The 2021 college football season hasn’t even started yet, but here is a look at my early projections in my 2022 NFL mock draft.
We are only a mere two weeks away from the start of the 2021 NFL Training Camps, and hope is in the air for all NFL teams. The 2021 NFL Draft has concluded and NFL rookies are competing for starting jobs and the chance to make an immediate impact in the 2021-2021 campaign. While first-rounders will get first dibs, all rookies are looking to make their mark at the next level. However, it is never too early to take a look at some of the prominent players for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Below, I will take my first stab at projecting the 2022 NFL Draft. At first glance, this is another deep and talented group with a focus on standout signal-callers and EDGE rushers Some premier players will be available once again to help your NFL team, so take a look before the season gets underway.
2022 NFL Mock Draft:
1. Houston Texans – Spencer Rattler, QB Oklahoma
The Texans are not going to win many games without Deshaun Watson this coming season. Without a clear decision looming on his future in the NFL, the team must find a way to move forward. Houston drafted Davis Mills in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but Spencer Rattler possesses a much higher upside and rosier outlook for Texans’ fans beyond this season. Rattler has a fearless playing style similar to Patrick Mahomes and the arm strength to emulate him as the next great QB in the AFC.
2. Detroit Lions – Sam Howell, QB North Carolina
While the Lions just recently acquired a new quarterback in Jared Goff, a top-five finish in 2021 would certainly mean more changes are coming. The team traded long-time QB Matthew Stafford this offseason and could use those assets to start over and build around a potential franchise QB. Sam Howell is the 1B to Rattler’s 1A in this class and has the mobility and arm talent to be a star in the Motor City.
3. Cincinnati Bengals – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon
The Bengals are an ascending team in the AFC thanks to their offensive firepower and the expected year-two jump of QB Joe Burrow. The team did their best to assist in that maturation by selecting Burrow’s former teammate Ja’Marr Chase in the 2021 NFL Draft. They turn to the defense in 2022, with arguably the best talent in the entire class. Kayvon Thibodeaux has been a star since his freshman season in Eugene and should ascend quickly in the NFL as well.
4. New York Jets – Zion Nelson, OT Miami (Fla.)
New York has spent a ton of resources on the offensive line in recent years, with back-to-back first-rounders in 2020 and 2021. Make it a three-peat here as the Jets continue to build their offensive front around new signal-caller, Zach Wilson. Nelson was a breakout star for the Hurricanes in 2020. He’s dominant as both a run and pass blocker with the length and agility to start day one at the left tackle spot.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame
Even with the tremendous depth of the 2021 safety class, no player stood out or possessed the talent and playmaking ability of Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton. A few years ago, the Jaguars had one of the top secondaries in the league with names like Jalen Ramsey, A.J. Bouye and, Tashaun Gipson. They hope to get back to those glory days with Hamilton and new additions like Shaq Griffin and Tyson Campbell.
6. Philadelphia Eagles – Derek Stingley Jr., CB LSU
Speaking of great defensive backs, the Eagles snatch up another one here with the addition of LSU’s elite cover corner. Stingley Jr. has been arguably college football’s top corner since his true freshman season and would instantly upgrade the Eagles’ ever-struggling secondary. He has prototype size, speed, and range for a boundary CB prospect and remains a borderline top-five prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.
7. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Ridder, QB Cincinnati
Instead of choosing from one of the top signal-callers available in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Falcons chose to add another weapon for long-time starter, Matt Ryan. Only time will tell if this was the correct decision, but the team will need to add a young QB to the mix sooner than later. Ridder is an intriguing option in the top 10 with great arm strength and mobility. He could be ready to take over as soon as the 2023 NFL season.
8. Las Vegas Raiders – Justyn Ross, WR Clemson
Despite having a very talented offense heading into 2021, the Raiders lack a proven go-to-guy at the wide receiver position. The team hopes that 2020 first-rounder Henry Ruggs will become that type of threat, but Las Vegas takes a swing again at the position here with Clemson’s Justyn Ross. The Tigers’ star WR missed 2020 due to injury but has the size and speed of an alpha receiver at the NFL level.
9. New York Giants – DeMarvin Leal, DT Texas A&M
The Giants were a mess as a football team in 2020, starting with another injury to star RB Saquon Barkley and continuing with their horrible struggles on defense. New York will need to continue to get stronger up front, and they do that here with the addition of Leal. The Aggie defensive lineman is a dominant force with great size and push from the middle of the line.
10. Carolina Panthers – Jalen Wydermyer, TE Texas A&M
The Carolina offensive is one of the younger, more intriguing groups heading into 2021. With a core of players like D.J. Moore, Robbie Anderson, Christian McCaffrey, and Terrace Marshall, new QB Sam Darnold will have plenty to work with as the starter. The one glaring need on this offense is the lack of a consistent threat at TE. Wydermyer burst on the scene as a freshman in 2019 and remains one of the most productive TE’s the past two seasons.
