2022 NFL Mock Draft: Third Edition

 Here is the third edition of my 2022 NFL Mock Draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars- Aidan Hutchinson, Defensive End, Michigan: There is a ton of momentum toward Travon Walker being the number one overall pick, but it still won't be surprising if they go with Hutchinson, who's drawn comparisons to the likes of the Bosa brothers, Chase Young, and Myles Garrett.

2. Detroit Lions- Kavon Thibodeaux, Defensive End, Oregon: I'm not completely sold this will be the selection considering people in the organization are not his biggest fans, but it is lying season in the NFL. Thibodeaux was the top prospect in his class coming out of high school and the upside is still there for him succeed.

3. Houston Texans- Ickey Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle/Guard, NC State: Here's a little bit of a curveball of a selection for the Texans, who can go anywhere with this pick considering the needs on this roster.  Ekwonu's versatility is what could get him drafted this high and the Texans have a major need on the offensive line.

4. New York Jets- Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame: This would be another pick that would surprise some people. The Jets should probably look at Sauce Gardner here, but Hamilton would make sense due to his upside and the need at the position.

5. New York Giants- Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama: This would be a tremendous selection for Big Blue as they land the best lineman in the class. Neal is a super steady player and would fit nicely with Andrew Thomas on the offensive line.

6. Carolina Panthers- Charles Cross, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State: Everyone and their brother is penciling in a quarterback in this spot, but it could be off the table if they acquire Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garappolo. Cross is coming off a breakout season which has put him in this position and that may be concerning for some teams in terms of whether it was for real or not.

7. New York Giants (from Chicago Bears)- Travon Walker, Defensive End, Georgia: Considering Walker is thought out to be by some to be in play to go first overall, you can't go wrong here. Coming away with Walker and Evan Neal is a great haul for new Giants GM Joe Schoein to improve both sides of their lines.

8. Atlanta Falcons- Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State: The Falcons have a lot of needs on their roster and this is another spot where a quarterback could be in play, but here I have them going with receiver. Wilson had a big year at Ohio State and I believe he'll be an electric player at the next level and the Falcons are a good fit considering the suspension of Calvin Ridley.

9. Seattle Seahawks (from Denver Broncos)- Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty: Here I have the first quarterback off the board with Willis going to Seattle. Willis is getting a lot of hype right now although I don't feel that there is a franchise quarterback in this draft, which makes this pick risky.

10. New York Jets (from Seattle Seahawks)- Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Cornerback, Cincinnati: Gardner falling all the way to ten would be a major steal for Gang Green, despite the teams need for a pass rusher. Gardner and Kyle Hamilton are both foundation pieces that the Jets would be more than thrilled with to build their secondary with.

11. Washington Commanders- Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State: This would be a good pick for the Commanders as they get themselves a receiver to go with Terry McLaurin. Olave has a ton of speed and he would give the Commanders offense a different look.

12. Minnesota Vikings- Jermaine Johnson, Defensive End, Florida State: This would be a great pick for the Vikings considering their pass rush is aging. Johnson is someone who was super steady in college and he could potentially go in the top ten.

13. Houston Texans (from Cleveland Browns)- Derek Stigley Jr, Cornerback, LSU: The Texans have a ton of needs and I like the idea of Stigley being the pick here since you can find good wideouts later in the draft. Stigley could go top ten due to his upside alone and he and Ickey Ekwonu would be a nice pair of players to come away with in the first round.

14. Baltimore Ravens-  Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia: This would be a nice selection for the Ravens considering the free agent losses the Ravens had at the position. Davis was apart of the dominant front seven the Bulldogs had and he brings needed youth to the Ravens pass rush.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (from Miami Dolphins)- Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas: The Eagles have a plethora of options here with their first of two picks. I like the thought of Burks here considering Jalen Hurts needs more around him to succeed entering what could be a make or break year for him.

