Predicting the top-10 selections of the 2022 NFL Draft

With the 2022 NFL Draft just days away, I thought it’d be a great time to make my official mock draft top 10. Here’s what I think will happen. 

The NFL Draft is always full of surprises, but as the hours wind down until Roger Goodell announces the first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, I predicted how the first ten selections will go this year:

In a talented draft class of EDGE rushers, Aiden Hutchinson seems to be the consensus number one, hence why I have him headed to Florida. His draft combine solidified his spot in my eyes, his freak athleticism combined with surprising levels of agility make him a nightmare matchup, he’ll end up with a LOT of sacks in his rookie year, no doubt.

Detroit needs cover in the secondary, and my CB1 is for sure Derek Stingley Jr. Coming out of LSU as a junior is a bold move, but I think he looks physically ready to break tackles in the big leagues, which is why I tip him over another popular corner in this class. Stingley will make the Lions a lot harder to beat on the long ball.

Houston probably needs a top draft pick in every position now, so for me, this was a case of ‘best player available’. In a draft full of defensive talent, Kyle Hamilton tops the list of safeties by some distance. Not only is he a hard hitter and a fantastic tackler, but his brain also seems to work twice as fast as those on offense.

Hamilton can see what’s happening before it does and is able to read a play within an instant, he’d probably be my number 1 pick if it was a chess draft.

A lot of hype started to build around ‘Sauce’ after the final 4 matchups involved the Cincinnati Bearcats, unsurprisingly considering the stats that have been pushed around social media. The infamous ones involve the fact that no receiver has got the better of him in his college career. In fact, Alabama wouldn’t even target his side in their matchup on New Year’s Eve.

The Giants have to invest one of their top picks into offensive protection, so this was a case of who my OT1 was. I think Evan Neal is slightly more physically imposing than the other tackles in this class, which is a huge compliment considering this draft has some fantastic options when it comes to pass protection…

My QB1 ever since the end of the college season has been Malik Willis, and that hasn’t changed after the combine and various other speculation in the media. He is the only QB that goes in the top 10 and the Panthers are desperate to replace Cam Newton and Sam Darnold.

For a lot of the season, Kayvon looked to be the first pick coming out of Oregon. His stock has dropped dramatically since, but he’s still the 2nd best edge rusher in this draft class after Aidan Hutchinson. He will improve the Giants defense tremendously.

IF the Falcons are to start the season with Marcus Mariota, he’s going to need all the protection he can get. This was a case of the best remaining OT after Evan Neal, and Ikem Ekwonu isn’t a bad second choice by any means. A lot of people based in Atlanta will be looking back at his game tape vs Mississippi State on draft day!

It could’ve easily been a QB at pick 9 for the Seahawks – not that I don’t think they’ll select one this week – but I think their front office will want some defensive reinforcement. Travon Walker is my EDGE 3, however, his draft stock has flown up recently so don’t be surprised if he’s a top 3 pick!

Despite not being my WR1 in this class, I think Jameson Williams is exactly what Zach Wilson and the Jets are looking for in the draft this week in terms of offensive playmaking. He’s definitely the most dangerous deep threat of all the prospects on the board, and despite the injury, he picked up in the playoffs, I still think he’ll go in the top 10.