2022 NFL mock draft:
11. New York Giants – Christian Harris, LB Alabama
One of the safer prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, Harris is another terrific LB prospect in a long line of Alabama stalwarts. Former Crimson Tide players such as Rolando McClain, Courtney Upshaw, C.J. Mosley, and Rashaan Evans have carved out productive careers in the NFL. Harris is outstanding in his own right as a big, three-down prospect with terrific cover skills that can start right away.
12. Arizona Cardinals – Josh Jobe, CB Alabama
Make that two Alabama standouts in a row with Arizona’s selection here at 12. Jobe follows Patrick Surtain II as Tide cornerbacks selected in the first round in back-to-back years. He’s a physical presence on the boundary with a ton of experience and the confidence to match up with the NFL’s top receivers one-on-one. Jobe upgrades this Cardinals’ secondary instantly alongside All-Pro safety, Budda Baker.
13. Washington Football Team – Kedon Slovis, QB USC
The Washington Football team signed Ryan Fitzpatrick this offseason to replace the retired Alex Smith. However, Fitzpatrick is only a stopgap starter for a talented squad that needs a more permanent, long-term solution. Slovis has been terrific as a starter since his freshman season and gives Washington a high-upside player to continue their ascension in the NFC East.
14. Minnesota Vikings – Drake Jackson, EDGE USC
The Trojans have elevated some extremely talented defensive linemen and pass rushers into the NFL in the past decade, and Jackson may be one of the best. He’s a quick-twitch athlete that has the ability to play on the line or standing up. With the loss of Everson Griffen two seasons ago, the team has been searching for a viable replacement opposite Danielle Hunter. That search ends here in the 2022 NFL Draft with the versatile Jackson.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Evan Neal, OT Alabama
After the retirement of Maurkice Pouncey and the departure of Alejandro Villanueva, the Steelers offensive line figures to look much different in 2021. Even before those losses, the team needed help and now the situation seems almost dire. Adding a player with the caliber of Evan Neal could go a long way. Neal is a former five-star recruit that has started a ton of games since his freshman season and would be an instant upgrade for the Steelers.
16. Denver Broncos – Malik Willis, QB Liberty
The Drew Lock experiment has not gone according to plan for the Denver Broncos. While the former first-rounder has flashed some special talent, he is not the long-term answer for this proud franchise. The team hits the reset button here with the versatile, dual-threat, Malik Willis. While this may seem a bit early for the Liberty standout, I believe this spot could be the floor for Willis as we get closer to the 2022 NFL Draft.
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Kaiir Elam, CB Florida
Former Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward has moved on in free agency, and safety Derwin James is coming off back-to-back injury-riddled campaigns. Therefore, the Chargers are in need of reinforcements in the secondary. The Florida Gators continue to place talented defensive backs in the NFL and Elam is another great pro prospect. Elam is a candidate for the top-10 and could start alongside fellow star CB, Chris Harris.
18. New England Patriots – George Pickens, WR Georgia
According to offseason reports, former first-rounder N’Keal Harry has requested a trade after a failed start to his Patriots’ career. Whether the team decides to move on or keep Harry, upgrades are needed on a thin New England receiving corps. Pickens is a former top recruit for the Bulldogs who has dominated despite inconsistent QB play at Georgia. Paired with Jacobi Meyers, the Patriots would have a nice, young WR duo with Mickens here at 18.
19. New Orleans Saints – Matt Corral, QB Mississippi
This 2022 NFL Draft selection is a fairly obvious one, as the team is in desperate need of a long-term replacement for former All-Pro quarterback, Drew Brees. The 2022 QB group is extraordinarily deep and talented, and Corral is the next man up. Corral came out of nowhere to throw for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2020. He has the arm talent and moxie to become the new face of this storied Saints franchise.
20. Philadelphia Eagles – Zach Harrison, EDGE Ohio State
It is becoming a right of passage for a Buckeyes’ pass rusher to go early on day one of the NFL Draft. Harrison is next in a long line of great recent Ohio State pass rushers that includes Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and 2021 DROY, Chase Young. On the surface, Philly maintains a strong group of pass rushers with Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, and Josh Sweat. However, Graham is entering his age-33 season and Harrison would be a great rotation piece for the Eagles.
21. Dallas Cowboys – Sevyn Banks, CB Ohio State
Ohio State cornerbacks continue to make a splash in the NFL, with recent names like Shaun Wade, Denzel Ward, Kendall Sheffield, Jeff Okudah, Gareon Conley, and Bradley Roby to name a few. The Buckeyes are loaded again at the position and Sevyn Banks appears to be another impact prospect for them. With the losses of Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie in recent years, replacements are needed badly on the back end and Banks is a terrific value here for Dallas.
22. New York Jets – George Karlaftis, EDGE Purdue
The Jets have lacked a consistent pass rush for years now, and have not been able to find steady EDGE or linebacker help via the Draft. However, they are in a terrific spot here with this Purdue star, George Karlaftis. Karlaftis is a strong, steady force off the edge with a playing style and body reminiscent of former Boilermaker, Ryan Kerrigan. He’d become an instant starter for Gang Green and give them a much-needed boost at DE or OLB.
