My 2022 NFL Post Combine Mock Draft starts now. Remember this is not a mock draft of who I think each team should draft, but a mock draft of who I think they will draft.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
Aidan Hutchinson
Position: Defensive End
School: Michigan Wolverines
Aidan Hutchinson’s potential is just too good to pass up on for Jacksonville. They may trade back with a team looking for a QB, but if they keep the pick, it has to be Hutchinson. After the Combine, Hutchinson graded 4th all time among Edge rushers since 2015, only behind Chase Young, Myles Garrett, and Joey Bosa. Not to mention, he is 6-6, 265 lbs, and he looks like an actual viking from the TV show “Vikings”.
2) Detroit Lions
Kyle Hamilton
Position: Safety
School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Dan Campbell seems to be a film guy and not so much of a Combine guy. If you watch Kyle Hamilton’s film he appears to be a once and a life time caliber safety. The Lions could go with just about any position with this pick, but I just can’t see the Lions passing up on Hamilton, even though he didn’t put up great numbers at the Combine. He ran the 40 yard dash with a disappointing 4.59 second time, but everyone knows there is a huge difference between game speed and 40 yard dash speed, and Hamilton has elite game speed and football instincts.
3) Houston Texans
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Position: EDGE
School: Oregon Ducks
I think Lovie Smith tipped his hand at what position they want to draft with their 3rd overall choice. The pick will either be Aidan Hutchinson or Kayvon Thibodeaux. Lovie was caught in an interview saying his priorities on defense hasn’t changed and that the engine of every defense is the defensive line. With Hutchinson being gone, that leaves Thibodeaux as the next best choice.
4) New York Jets
Jameson Williams
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
I think the Jets will play copy cats to the Bengals draft strategy last year with their top 5 choice and take a WR at 4. The Jets need offensive line help, but they also need some play makers for Zach Wilson to be successful. The Jets also have the 10th overall choice and can take an offensive lineman with that pick. Jameson Williams is arguably the best WR in this class so that is who I see them taking at 4.
5) New York Giants
Evan Neal
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
The Giants always seem to have players that they should draft fall to them, Evan Neal is another one of those players that may fall to them at 5. But the question is, will the Giants actually take him? I think they will, now that Dave Gettleman is gone. Neal can play left tackle and the Giants can move Andrew Thomas over to right tackle where he would be better suited.
6) Carolina Panthers
Kenny Pickett
Position: Quarterback
School: Pittsburgh Panthers
There is an interesting story where Kenny Pickett was originally committed to play college ball at Temple, when current Panthers head coach, Matt Rhule was still coaching there. Pickett actually decommitted and decided on Pittsburgh and the rest is history. But, I think this time Rhule will get his guy and Pickett will come into camp and win the starting job over Sam Darnold.
7) New York Giants
Jordan Davis
Position: Nose Tackle
School: Georgia Bulldogs
Jordan Davis, at 341 pounds, ran a 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds at the NFL scouting combine. To be that big and be that fast and also have the game film to back up how good you are, this guy should honestly be drafted number 1 overall, in my opinion. With this pick the Giants would have Leonard Williams, Dexter Lawrence, and Jordan Davis up front. That would make the greatest front 3 in all of football next season.
8) Atlanta Falcons
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
Position: Defensive Back
School: Cincinnati Bearcats
Who knows what the Falcons do in this draft, they could go QB and have someone sit behind Matt Ryan for a year or two. But with Pickett gone, there really isn’t anyone left that just wows me. I am sure I could be wrong and the Falcons like one of the remaining QBs on the board, but why not wait until next year with a far better class coming in? The Falcons defense flat out sucks, especially their secondary. So they take the best CB and nickname in the draft, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner.
9) Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)
Ikem Ekwonu
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: North Carolina State Wolfpack
Drafting a QB in the first round doesn’t seem like a, “too smart for his own good”, Pete Carrol move. And I honestly believe that the Seahawks are going to ride with Drew Lock next year, and if he doesn’t work out, they will draft a QB in next year’s draft. Or they may take a QB they like later in the draft. So, they add some necessary offensive line help and draft one of the top offensive tackles in the draft, Ikem Ekwonu.
10) New York Jets (via SEA)
Charles Cross
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Mississippi State Bulldogs
See, taking a WR at 4 maybe wasn’t so bad of a choice for the Jets. At 10, they have a top 3 offensive tackle fall right into their laps. They take Charles Cross to line up on the opposite side of Mekhi Becton. Now Zach Wilson gets a nice weapon to throw to and some more protection for 2022. Maybe he now has a chance Jets fans.