16. New Orleans Saints (from Philadelphia Eagles)- Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pittsburgh: This is a complete wild card of a selection for this spot. Pickett was a Heismann candidate this past season and despite a weak quarterback crop, he has a real shot to go at some point in the first round.

17. Los Angeles Chargers- Jameson Williams, Wide Receiver, Alabama: This would be quite the selection for the Chargers considering that their roster is absolutely loaded. Despite coming off a torn ACL, Williams, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams becomes arguably the best receiver trio in the NFL.

18. Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans Saints)- Devin Lloyd, Linebacker, Utah: Some may consider this a reach, but others may look at it and think the fit is very good. Lloyd is super athletic and fast and the Eagles may look at the impact Micah Parsons had in Dallas last year and take shot here with Lloyd.

19. New Orleans Saints (from Indianapolis Colts via Philadelphia Eagles)- Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa: The Saints offensive line is solid, but needs to replace Terron Armstead. Penning didn't get that much attention due to playing in the FCS, but has the tools to be a successful player in the league.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers- Desmond Ritter, Quarterback, Cincinnati: Ritter is one of the fast rising quarterbacks in this draft class and he feels like your classic Steelers guy. Ritter's athleticism and the fact he won a lot of games in college is what may have the Steelers intrigued.

21. New England Patriots- Andrew Booth Jr, Cornerback, Clemson: This would be a nice pick for the Pats, who lost JC Jackson in free agency. Booth is someone who's stock is rising with a little over a week to go until the draft.

22. Green Bay Packers (from Las Vegas Raiders)- Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State: Dotson is one of the wideouts whose stock is rising as we are a week away from the draft. The Packers need above average receivers in the worst way possible helping replace the production of Davante Adams.

23. Arizona Cardinals- Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida: I think this pick would be a possible reach for the Cardinals, despite the need at the position. Elam has the speed and athleticism to be a consistent starter in the league.

24. Dallas Cowboys- Kenyon Green, Guard, Texas A&M: This would be a great pick for the Cowboys, considering their offensive line that was once a beast is quietly aging. Green can come in and play in the interior right away helping protect Dak Prescott.

25. Buffalo Bills- Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington: This would be an awesome pick for the Bills. McDuffie could start right away on a team that is going to be a Super Bowl contender to go with Tre White in that secondary.

26. Tennessee Titans- Nkobe Dean, Linebacker, Georgia: Another player from the vaunted Georgia front seven goes in this mock here in Dean. He is the type of young playmaker the Titans need at the position considering they lost linebackers in free agency.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Devonte Wyatt, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker, Georgia: Make it four of the seven Georgia front seven members of the championship team. Wyatt would be a tremendous fit fo the Bucs, who need some youth on their front seven with some free agent losses they could have.

28. Green Bay Packers- Bernhard Raimann, Offensive Tackle, Central Michigan: I believe this would be a reach of a pick for the Packers and you can argue they should go defense or even another wideout with this pick. Raimann is a polished player that can start on some teams right away.

29. Kansas City Chiefs (from San Francisco 49ers via Miami Dolphins)- Geoege Karlaftis, Defensive End, Purdue: This could be a steal for the Chiefs, who need some help on the pass rush. Karlaftis was thought out to be a top ten pick, but his stock took a big hit and he didn't provide a great number of sacks in college.

30. Kansas City Chiefs- Christian Watson, Wide Receiver, North Dakota State: Like the Packers, the Chiefs need to come away with a wide receiver in the first round. Watson stock rose after a great year in the FCS and has great speed.

31. Cincinnati Bengals- Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa: This would be a tremendous selection for the Bengals considering Linderbaum was thought out to be a top 10 or even top 5 pick back in the fall. Linderbaum can come in and start for the Bengals right away on an already improved offensive line to help protect Joe Burrow.

32. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles Rams)- Matt Corral, Quarterback, Ole Miss:  A lot of people seem to think the Lions will go quarterback here. Corral's stock has been all over the place, but the Lions need a potential long term answer here so I have them banking on Corral.