2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 -NationalFanatic.com @jamfed
4/27/22 by James Fedewa
The 2022 NFL Draft is nearly here, the best time of the year for us Drafnik’s. Here is my 4th and final NFL Mock Draft of the season. I have been doing NFL mock drafts, competitively, since 2004, and I have bene a Draftnik for over 30 years, so this is my most favorite time of the year. D R A F T S E A S O N !
Watch for my scoring with the pro’s @ https://www.thehuddlereport.com/live.scoring.shtml
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | School | Notes |
| 1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Ikem “Ickey” Ekwonu | OT | NC State | I started to believe Jacksonville was going to draft Hutchinson here, but I think Ekwonu is now the pick. Last season, LT Cam Robinson was on the hot seat, and he did OK (good enough enough for a brand new massive contract, but Jacksonville can’t get free agents without overpaying). “Ickey” is twice the tackle Robinson is and he can play anywhere on the JAX O-Line. I had Even Neal with this pick last week, because he is a freak, and a better #1 overall pick, but some late negative-medical grades have come out (about his hip & knee), so the tiebreaker goes to Ickey. Protecting Lawrence is the best pick. |
| 2 | Detroit Lions | Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Michigan | Hutchinson is a quality pick for Detroit and could be the safest selection in 2022. Great motor, very athletic, very good length (6’ 7”), quality human and great leader, but he still has to work on his technique and add some new pass rush moves. He could play several positions too along the defensive line, so position flexibility is his biggest asset. What took him out of the #1 overall pick was his arm length (32” very short for his size). |
| 3 | Houston Texans | Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | Oregon | Thibodeaux is probably my favorite player in this draft, but his ‘Hollywood’ attitude (or cockiness) could rub some people the wrong way. Houston can use some swagger though and HC Lovie Smith needs upgrades all over the team. Thibodeaux has that Deion Sanders type of flair (if that’s what you want to call it) but he has DROY written all over him. Expect double digit sacks per year for a long-long time. |
| 4 | New York Jets | Travon Walker | EDGE | Georgia | Walker tested extremely well at the NFL Combine but is a bit “average” in stats for games played. Sure, he won a national championship, and he is a tremendous pass rusher / run stuffer, but he was not even the third best D-Lineman on this college team. With quality coaching, he could be a better pro than in college. He was my sleeper pick about 2 months ago (at around #20) but his testing, speed and length will vault him into the top three. |
| 5 | New York Giants | Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner | CB | Cincinnati | The Giants could be targeting Evan Neal with this pick, but rumor has it, they really like Charles Cross better. If Neal & Cross are still available at 5, then the G-Men can get one of them with their next pick. “Sauce” is a top tier talent, very long, fast and clean, so the Giants draft their CB1. Sauce has the upside of being elite-elite. |
| 6 | Carolina Panthers | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama | Panthers pass on a QB here and fulfill a major need at left tackle. Evan Neal is too good to pass up (vs. rolling the dice with a rookie QB). The Panthers O-line lacks talent and they need a left tackle more than any position. Neal is HUGE, and very nimble for a guy that big, and I would draft him #1 overall. Thibodeaux and Neal are my two favorite players in this draft. |
| 7 | New York Giants | Charles Cross | OT | Miss St | I 100% believe that a QB should be taken here, but new HC Brian Daboll might give Danial Jones one more season at QB. Cross is a premier pass-blocker and can play opposite of current LT, Andrew Thomas. Crazy how NYG decline Danny Dimes 5th year option, so Willis could be the pick here. |