11) Washington Commanders
Garrett Wilson
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
I don’t care what any mock drafts are saying, Washington didn’t trade for Carson Wentz, who is only 29 years old, to be a very expensive bridge QB for highly overrated Malik Willis from Liberty. Instead, they drafted Wentz to be their franchise QB, until he isn’t. But, wouldn’t it be nice to see Wentz for the first time in his career have some actual weapons? For all you Wentz haters out there, look it up. His best weapon for his entire career to date has been a TE by the name of Zach Ertz. I am not knocking Ertz, but seriously? With Washington taking Garrett Wilson at 11, that will give Wentz three very good Ohio State WRs to throw to, Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Wilson. Maybe enough to win the NFC East next year.
12) Minnesota Vikings
Derek Stingley Jr.
Position: Defensive Back
School: Louisiana State University Tigers
Derek Stingley is one of those players that are flat out elite when healthy and on the football field as he showed his freshman season, where he had 6 picks. The Vikings secondary is getting old and they weren’t very good last year. Stingley can come in and be the lockdown corner that the Vikings hoped Patrick Peterson would have been when they signed him last year.
13) Cleveland Browns
David Ojabo
Position: Linebacker / Defensive End
School: Michigan Wolverines
Well, with Amari Cooper going to the Browns for practically peanuts, they no longer need a WR. Now they can bring in some defensive help that they could use. David Ojabo was technically a linebacker for Michigan, but I see him as being more of a defensive end in a 4-3 or a pass rushing OLB in a 3-4 defense. He is 6-foot-4, 250 lbs, and ran a 4.55 40 yard dash, so he has the size and speed to play either positions.
14) Baltimore Ravens
Devonte Wyatt
Position: Defensive Line
School: Georgia Bulldogs
The Ravens defensive line is quite old, (for football). Devonte Wyatt had a great season for the Bulldogs and a great Combine. Even though, Jordan Davis stole most of the spotlight, Wyatt had just as good if not better week at the Combine. Wyatt is a big boy that is incredibly fast for his size and can stop the run.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA)
Drake London
Position: Wide Receiver
School: University of Southern California Trojans
The Eagles need to get Jalen Hurts some more weapons to throw to, and it is time to move on from Jalen Reagor. The Eagles got a good one in DeVonta Smith, but why not bring in 6-5, 210 lbs, Drake London to complement Smith?
16) Philadelphia Eagles (via IND)
Trent McDuffie
Position: Defensive Back
School: Washington Huskies
The Eagles have Darius Slay, but could use another CB to boost up their secondary. Plus teams love drafting CBs in the first round. I am not sold on Trent McDuffie, but there are a lot of NFL scouts that are. Remember this in’t a mock draft of who I think teams should draft, but who I think they will draft. With two career interceptions, McDuffie just doesn’t impress me. But, the Eagles are good at drafting guys that don’t impress anyone, exhibit Jalen Reagor.
17) Los Angeles Chargers
Andrew Booth Jr.
Position: Defensive Back
School: Clemson Tigers
Andrew Booth had a better college career than Trent McDuffie, but again, is he a 1st round talent? Probably not, but in a division that now has Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Derek Carr (plus Justin Herbert, but he is on Chargers) some additional secondary guys will come in handy.
18) New Orleans Saints
Desmond Ridder
Position: Quarterback
School: Cincinnati Bearcats
You know I really like Desmond Ridder as both a person and QB. He seems like a really good guy and he is actually really good at playing QB. He took the first non Power 5 school to the College Football Playoffs and he consistently got better each season. He is 6-4, can run and is accurate. I think Ridder is exactly who the Saints need to fill the post Drew Brees void.
19) Philadelphia Eagles
Travon Walker
Position: Defensive Line
School: Georgia Bulldogs
To be honest, Travon Walker is another guy that I am not sold on, but again he is another guy that teams seem to really love. It’s crazy how winning the National Championship makes everyone look like a good player. Let’s be realistic, every year the team that won the National Championship has a lot of 1st round picks, and every year most of those guys don’t perform at that level. But, teams love Walker and he fills a positional need for the Eagles so they will most likely take him, if he is still on the board.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers
Tyler Linderbaum
Position: Center
School: Iowa Hawkeyes
The Steelers need offensive line help, they also need a QB. I still feel Jimmy G is heading to Pittsburgh and Mike Tomlin really isn’t interested in having a rookie QB. But, that could also be a smoke screen. Say the Steelers do bring in a veteran QB post Big Ben, they could use a dominant center to lead the offensive line, and that is exactly what Linderbaum is. If he were a tackle or guard he would probably be the first offensive lineman taken, he is that good.
