4 bold predictions for the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft

The 2022 NFL Draft is about to begin, here are four bold predictions that could come to fruition in the first round this year. 

The NFL Draft is finally here. After studying teams’ interests and prospects for months, we might think that we’ve got it all figured out, but we know from experience that there are always a few surprises in store.

Last year, teams made a few pre-draft trades to get into position to land the players they had their hearts set on and the Cowboys moved back two spots to take Micah Parsons. We’ve got a good gauge for where players might be selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but there are sure to be a few curveballs thrown in as well.

Here are four bold predictions that could come to fruition during the draft tonight:

No quarterback goes in the top-15 picks

Two months ago, it almost seemed like a lock that there would be two quarterbacks taken inside the top-10 picks (and there still might be. QB is such a valuable position that teams don’t typically mess around. However, I’m going to take a stab to say that there won’t be a passer selected inside the top fifteen picks this year.

I think Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett will be the first two players off the board, but the teams who seem to be the most interested are just outside of the top-15 picks. This would go against historic trends, but it’s not a great QB class either.

Cowboys trade up for Kayvon Thibodeaux

This is a move that I’ve heard some whispers about leading up to the NFL Draft. The Dallas Cowboys really like Kayvon Thibodeaux, and I’ve heard they will be willing to trade up if he starts to slip.

It will take a few surprise picks for this to happen, but Dallas owns 9 draft choices this year, and it really sounds like they would like to move up to draft a player they have a first-round grade on. Thibodeaux would be their prize.

Six receivers are selected in round 1

This one seems like a bit of a stretch. It’s not often that six wide receivers are taken in the first round of an NFL Draft, but I think it’s actually pretty reasonable that this could happen in 2022.

Wide receiver is one of the stronger positional groups in this class, and teams know how much these guys are getting paid on their second contracts (just look at Christian Kirk). Because every team needs three or four good wide receivers and the way that the draft order plays out, I can see as many as six receivers being drafted in the first 32 picks.

Travon Walker is the top pick

I don’t think this is going to happen… but I won’t say that it’s impossible. The word is that Jacksonville’s owner and front office are split on Aidan Hutchinson and Travon Walker.

Though Walker does offer untapped potential and immense upside, it would seem like a Jaguars move to take him over the ‘can’t miss’ pick like Hutchinson. If Jacksonville goes with Walker, it will really shake things up early.

The NFL Draft is one of the most exciting times of the year for football fans. I will be anxiously awaiting each team’s selection on the clock. Don’t be shocked if a few of these predictions come true.