| 8 | Atlanta Falcons | Malik Willis | QB | Liberty | Atlanta can take any position with this pick, including QB Pickett, Safety, WR or Edge, but they let Matty-Ice go, and they need a future QB. The Falcons did sign Marcus Mariota, who looked very impressive with spot starts over the last two years with the Raiders. Willis (who is also from the Atlanta area) is the real deal and can become a superstar type of QB that can carry an entire team, but probably after a season from learning behind Mariota. Willis is a fantastic prospect, and even better person. |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) | Derek Stingley | CB | LSU | Expect Seattle to trade-down, which seems normal for them, but they rarely get top 10 pick. I think they could go OT or Edge, but Stingley is better than the current available OT’s and Edge’s. Jermaine Johnson “could” be the guy here, but Stingley is a better prospect than JJ (Edge4). |
| 10 | New York Jets (via Seattle) | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio St | Wilson is the first WR drafted in ’22. London could also be the pick here too, but I think the Jets are looking for more speed than size, and the best way to get a speedy WR to the Jets is only through the draft. Jamison Williams could be an option here too, but his ACL pushes him down the board. |
| 11 | Washington Commanders | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame | The Commanders get a premier safety at 11, which is fantastic for their already very good defense. I could also see Drake London selected here too, to help support Wentz, but Hamilton is one of the best players in this draft and big WR’s can be selected later in this draft. |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | Jermaine Johnson | EDGE | FSU | The Vikings add one of the big four Edge players available in this draft. Johnson’s stock has been rising and rising. Two months ago, I had him in the 20’s… |
| 13 | Houston Texans | Drake London | WR | USC | The Texans need playmakers and London is that. He is a first down machine, a redzone threat and will compliment Brandon Cooks very well. Adding weapons for Davis “Long-Neck” Mills will be critical for his development. |
| 14 | Baltimore Ravens | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia | Jordon Davis just belongs in the AFC North right? Davis can control anything around him, and can shut down the run along any side he lines up on. I think he could be better than a NT, but a premier 5-Tech DE. Perfect replacement for Calais Campbell. |
| 15 | Philadelphia Eagles | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington | McDuffie is a bit on the shorter side, but not as much as you think. He’s thick and a quality outside CB. He reminds me of Desmond King and Kareem Jackson mixed together. U Dub = DBU |
| 16 | New Orleans Saints | Chris Olave | WR | Ohio St | The Saints traded a three picks for this selection, so you’d think it’s for a QB, but it’s a decoy. The Saints jumped in front of LAC to make sure they get a good compliment to Michael Thomas (if you still remember who that ghost is). |
| 17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Trevor Penning | OT | UNI | I have mocked Jordon Davis, McDuffie, Zion Johnson and Karlaftis as this spot, as the Chargers can really choose BPA with no major pressing “needs” on their roster. But really the Chargers only available starting position is RT and Penning can possibly fill it. Trevor is still a work in progress, and it might take a bit for him to earn a starting spot, but he has all the tools and nastiness to be a real asset for the Chargers. If Penning can learn to make safe and smart decisions (as a protector to Justin Herbert), he can be an amazing NFL Pro. And if the Chargers can actually run the ball to the right side, then they could be a little less predictable in the running game. One player can improve the run game and pass protection. HOWEVER, I also believe Penning could be drafted earlier than here, which could cause better prospects to fall to the Bolts. |
| 18 | Philadelphia Eagles | George Karlaftis | EDGE | Purdue | Karlaftis looks like a Philly dude and his play resembles an Eagle D-End. He has the best bull rush in the draft and can play inside on passing downs too. – I do not believe a 1st round WR is necessary for Philly either. 1st round rookies are developmental, not necessarily starters. Plus, does Jalen Hurts (a rushing QB) require three 1st round WR? Nope… Hurts generally rolls right as soon as he see’s pressure and adlibs to backyard football, which his fine, but if that’s his game, then focus on defense then. |
| 19 | New Orleans Saints | Kenny Pickett | QB | Pitt | Saints get their future QB and (IMHO) will be a future pro bowl QB. Yes, he has small hands, but he’s playing in the NFC South, which is not a problem. He can sling it and 42 TD passes last season is superb. |
