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!
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia
- Detroit Lions: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
- Houston Texans: OT Ikem Okwonu, NC State
- New York Jets: Edge CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
- New York Giants: OT Evan Neal, Alabama
- Carolina Panthers: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
- New York Giants: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
- Atlanta Falcons: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
- Seattle Seahawks: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
- New York Jets: WR Drake London, USC
- Washington Commanders: CB Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
- Minnesota Vikings: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
- Houston Texans: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
- Baltimore Ravens: DL Jordan Davis, Georgia
- Philadelphia Eagles: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
- New Orleans Saints: QB Malik Willis, Liberty
- Los Angeles Chargers: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington
- Philadelphia Eagles: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
- New Orleans Saints: S Lewis Cine, Georgia
- Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
- New England Patriots: DB Daxton Hill, Michigan
- Green Bay Packers: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
- Arizona Cardinals: OL Zion Johnson, Boston College
- Dallas Cowboys: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
- Buffalo Bills: WR Skyy Moore, Western Michigan
- Tennessee Titans: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Travis Jones, UConn
- Green Bay Packers: OL Tyler Smith, Tulsa
- Kansas City Chiefs: WR George Pickens, Georgia
- Kansas City Chiefs: DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
- Cincinnati Bengals: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
- Detroit Lions: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Final Positional Rankings
Quarterbacks
- Malik Willis, Liberty
- Sam Howell, North Carolina
- Matt Corral, Ole Miss
- Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati
- Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh
Running Backs
- Breece Hall, Iowa State
- Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State
- James Cook, Georgia
- Dameon Pierce, Florida
- Jerome Ford, Cincinnati
Wide Receivers
- Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
- Jameson Williams, Alabama
- Chris Olave, Ohio State
- Drake London, USC
- Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Tight Ends
- Trey McBride, Colorado State
- Jelani Woods, Virginia
- Greg Dulcich, UCLA
- Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State
- Charlie Kolar, Iowa State
Offensive Tackles
- Ikem Okwonu, NC State
- Evan Neal, Alabama
- Charles Cross, Mississippi State
- Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
- Tyler Smith, Tulsa
Interior Offensive Linemen
- Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
- Zion Johnson, Boston College
- Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
- Cameron Jurgens, Nebraska
- Luke Goedeke, Central Michigan
Edge Rushers
- Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
- Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
- Travon Walker, Georgia
- Jermaine Johnson, Florida State
- George Karlaftis, Purdue
Defensive Linemen
- Jordan Davis, Georgia
- Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
- Travis Jones, UConn
- Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
- Logan Hall, Houston
Linebackers
- Devin Lloyd, Utah
- Nakobe Dean, Georgia
- Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
- Quay Walker, Georgia
- Troy Anderson, Montana State
Cornerbacks
- Derek Stingley Jr, LSU
- Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Cincinnati
- Trent McDuffie, Washington
- Andrew Booth Jr, Clemson
- Kaiir Elam, Florida
Safeties
- Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
- Lewis Cine, Georgia
- Dax Hill, Michigan
- Jaquon Brisker, Penn State
- Jalen Pitre, Baylor
Image: (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
