The 2022 NFL Draft is sort of right here, and like most followers, the writers at our group communities have sturdy emotions about their group’s draft wants and the gamers who may finest fill these wants.
This draft goes to be distinctive for a number of causes. Initially, it’s being held within the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas, Nev. Strip for the primary time ever.
Final yr, there have been a number of excessive profile quarterback prospects, and the place they have been all headed (apart from Trevor Lawrence, who was typically anticipated to go to the Jaguars with the primary total choose) was a subject of a lot dialogue. This yr’s high quarterbacks — Sam Howell, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, and Matt Corral, aren’t producing practically as a lot pleasure, as they appear like they’ll want some improvement to develop into NFL-ready starters, but it surely’s nonetheless going to be fascinating to see the place they land and the way early within the draft groups will likely be prepared to take an opportunity on them.
And third, due to myriad trades, a whopping eight groups have two picks within the first spherical this yr. That’s actually shaking issues up a bit.
With out additional ado, welcome to the sixteenth annual SB Nation NFL neighborhood mock draft.
No. 1: Jaguars choose Aiden Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
From Demetrius Harvey at Huge Cat Nation:
The one want the group didn’t handle a lot in free company, although, was at edge rusher, which was one of many group’s greatest wants exiting the season. Now, with Hutchinson, the group will lastly have a sure-fire edge rusher reverse of former first-round choose Josh Allen.
No. 2: Lions choose Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
From Jeremy Reisman at Satisfaction of Detroit:
There could also be some issues about his slot in Detroit now that they’ve mentioned they are going to be using extra four-down units, and Thibodeaux is coming from a 3-4 scheme at Oregon. And, sure, he must enhance as a run defender on the subsequent stage.
However what Thibodeaux supplies as a cross rusher on this league is uncommon and very coveted. The Lions completed thirtieth in sacks, twenty ninth in stress fee, thirty first in group cross rush win fee. Thibodeaux will instantly enhance the weakest level in Detroit’s protection. Maybe the very best half about him is that his bodily instruments will make him a Day 1 influence participant, and he has numerous room to enhance his method, that means his ceiling may even be larger than his faculty stage of manufacturing.
No. 3: Texans choose Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
From T.D. Durham at Battle Purple Weblog:
Hamilton frolicked lining up in a number of spots on Notre Dame’s protection in his three years at South Bend. In 31 profession video games, he produced 139 tackles, eight interceptions, and 16 passes defended. He coated slot receivers, lined up as a deep “learn and react” security, got here off the sting as a rusher on the line of scrimmage, and confirmed his hard-hitting demeanor whereas figuring out of the field as effectively.
In Lovie Smith’s base Tampa-2 protection, Hamilton’s versatility means he can begin on Day 1. Whether or not that begin occurs as one in all two “excessive” safeties chargeable for protecting half of the sector on any given cross play, or as a key piece within the run recreation who can crash on the ball from the field stays to be seen.
No. 4: Jets choose Ikem Ekonwu, T, NC State
From John Butchko at Gang Inexperienced Nation:
Wanting on the group as at present constructed, you may ponder whether offensive line is price a further funding. The road is without doubt one of the stronger place teams on the Jets roster.
There are, nonetheless, underlying points that make it a much bigger precedence than you may suppose. Whereas Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker have been drafted within the final two years, the opposite three starters on the road will likely be 29 or older when the 2022 season begins. Two of the three will likely be coming into the ultimate season of their respective contracts.
George Fant is amongst these linemen. The soon-to-be 30-year-old Fant enters his contract yr coming off his finest NFL season. Can he replicate it? Even when he can, how for much longer can he play at a excessive stage? Will the Jets be capable of re-sign him?
These questions alone make drafting one other offensive lineman a viable method, particularly one who was as dominant within the run recreation as Ekwonu was at NC State. We haven’t even mentioned the query marks round Becton who has missed 18 video games resulting from damage throughout his first two seasons.
No. 5: Giants choose Evan Neal, T, Alabama
From Ed Valentine at Huge Blue View:
Now comes the 2022 NFL Draft. With picks No. 5 and seven, it doesn’t matter what else he does or what order he does it in, the league-wide assumption appears to be that Schoen just about has to return out of Spherical 1 with a proper sort out to pair with left sort out Andrew Thomas, the group’s 2020 first-round choose.