| 20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Zion Johnson | iOL | BC | If the Steelers can get QB’s Willis or Pickett here, they would, but Mr. Biscuit is still young and could flourish in a new setting, on his new team. Zion is the best OG in this draft and has the brains/brawn to the Steelers look for. |
| 21 | New England Patriots | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah | Lloyd is a converted wide receiver, turned middle linebacker, which it impressive. He is fast, tall and looks like the new-modern MLB. He can cover, stuff the run and blitz as good as anyone in the NFL and one of the best players in this draft, but like Safety, LB’s and RB’s tend to slide in NFL Drafts. |
| 22 | Green Bay Packers | Kenyon Green | iOL | Texas A&M | Funny how everyone talks about Green’s versatility, but he is really better and nastier than just a “jack of all trades.” He will help protect their super franchise QB, as well as open up holes the running game. |
| 23 | Arizona Cardinals | Andrew Booth | CB | Clemson | The Cardinals can go OG, Center, OLB or WR with this pick, but Booth is the best CB. I had Linderbaum here for a week, as they could release Rodney Hudson and save $10MM in cap space. |
| 24 | Dallas Cowboys | Tyler Linderbaum | iOL | Iowa | Linderbaum is a bit undersized, but he fast quick and understands leverage well. He’s a wrestler at heart, but he is also another good O-lineman from Iowa (the OL factory). |
| 25 | Buffalo Bills | Kaiir Elam | CB | Florida | The Bills could go OL, DT or WR with this spot, but Elam would be a fantastic fit to this fierce Buffalo secondary. |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama | I keep thinking of AJ Brown holding out for a mega contract, which might not ever be available for a team built around their running back. Tennessee is not afraid of drafting injured draftee’s either, as they selected injured Jeffery Simmons a few years ago too. Williams is a speed burner and can score any time he touches the ball, but his recent ACL tear has him sliding, He is also a body catcher, not a hands catcher, which can cause drop problems. |
| 27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Devonta Wyatt | DT | Georgia | Mr. Suh can ride off into the sunset and Wyatt can be his upgrade. Wyatt is a really good 3-tech DT, and slides a bit with some off-field concerns. |
| 28 | Green Bay Packers | Treylon Burks | WR | Arkansas | Packers find their Devonte Adams replacement, but Burks is really more a work in progress. He is big and fast but will need time to learn how to run routes better. Rogers would love helping this kid turn into a Deebo Samuel clone and a WR1 in Green Bay. |
| 29 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jahan Dotson | WR | Penn St | Dotson is a very well-rounded route runner, with very good speed. He’s not exactly a big guy, but he can stretch the field. He’s no Tyrek Hill, but who is? |
| 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Kyler Gordon | CB | Washington | KC could use a good Edge player here, but CB is probably the safest bet. The AFC West is loaded with quality WR’s and every team can use more quality CB’s. |
| 31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Bernhard Raimann | OT | Central Michigan | Raimann is still learning the position (and the game) and is a bit raw, for a 24-year-old, but his upside is still very good. He might not start immediately, but there’s nothing wrong with having too many talented O-lineman. |
| 32 | Detroit Lions | George Pickens | WR | Georgia | Many draftnik’s have the Lions picking a QB here, or even trading to a team that need a QB (5th year player option). If the Lions do not trade, Pickens’ can develop into a much-needed WR1 for Detroit. |
| 39 | Chicago Bears | DeMarvin Leal | DT | Texas A&M | The Bears defensive line is very thin, so Edge or DT seems the savy selection. |
| 42 | Indianapolis Colts | Tyler Smith | OT | Tulsa | Best available OT is required to protect good ole’ Matty Ice. |
| 61 | San Francisco 49ers (via MIA) | Tariq Woolen | CB | Texas-San Antonio | BPA DB |
| 102 | Miami Dolphins | Haskell Garrett | DT | Ohio State | BPA DL |
Posted on April 27, 2022, in NFL. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
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