The 2022 NFL draft is underway. Follow the latest news and picks as they happen from Las Vegas.
2022 NFL mock draft: QBs? No way. ‘Edge rushers’ are this year’s big prize
1. Jaguars
Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan: Unless the Jags are overthinking things, which now seems entirely possible, the best NFL-ready player in the draft will go No. 1 overall and fill a huge need in Jacksonville.
2. Lions
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon: Detroit is begging Jacksonville to overthink Hutchinson. If not, the Lions still fill a gigantic need with an edge rusher who’s climbing the boards.
3. Texans
Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia: Houston’s roster is a mess so it could go in any direction, including trading down. Walker’s athletic upside has him in the rumor mill for No. 1. Lovie Smith won’t let him fall past No. 3.
4. Jets
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU: Stingley is healthy and gifted. The Jets trump the Giants on a game-changing corner to tussle with Stefon Diggs and AFC East newbie Tyreek Hill.
5. Giants
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama: Trade alert! Teams looking to reach for a quarterback are targeting this spot. The Giants might listen or stand pat and protect their QB with the best offensive tackle available.
6. Panthers
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh: Sorry, Steelers. It’s risky to think the most NFL-ready quarterback — even in a super weak QB class — is making it out of the top 10 past Carolina, Atlanta and Seattle.
7. Giants (via Bears)
Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati: Trade alert! The second wave of teams looking to reach for a QB will target this spot. The Giants might listen. Or they could be smart and take a giant-sized shutdown corner.
8. Falcons
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty: The most mobile and electrifying QB in college football can be Atlanta’s QB of the future and an immediate gadget threat to complement bridge QB Marcus Mariota.
9. Seahawks (via Broncos)
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, N.C. State: Trade alert! Teams salivating over their favorite receivers will be getting very antsy by now. Seattle already has four picks in the first three rounds. Ekwonu is too good to pass up here.
10. Jets (via Seahawks)
Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State: Trading this pick to San Francisco for Deebo Samuel sounds pretty good. So does adding the elite edge rusher from Eden Prairie to the Stingley pick at No. 4. Suddenly, the Jets seem a lot better.
11. Commanders
Drake London, WR, USC: Is it possible to acquire Carson Wentz and still need a quarterback? Ask Indy’s owner. But at least Washington will give Wentz the first of many receivers drafted on Thursday night.
12. Vikings
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: The one Vikings need no one seems to be talking about is a massive, quick, athletic, run-stopping, pocket-busting beast that can play anywhere along the team’s new three-man defensive line. Taking Davis would be much more impactful than settling for the third-best cornerback. Passing on safety Kyle Hamilton in this scenario would be difficult. But worth it.
13. Texans (via Browns)
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State: He’s not that big (6-foot, 183), but his versatility and ability to separate and run after the catch will be huge for Davis Mills as he tries to secure the quarterback job long-term.
14. Ravens
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State: Baltimore could go cornerback or stop Hamilton’s slide down the board if it’s truly selecting the best player available. Cross, however, is high value at a position of need.
15. Eagles (via Dolphins)
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame: Pegged as high as No. 2 to the Lions in some mock drafts, this 1.0-and-done mocker finally found a landing spot for a 6-4, 220-pound new-age safety that any D-coordinator will love.
16. Saints (via Eagles/Colts)
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa: Like a lot of teams, a talented, young (and cheap) receiver is a need and a want. But the Saints have a bigger need, literally: Replacing Terron Armstead.
17. Chargers
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama: This is a steal at 17. Williams might be a top-five talent and could go much higher, even though he’s rehabbing a torn ACL.
18. Eagles (via Saints)
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah: Philly could trade down or add another impact defensive starter in Lloyd, this year’s most versatile inside backer.
19. Saints (via Eagles)
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State: New Orleans can’t resist dipping into the deep receiver pool and plucking the best hands available.
20. Steelers
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia: There isn’t a fairytale quarterback story to tell, but Pittsburgh “settles” for the best three-technique available.
21. Patriots
Nakobe Dean, ILB, Georgia: Will he be gone? Will he drop to Round 2? Opinions vary. But he sure sounds like a Belichick guy, even if he is undersized.
22. Packers (via Raiders)
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State: He’s talented, but he ain’t Davante Adams. Then again, Davante Adams no longer has Aaron Rodgers.
23. Cardinals
George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue: Chandler Jones and a whole lot of sacks left Arizona for Vegas this offseason.
24. Cowboys
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas: Some have the ‘Boys taking a guard here. Jerry Jones isn’t taking a guard over a big, flashy receiver from his alma mater.
25. Bills
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington: A little undersized, but, then again, so was Antoine Winfield Sr. Buffalo doesn’t have many holes but needs a corner.
26. Titans
Zion Johnson, G-C, Boston College: Tennessee is the rare really good team that, let’s face it, needs a quarterback. But it’s a year away from addressing that issue.
27. Buccaneers
Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson: An interior lineman would also make sense here. Maybe an edge rusher. But it’s also time to restock the shelf at corner.
28. Packers
Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota: The Vikings took Za’Darius Smith. So it’s only neighborly for the Gophers to send Green Bay its finest edge rusher.
29. Chiefs (via Dolphins/49ers)
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida: Trade alert! If Kansas City eyeballs a receiver it really likes, it could package picks 29-30 and go up.
30. Chiefs
George Pickens, WR, Georgia: Or the Chiefs could land a possible starting corner at 29 and a promising pick from the deep receiver pool at No. 30.
31. Bengals
Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State: Trade alert! The Bengals could trade down. Or maybe take an edge rusher in the first round for the first time in 21 years.
32. Lions (via Rams)
Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi: Trade alert! Another QB-hungry team could move up. Or maybe the Lions use this pick from the Rams to take their own big swing.
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