21) New England Patriots
Christian Harris
Position: Linebacker
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Brian Belichick calls up his old friend Nick Saban on this pick and asks him about this stud at linebacker, Christian Harris. And Saban tells him everything he wants to hear and Bill pulls the trigger. Harris will be groomed to be a future leader on that defense.
22) Las Vegas Raiders
Nakobe Dean
Position: Linebacker
School: Georgia Bulldogs
Nakobe Dean is another guy from Georgia that benefits from being on the team that won the National Championship. I am not saying that he is a bad player, but he isn’t an elite player. But the Raiders will take him, because they are still searching for their Khalil Mack replacement.
23. Arizona Cardinals
George Karlaftis
Position: Defensive End
School: Purdue Boilermakers
George Karlaftis is a great player from Purdue that was basically double teamed every snap. I think he could be one of the gems of the draft. From the sounds of it, Chandler Jones is moving on from the Cardinals, so Karlaftis fills an immediate need.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Trevor Penning
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Northern Iowa Panthers
The Cowboys love to take the best player available, even if they don’t necessarily need that position. But in this case, they do need this position with La’el Collins expected to be traded or cut. Trevor Penning is just a dominate force where he was seen at the Senior Bowl literally throwing guys to the ground. Being from a small school, Penning plays with a nastiness and chip on his shoulder that could help get Ezekiel Elliott back to his old self.
25. Buffalo Bills
Kaiir Elam
Position: Defensive Back
School: Florida Gators
Now Kaiir Elam is a CB that I actually believe is worthy of a late 1st round pick. He ran a 4.39 second 40 yard dash and had 5 career interceptions at Florida. For what seems like the first time in awhile the Bills will draft someone other than a defensive lineman in the first round. After the shoot out loss against the Chiefs in the playoffs, the Bills will try to improve their secondary.
26. Tennessee Titans
Devin Lloyd
Position: Linebacker
School: Utah Utes
The Titans need to improve their linebacker group and former NFL linebacker, head coach, Mike Vrabel will fall in love with Devin Lloyd out of Utah. He had 22 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 4 interceptions last year to help Utah win the PAC 12 Championship and end the season with a near Rose Bowl win.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Zion Johnson
Position: Guard
School: Boston College Eagles
With the unexpected retirement by Ali Marpet, the Buccaneers now have a huge hole in their offensive line. They may also lose both Ryan Jensen and Alex Cappa to free agency. So with three potential starting positions along the offensive line that may need filled they luck out with Zion Johnson still being on the board. Boston College always seems to produce offensive linemen and Johnson is a beast. He even posted 32 bench press reps at the Combine.
28. Green Bay Packers
Treylon Burks
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Arkansas Razorbacks
Arron Rodgers is sticking around in Green Bay until he decides to retire from football. I believe that part of the deal for Rodgers to come back was for the Packers to get him more weapons. So for what seems like eternity, the Packers finally get him a top talent WR in the 1st round of an NFL draft in Treylon Burks.
29. Miami Dolphins (via SF)
Kenneth Walker III
Position: Running Back
School: Michigan State Spartans
The Dolphins don’t really have a true 3 down back, and Kennth Walker proved that he can be that for any team in the NFL. Walker becomes the first running back drafted in the 2022 NFL Draft and will give Tua Tagovailoaa a reliable back to lean on in tough games.
30. Kansas City Chiefs
DeMarvin Leal
Position: Defensive Line
School: Texas A&M Aggies
DeMarvin Leal was once seen as a top 10 pick and in my opinion it is surprising to see him fall this far. He may even fall out of the first round, but he shouldn’t. Leal is a big man with a big presence on defense. Melvin Ingram is most likely going to move on in free agency and Jarran Reed is beginning to decline, so Leal can come in and be an immediate starter for the Chiefs.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
Bernhard Raimann
Position: Offensive Tackle
School: Central Michigan Chippewas
Protect Joe Burrow at all costs, needs to be the Bengals only priority this offseason. Even if the Bengals sign some big name free agents to booster their offensive line they should still draft the best available offensive lineman here at 31. Bernhard Raimann has the potential to be a starting offensive tackle for 10 plus seasons.
32. Detroit Lions (via LAR)
Chris Olave
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
The Lions got lucky when they drafted Amon-Ra St. Brown in the 4th round of last year’s draft, but he isn’t going to be enough and they know this, which is why they draft my number one WR in the draft, Chris Olave. I think Olave should be the first WR drafted, so the Lions get a steal getting him at 32.
Stogies & Football 