There are three who enter the dialogue — Ikem Ekwonu of NC State, Evan Neal of Alabama, Charles Cross of Mississippi State.
On this mock draft, the place we’re not contemplating commerce prospects like Schoen is anticipated to with one in all his two picks, the New York Jets took Ekwonu at No. 4.
That leaves the selection for at No. 5 between Neal and Cross. As a lot as I like Cross’s easy cross safety and his potential, the selection of Neal is a straightforward one to make right here. Neal is a plug and play starter at proper sort out for the Giants. He has a plethora of expertise at each tackles and at guard, positional flexibility Cross doesn’t possess ought to there come a time when the Giants may need or want to maneuver Neal inside.
No. 6: Panthers choose Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
From Walker Clement at Cat Scratch Reader:
With an enormous arm, huge legs, and an already established mentor/mentee relationship with Cam Newton, Willis has been a well-liked choose by some Panthers followers all offseason. For the group, Willis has all of the bodily instruments you would ask for and a demonstrated skill to create performs out of the construction of the offense—a trait which has been traditionally helpful when enjoying behind a Panthers offensive line.
The excessive ceiling that Willis presents is, unsurprisingly, paired with a decrease ground than another quarterbacks on this class. Guys like Kenny Pickett or Matt Corral are thought of to be extra pro-ready. Nonetheless, the Panthers are searching for a long-term reply and “2022’s Andy Dalton” isn’t that.
Lots of Willis’ struggles in faculty got here from sloppy mechanics {that a} competent teaching employees may be capable of iron out. For the reason that Panthers appear intent on proving Matt Rhule is simply that, Willis is their no-brainer reply.
No. 7: Giants choose Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
From Ed Valentine at Huge Blue View:
I totally anticipate the Giants so as to add a cross rusher on this draft. I’m not doing it with this choice, although.
Why?
Defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale.
Have a look at Martindale’s historical past as defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. Protection, particularly top-tier press-man cornerbacks, have at all times been extra necessary to Martindale’s protection than premier cross rushers.
Martindale’s calling card is stress protection within the entrance with numerous press-man protection within the again, the place cornerbacks are left on an island to fend for themselves. He’ll ship further rushers, typically from distinctive angles, but additionally will design unique four-man stress packages. His historical past has proven that he wants top-tier cornerbacks greater than he wants elite edge rushers. … With that in thoughts, my alternative for the Giants at No. 7 is Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner.
No. 8: Falcons choose Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, FSU
From Kevin Knight at The Falcoholic:
I went with Johnson as a result of I consider he’s a extremely, actually good participant who will make a direct influence for the Falcons. He’s the primary piece in what is probably going a multi-year retooling of the sting group. Whereas Johnson lacks the sky-high cross speeding ceiling of the highest gamers within the class, he’s an elite run defender with an excellent ground on the place. I don’t suppose we’ll ever see Johnson pushing 12-15 sacks in a season, but when he will get 10 reliably and provides a ton of manufacturing towards the run? That’s nonetheless an important participant and a worthy eighth total choose.
Johnson wins with a mix of energy, explosiveness, and method that makes him scheme-versatile and some of the pro-ready gamers within the class. He continued to enhance each week at FSU, and capped his season with an extremely dominant Senior Bowl efficiency. Johnson was legitimately the very best participant in Cell, and it wasn’t shut.
No. 9: Seahawks choose Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
From Mookie Alexander at Subject Gulls:
Versatility
Penning has performed at each sort out and proper guard, which ought to instantly intrigue the Seahawks entrance workplace. Jamarco Jones didn’t actually pan out throughout his time in Seattle however he just about secured a roster spot purely as a result of he was depth at sort out and guard. In Penning’s case he’s much better suited to sort out than Jones ever was, so whereas he’s often on the left aspect he may swap to proper sort out on the professional stage.
Stands out as a run blocker
Once more, it’s partially tongue-in-cheek. With Russell Wilson gone, I feel it’s extremely seemingly that the Seahawks as soon as once more develop into some of the run-heavy groups within the NFL. Penning’s highlights within the run recreation stand out a bit greater than his cross safety, and little question the Seahawks will likely be any OL who can run block effectively, and PFF gave Penning a 99.9 run blocking grade for 2021.
Greatest gamers remaining:
- Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
- Charles Cross, T, Mississippi State
- Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
- George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
- Drake London, WR, USC