2022 NFL mock draft:
23. Tennessee Titans – Charles Cross, OT Mississippi State
The Isaiah Wilson experiment was an epic failure for the Titans and left the team in a tough spot following the 2020 NFL season. Beyond LT Taylor Lewan, the team does not have many proven options outside for this season and beyond. An argument could be made for Cross as the top tackle in the 2022 cycle. He was a diamond in the rough for a struggling Bulldogs squad in 2020 and could challenge Neal as the first tackle drafted from the SEC.
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Rasheed Walker, OT Penn State
Another team with big question marks upfront is the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles appear to be finally moving on from the injury-ravaged Jason Peters while returning starter Andre Dillard is coming off a season-ending injury of his own. Penn State has not had an OT selected in the first round since the Cardinals took Levi Brown fifth overall in 2007. That should change in the 2022 NFL Draft with ultra-talented, Rasheed Walker. At 6-foot-6, Walker has one of the better skillsets in the Big 10 and is an excellent pro prospect for the Nittany Lions.
25. Cleveland Browns – Perrion Winfrey, DT Oklahoma
The Browns enter the 2021 NFL season with one of the youngest and most imposing defenses in the league. That unit should help catapult the Browns to a playoff berth in back-to-back seasons. One of their few weaknesses on that defense is the defensive front and defensive tackle position. Larry Ogunjobi departed via free agency and the team is left with few proven options upfront. Winfrey is the next man up in a very talented Sooners’ front seven and would fit in nicely here at the end of the first round.
26. Green Bay Packers – Chris Olave, WR Ohio State
I have to believe the Packers would be elated to add to their receiving corps with the talent of a player like Ohio State’s Chris Olave. The team took steps to improve this offseason with the addition of Clemson’s Amari Rodgers, but there is more work to be done. While Olave appears to be a darling of the Draft community early on, I believe his lack of ideal NFL size will hinder his stock on draft day. However, Olave’s speed is a big-time asset and would take this Packers’ offense to the next level.
27. Miami Dolphins – Breece Hall, RB Iowa State
This pick for Miami is tough to predict, as they have shown a complete aversion to early-round upgrades thus far at the RB position. That could change here with the availability of the workhorse-like, three-down potential in Iowa State’s Breece Hall. I’ve previously discussed Hall as a great fit for Miami in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hall is a bruising runner with soft hands that knows how to finish drives in the end zone. He’s scored 33 total touchdowns the past two seasons and could immediately help solve some of Miami’s red zone woes.
28. Baltimore Ravens – Kenyon Green, OG Texas A&M
The retirement of long-time right guard Marshal Yanda prior to the 2020 season left Baltimore with a big weakness inside. The Ravens attempted to fill the spot with veteran D.J. Fluker but were met with mixed results. Kevin Zeitler was signed as a free agent in another attempt to solve their woes on the OL, but a long-term investment is needed here. Green returns as one of the best players on a top-10 Aggies’ roster and would slide in immediately as a starter in Baltimore.
29. Buffalo Bills – Isaiah Spiller, RB Texas A&M
Much like the Dolphins, Buffalo is in need of a talent upgrade at the RB position moving forward. Hopes are high for the duo of Zack Moss and Devin Singletary, but neither player is a home run threat or three-down option at the NFL level. Spiller was a key cog in one of the top-ranked offenses in college football last season and could be one of the first running backs taken. He has the ideal size for an NFL RB at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, and his pass-blocking ability will get him on the field right away for the Bills.
30. Detroit Lions – Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State
The second of Ohio State’s dynamic wide receiver duo is speedster Garrett Wilson. While Olave receives most of the praise in this Buckeyes’ WR corps, Wilson could end up as the better pro. He is a very good route runner with great hands and a terrific ability to track the ball in the air. Wilson earned the weekly trust of former QB Justin Fields on his way to 723 yards and six receiving touchdowns. With the loss of Kenny Golladay to free agency, Detroit desperately needs a player like Wilson on the outside.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bubba Bolden, S Miami (Fla.)
The Buccaneers are one of the tougher teams to predict for the 2022 NFL Draft, with few weaknesses and every starter returning from their 2020 campaign. However, the team struck gold with S Antoine Winfield, Jr. last year and could turn to the secondary again here. Bolden is a great hitter that reads plays well and has terrific ball skills for the safety position. He would be a great compliment and running mate for Winfield Jr. and upgrade an already outstanding Tampa Bay defense.
32. Kansas City Chiefs – Cade Mays, OT Tennessee
The Chiefs are another team loaded with talent heading into the 2021 season, and any addition here would be an embarrassment of riches for a great Kansas City roster. Kansas City remade their offensive line this offseason, with impact moves such as the trade for Orlando Brown Jr. and signing of guard Joe Thuney.
Additional pieces may be needed to continue the rebuild and depth could be crucial for a unit that scores at the pace of the Chiefs. Mays is a versatile offensive lineman with the ability to play both tackle or guard in the NFL.