2022 NFL Mock Draft: Washington, Broncos and Lions land quarterbacks; six receivers go in Round 1

Addressing the offensive line could possibly be an choice right here however the Jets have 4 of the primary 75 picks on this draft, so as an alternative of overthinking it, they will take Thibodeaux right here. He battled an ankle harm early within the season however has since confirmed that he is nearly unstoppable when he is on the sphere — to the purpose that it is virtually unfair.

Evan Neal is the most effective offensive lineman on this class (although Tyler Linderbaum has made his case) and the Jags want to guard Trevor Lawrence. They’ve RT Jawaan Taylor, however Cam Robinson is within the last 12 months of his present deal.

The Texans’ protection has been replacement-level this season, in accordance with Soccer Outsiders, however the secondary might use an infusion of youth, particularly with Desmond King and Vernon Hargreaves presumably coming into free company after the season. Stingley is CB1, even when he would not play one other snap for LSU this season.

If there was a QB value taking within the prime 5, the Lions could be throughout it right here. Sadly, this class would not have a clear-cut franchise passer so the Lions should look elsewhere to fill that want. Hutchinson, is not a foul comfort prize. He is had an enormous season for the Wolverines and instantly improves Detroit’s protection towards each the go and the run.

The Giants have younger safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love, however that does not imply there is not room within the secondary for Kyle Hamilton, too. He is a 6-4, 220-pound model of Ed Reed — a sideline-to-sideline ballhawk — and that makes him a Day 1 influence participant.

Initially a defensive finish, Leal, at 6-foot-4, 290, has the flexibility and athleticism to play up and down the road, and that versatility could be welcome in Philly, the place the Eagles’ protection has been a bottom-third-in-the-league unit, in accordance with Soccer Outsiders.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is harm and Taylor Heinicke has struggled with consistency. Corral has been each spectacular and hard this season for Ole Miss, most lately on Saturday evening towards Auburn. He has the instruments to be a Josh Allen-type quarterback however he is nonetheless extremely uncooked and can probably want a while to develop into the beginning position on the subsequent degree.

The Eagles are on monitor for 3 first-rounders, and if they do not bundle some (or all) of these picks for a QB, addressing the protection could be good. Sales space might find yourself being probably the greatest cornerbacks to come back out of Clemson in recent times, and he is confirmed that at factors throughout the ’21 season.

We love Tyler Linderbaum right here — and we have had him going to the Giants on this spot in latest weeks — however New York has a number of wants alongside the offensive line, and Inexperienced, who lined up at left guard final season and has performed each offensive place throughout his profession, would convey each nastiness and flexibility to NYC.

Ekwonu is a monster, and extra importantly, beefs up a Jets offensive line that has struggled to guard Zach Wilson. Ekwonu strains up at left sort out for the Wolfpack, and whereas some folks assume his future could also be inside, he could possibly be dominant on the skin within the NFL, too. Wherever he strains up, he’ll be the favourite to steer the NFL in pancake blocks.

Carson Sturdy is our QB1 however with one fairly massive asterisk: His draft standing is all going to come back right down to the medicals on a knee harm he suffered in highschool, which is why we’ve Matt Corral going forward of him on this mock draft. That mentioned, Sturdy is essentially the most constant QB on this draft class and the Broncos have to improve the place, both by way of free company or commerce, or the draft.

Quarterback makes all of the sense on this planet right here, particularly now that the Panthers seem like out of the operating for Deshaun Watson. However once more, if Corral and Sturdy are already off the board, Carolina should attain for a passer right here. As a substitute, they bolster the offensive line. Linderbaum is among the finest O-linemen within the nation, and whereas going twelfth total might sound excessive for a middle, a) Linderbaum is that good, b) the Panthers can transfer on from 32-year-old Matt Paradis after the season.

A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Oliver have been strong in protection this 12 months however Oliver has battled accidents and he is additionally within the last 12 months of his deal. Elam has the scale (6-foot-2, 190) and athleticism to be probably the greatest draft-eligible corners in ’21.

Identical as final week, largely as a result of whereas the Pats have wants alongside the O-line and the secondary, additionally they want to present Mac Jones a legit downfield menace, one thing this offense has lacked for years. Wilson and Chris Olave each have been unstoppable for Ohio State and people traits will switch to the subsequent degree.

The Steelers, like loads of groups, actually, actually need a QB. And we have had them taking Corral and Sturdy in earlier mock drafts. However with each gamers gone, Pittsburgh upgrades the offensive line, which has improved over the primary half of the season however might use a stud on the skin, and Cross has that form of potential.

Dean performs with the kind of urgency and physicality that has been missing at occasions in the midst of this Eagles protection. And whereas Dean’s enjoying on the most effective protection within the nation, do not be fooled — he is not using on the coattails of a dominant defensive position — he is been an enormous cause for its success.

Tua might use some playmakers, certain, however this Dolphins protection has been surprisingly dangerous and upgrading the D-line would not be a foul transfer right here. Karlaftis, who reminds us of AJ Epenesa, has flashed this season for Purdue. And whereas accidents and the pandemic noticed him play restricted snaps in ’20, he was almost unimaginable to cease in ’19 when he recorded 17 TFLs and had 7.5 sacks.

