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The stage for the 2022 NFL Draft has been finalized, with the Jacksonville Jaguars picking 1st and the Detroit Lions picking 2nd. For the better part of two months, the debate about which of these two teams would pick 1st overall was in question as each team won a few meaningless games down the stretch.
One of the more notable and intriguing storylines in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft centers around both New York teams as the Jets and Giants have a combined four picks in the top ten. The Jets (via trade with Seattle) and Giants (via trade with Chicago) have two picks in the top 10. The Jets will be on the clock at picks 4 and 10, while the Giants hold picks 5 and 7.
The Philadelphia Eagles have three first-round picks, which is the most in round one for any team. They have picks 15 (via Miami), 16 (via Indianapolis), and their original pick at 19th overall.
The first round of the 2022 NFL Draft will take place on April 28th followed by rounds 2 and 3 on April 29th, while rounds 4 through 7 will conclude the NFL draft on April 30th.
Please check us out on our YouTube Channel. By the time the NFL Draft starts, we will have completed 30 NFL draft evaluations covering the top prospects on the Football Scout 365 NFL Draft Big Board.
Below, you will find my first post-Super Bowl NFL Mock Draft. There will be no trades, and I will provide some analysis to support my picks. Each pick is team needs-based or the best available prospect.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars, OT Ikem Ekwonu, NC State
Team Needs: OT, C, LB, DT, TE
Building around Trevor Lawrence is a no-brainer, and it started with building up the offensive line.
2. Detroit Lions, Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan
Team Needs: WR, CB, OG, LB, DT
The Lions can go many different ways, but picking arguably the top player in the draft to bolster your defense is the logical route to go.
3. Houston Texans, S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
Team Needs: QB, RB, OG, CB, S
The Texans have many needs, and it goes against most logic picking a safety this early, but Kyle Hamilton exhibits generational talent.
4. New York Jets, OT Evan Neal, Alabama
Team Needs: CB, EDGE, OT, LB, TE
The Jets, like the Jaguars, need to build around their young QB.
5. New York Giants, Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon
Team Needs: LB, EDGE, OG, C, TE
Thibs is a steal for the Giants if he falls. We still believe he is a top-five overall talent.
6. Carolina Panthers, QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt
Team Needs: QB, OT, OG, S, C
Pickett provides NFL-ready value at the QB position, and the Panthers need a reliable signal-caller.
7. New York Giants (Via Chicago) LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia
Team Needs: LB, EDGE, OG, C, TE
Nakobe Dean is one of the top talents in this draft, and he provides an immediate impact at a position of need for the Giants.
8. Atlanta Falcons, Edge Jermaine Johnson, II Florida State
Team Needs: QB, RB, S, LB, EDGE
The Falcons have a lot of needs, but picking up a steal at a premium position like Johnson could pay massive dividends.
9. Denver Broncos, EDGE Travon Walker, Georgia
Team Needs: QB, LB, EDGE, OG, OT
Walker is a versatile talent. He can be moved all along a defensive front.
10. New York Jets (Via Seattle), CB Ahmad (Sauce) Gardner, Cincinnati
Team Needs: CB, EDGE, OT, LB, TE
The Jets bolster their secondary with the top CB on our board.
11. Washington Commanders, IOL Kenyon Green, Texas A&M
Team Needs: QB, OT, LB, S, CB
The Commanders need a lot of help, and as with any team, you are only as good as your offensive and defensive line.
12. Minnesota Vikings, Edge David Ojabo, Michigan
Team Needs: EDGE, OG, CB, LB, WR
The Vikings have a new staff and a new DC looking to install a 3-4 base, and the versatile Ojabo is a perfect fit.
13. Cleveland Browns, Edge Kingsley Enagbare, South Carolina
Team Needs: WR, DT, LB, C, EDGE
The Browns could lose Clowney to free agency, so going after one of the top remaining edge rushers makes a lot of sense here.
14. Baltimore Ravens CB Derek Stingley, JR. LSU
Team Needs: OT, OT, LB, EDGE, DT
The Raven's last-place pass defense needs some help. Stingley is one of the most talented players in this class, and for a long time, he ranked atop his position. He can play in the nickel or outside.
15. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Miami), CB Kaiir Elam, Florida
Team Needs: LB, CB, S, EDGE, WR
The Eagles have a lot of picks and a lot of needs. They need to improve their secondary, and with the potential losses of Brandon Graham and Derrick Barnett to free agency, they need to make their picks count.
16. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Indianapolis), Edge Arnold Ebiketie, Penn State
Team Needs: LB, CB, S, EDGE, WR
The Eagles have a lot of picks and a lot of needs. They need to improve their secondary, and with the potential losses of Brandon Graham and Derrick Barnett to free agency, they need to make their picks count.
17. Los Angeles Chargers, IDL Travis Jones, UCONN
Team Needs: DT, OT, WR, EDGE, TE
One of the NFL's worst run defenses a season ago from the inside out, the Chargers get one of our favorite players in Travis Jones.
18. New Orleans Saints, OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State
Team Needs: QB, WR, CB, TE, S
The Saint's salary cap situation is a disaster, so their picks will be critical, and they must go after their needs. They may not be able to resign Terron Armstead due to cap issues, so going best available OT makes sense.
19. Philadelphia Eagles WR David Bell, Purdue
Team Needs: LB, CB, S, EDGE, WR
David Bell teaming up with Devonte Smith can help elevate the Eagle's offense.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa
Team Needs: QB, OT, OG, CB, DT
The Steelers need OL, and they have options. If Penning falls this far, they have to go this route. He is a mauler in the run game.
21. New England Patriots, WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Team Needs: CB, WR, LB, S, DT
The Patriots need a WR that can take the top off of the defense, and there might not be a better option in the 2022 class.
22. Las Vegas Raiders, WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
Team Needs: WR, OG, C, LB, DT
After losing Henry Ruggs, the Raiders can fill the void with another speedy receiver. Jahan Dotson is a refined route runner that can provide an immediate impact.
23. Arizona Cardinals CB Roger McCreary, Auburn
Team Needs: CB, OG, OT, C, DT
The Cardinals need to work on their OL, and they might go OL in this spot, but they also need help in the secondary, and McCreary provides good versatility at a position of need.
24. Dallas Cowboys, Edge Boye Mafe, Minnesota
Team Needs: DT, EDGE, LB, S, TE
Mafe had a great week at the Senior Bowl and has climbed on a lot of draft boards. The Cowboys could go a lot of different ways here. They could go LB and move Parsons to a full-time edge rush position or add a traditional edge rusher.
25. Buffalo Bills, IDL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Team Needs: CB, OG, LB, DT, WR
The Bills can bolster their DL with one of the best options available.
26. Tennessee Titans, Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue
Team Needs: CB, WR, LB, EDGE, TE
Karlaftis has fallen a bit on our board, but he will not fall out of the first round.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State
Team Needs: RB, DT, WR, CB, TE
The Bucs get a steal at WR, assuming they cannot retain Chris Godwin.
28. Green Bay Packers, WR Chris Olave, Ohio State
Team Needs: OT, WR, TE, DT, EDGE
Rodgers will finally get his number two to go along with Adams, and then he will retire. All kidding aside, this is a great spot where I believe many big-time playmaking WR's will still be available.
29. Miami Dolphins (Via San Francisco), Zion Johnson, Boston College
Team Needs: OT, OG, C, LB, RB
The Dolphins need OL help, and Zion Johnson is one of the top players rising on draft boards across the league.
30. Kansas City Chiefs, WR Drake London, USC
Team Needs: CB, WR, EDGE, LB, S
London may not get this far, but imagine a world where Mahomes has Hill, Kelce, and a go-up-and-get-it player like Drake London.
31. Cincinnati Bengals, C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa
Team Needs: CB, C, OG, OT, LB
Linderbaum has fallen due to his lack of versatility. Regardless, he is a premium talent at an important position of need.
32. Detroit Lions (Via Rams), WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas
Team Needs: WR, CB, OG, LB, DT
If Burks falls this far, the Lions will get a massive steal.
Teams without a 1st round pick
39. Chicago Bears
Team Needs: OT, WR, C, CB, DT
41. Seattle Seahawks
Team Needs: OT, CB, OG, EDGE, LB
47. Indianapolis Colts
Team Needs: CB, WR, TE, OT, EDGE
61. San Francisco 49ers
Team Needs: CB, S, OG, C, WR
103. Los Angeles Rams
Team Needs: OT, TE, LB, EDGE, OG