tight Ends

1. Trey McBride, Colorado State
2. Jelani Woods, Virginia
3. Greg Dulcich, UCLA
4. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
5. Charlie Kolar, Iowa State

Offensive Tackles

1. Ikem Okwonu, NC State
2. Evan Neal, Alabama
3. Charles Cross, Mississippi State
4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
5. Tyler Smith, Tulsa

Interior Offensive Linemen

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
2. Zion Johnson, Boston College
3. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
4. Cameron Jurgens, Nebraska
5. Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan

Edge Rushers

1. Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
3. Travon Walker, Georgia
4. Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
5. George Karlaftis, Purdue

Defensive Linemen

1. Jordan Davis, Georgia
2. Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
3. Travis Jones, UConn
4. Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
5. Logan Hall, Houston

Linebackers

1. Devin Lloyd, Utah
2. Nakobe Dean, Georgia
3. Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
4. Quay Walker, Georgia
5. Troy Anderson, Montana State

Cornerbacks

1. Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
2. Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
3. Trent McDuffie, Washington
4. Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
5. Kaiir Elam, Florida

Safeties

1. Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
2. Lewis Cine, Georgia
3. Dax Hill, Michigan
4. Jaquon Brisker, Penn State
5. Jalen Pitre, Baylor

Image: (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)