The workforce has already parted methods with 2020 first-rounder Jeff Gladney, and Patrick Peterson is on a one-year deal. Broad receiver is also an choice right here however stockpiling defensive backs isn’t a foul technique, and McCreary, who has gotten higher every year towards a few of the finest WRs within the nation, is having a terrific season for the Tigers.

Rookie first-rounder Alex Leatherwood has been moved to protect (partially, resulting from accidents) and will the transfer be everlasting, the Raiders might use a sort out and Kirkland’s athleticism makes him an fascinating middle-of-the-first-round choice for groups seeking to enhance up entrance.

The Saints’ passing offense hasn’t been almost as explosive with out Drew Brees and Michael Thomas. The excellent news is that Thomas will return in some unspecified time in the future, although, and the Jameis Winston harm provides one other wrinkle. But when New Orleans passes on a QB right here, concentrating on a savvy, big-play wideout could be logical and Olave suits that description.

Take into consideration this: The Bengals haven’t got a ton of wants! And whereas DJ Reader has been one among Cincy’s finest gamers, Larry Ogunjobi is within the last 12 months of his deal, and extra importantly, Davis has persistently been a one-man wrecking crew for Georgia.

London, who was one of many few brilliant spots in a disappointing USC season earlier than taking place with a season-ending ankle harm, is not going to run a 4.3 however he is a high-point-catch machine who can take over video games. In Cleveland, Odell Beckham nonetheless would not look to be absolutely recovered from a knee harm and who is aware of what his future can be with the workforce. Jarvis Landry continues to be a go-to goal, however after that, solely second-year participant Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Anthony Schwartz are beneath contract.

Joey Bosa has been his standard dominating self however he might use a bookend edge rusher now that Melvin Ingram is in Pittsburgh. Enagbare is a twitched-up athlete who flashes each week, and can solely get higher with extra reps and added muscle.

The Titans’ protection has been higher in ’21 however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment, particularly in the midst of the unit. Lloyd is a twitchy, sideline-to-sideline participant who suits the mildew of off-ball linebackers we have seen coming into the league the final 7-8 years.

Regardless that McDuffie performs cornerback, we get Tyrann Mathieu vibes once we watch him. We love him as a slot nook who serves as an enforcer in run help and locks down brief and intermediate routes, although he has been balling out on the skin for the Huskies this season.

The protection actually has been a pleasing shock — partially as a result of Dallas stocked up on that facet of the ball within the ’21 draft — which is why the workforce targets vast receiver right here (additionally value noting: Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson could possibly be free brokers within the spring).

Jameson Williams had simply 15 receptions in his earlier two seasons although he averaged greater than 17.5 yards per catch. That was when he was nonetheless at Ohio State, the place he needed to go away to get extra enjoying time. Now at Alabama, and in a post-DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle world, Williams has been manner higher than marketed — to the purpose that it is arduous to wrap your mind round the concept he needed to switch (to ‘Bama!) to get enjoying time. However by way of eight video games, Williams has 35 catches and 6 touchdowns, all whereas averaging a whopping 20.3 yards per reception. We expect Aaron Rodgers can work with that.

Darian Kinnard is a mauler who performs with an edge and he can wreak havoc as each a run and go blocker. He might need to kick inside on the subsequent degree however his capacity to open holes within the operating sport make him an instantaneous asset for this Cardinals offense.

Jameson Williams had simply 15 receptions in his earlier two seasons although he averaged greater than 17.5 yards per catch. That was when he was nonetheless at Ohio State, the place he needed to go away to get extra enjoying time. Now at Alabama, and in a post-DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle world, Williams has been manner higher than marketed — to the purpose that it is arduous to wrap your mind round the concept he needed to switch (to ‘Bama!) to get enjoying time. However by way of eight video games, Williams has 35 catches and 6 touchdowns, all whereas averaging a whopping 20.3 yards per reception. We expect Aaron Rodgers can work with that.

That is the primary time all fall Willis has made an look in our mock draft. So what adjustments? It is largely because of the end-of-week expectations. Particularly, if he balls out towards Ole Miss on Saturday he can have made a great case for why he deserves to be within the first-round dialog. If he is one thing lower than that, or if Matt Corral (assuming he is wholesome) clearly outplays him, then these questions will stay. And for us, meaning a possible Day 2 grade. However do not misunderstand: We like loads about Willis’ sport, and the hardest a part of the analysis is projecting what sort of participant he’ll be in 2-3 years. However proper now, he hasn’t completed sufficient to benefit going early in Spherical 1.

The Payments have the NFL’s finest protection, in accordance with the superior stats, however there is not a lot depth behind Tre White and Taron Johnson. Kendrick is a first-round decide all day lengthy, and he is confirmed that once more this season with Georgia after transferring from Clemson. The most important difficulty for NFL groups can be off-field points; if Kendrick has matured since his time with the Tigers, he’ll be worthy of a prime 32 choice all day lengthy.

WR is not an enormous want however Antonio Brown is on a one-year deal and the Bucs should decide on Chris Godwin, whom they franchised final offseason. Ross, in the meantime, missed the 2020 season due to a neck harm however he was on monitor to be a first-round decide. He is confirmed glimpses this season of what makes him particular — persistently profitable on the prime of the route, dependable fingers, and his capacity to high-point throws over defenders helpless to do a lot about it — on an offense that has sputtered with out Trevor Lawrence.