Welcome to NFL draft day, the best day of the year. Who’s ready for one more mock draft? Round 1 of the 2022 draft begins Thursday night (coverage starts at 7 ET on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN app), and if you thought last year’s class was intriguing, you’re in for a treat.
We still don’t know for sure who the No. 1 pick will be — though we have a pretty good idea — and there are big questions about where the quarterbacks will go in the first round. Expect some chaos on Day 1, and maybe even a bunch more trades.
My updated Big Board — top 225 prospects overall — and position rankings went up Wednesday. I have graded more than 500 prospects for this class, close to double the 262 picks from Rounds 1 through 7. I’ll be on ESPN all weekend, and my grades for all 32 teams will be out late Saturday night.
Let’s get into my final 2022 mock draft, projecting all 32 first-round picks based on what I’m hearing and where I think prospects could come off the board. This is my first mock since Todd McShay and I went three rounds, alternating picks, so there are several changes. I didn’t project any trades here, but there undoubtedly will be a few. I just don’t see many teams willing to move up, so it’s tough to project them. Here’s how I see Round 1 as of now:
Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
This pick has been leaning in this direction for the past week. The Jaguars must prefer what Walker could be over what Aidan Hutchinson already is (and I think Hutchinson will get even better). Walker is my ninth-ranked prospect. It would be extremely hard for me to take a guy at No. 1 who had 9.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and one forced fumble in his entire three-year college career.
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
We’re going to be talking about Walker vs. Hutchinson for years to come. On my board, Hutchinson is the best prospect in this class. He dominated games in college, and he’s going to be a star for the Lions.
Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
I’ve heard the talk about the Texans liking cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., but this is just too high for him. Ekwonu is a safe pick, and he could move over to the right side with Laremy Tunsil playing left tackle.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
In this scenario, the Jets are in a great spot, with both top cornerbacks on the board and all of the wide receivers still available. Could they go corner here and then wide receiver at No. 10? Gardner has the ability to shut down one side of the field.
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
With two of the next three picks, the Giants have to come away with a starting right tackle. They should go ahead and take one here. Cross didn’t get many chances to show off his run blocking because of the pass-heavy Mississippi State offense, but I love his potential. And he could play right tackle on the other side of Andrew Thomas.
Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Panthers are likely going to try to trade down because they don’t have any Day 2 picks. Which team wants to trade up, though? That’s the issue — they have to find a partner in order to do so. This is too high for a quarterback, and they have a clear need at left tackle. Neal is a devastating run-blocker with quick feet as a pass protector.
Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
I have Kayvon Thibodeaux ranked higher than Johnson, but it’s close. Johnson had 12 sacks last season, showing great bend off the edge. He’d be a great fit in Don Martindale’s defense.
Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
I thought about Jordan Davis for the Falcons; he could be an immovable object in the middle of their defensive line. But their wide receiver depth chart is No. 32 in the league. They have to get better. Wilson can be their No. 1 immediately.
Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Seahawks could go in a few different directions here, but Stingley just seems like a Seattle type of defensive player. He doesn’t have the super long arms that Pete Carroll normally likes for defensive backs, but he is a ball hawk with great physical traits. Stingley played in only 10 games over the past two seasons, but I’d bet on his talent.
Drake London, WR, USC
The Jets get their big red zone target for Zach Wilson in the 6-foot-4 London. This is the best-case scenario for general manager Joe Douglas, who adds a top corner and top receiver to an ascending roster.
Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
If Washington wants to put Carson Wentz in a position to succeed, it could take Olave and pair him with another Ohio State receiver in Terry McLaurin. The Commanders’ defense has a lot of young talent, but the offense is lacking. Olave is great after the catch.
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Check out Chris Olave’s best moments in college that make him a top prospect in the 2022 NFL draft.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
This is a bit of a slide for Thibodeaux — my preseason No. 1 prospect — but he’d land in a great situation in Minnesota. And he wouldn’t have a ton of early pressure on him. He could play on the other side of Danielle Hunter.
Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Hamilton is my No. 4 prospect, but he’s likely to drop to this range because he ran a slower-than-expected 40-yard dash (4.59) and because teams just don’t value safeties as much as other positions. He’s a playmaker who could step in for Justin Reid, who left in free agency.
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
I thought about cornerback and offensive line here, but the Ravens have a real need in the middle of their defense. Davis is a 340-pound space eater with rare physical traits. Baltimore had success with a similar player in Haloti Ngata, who set the tone for some of the greatest defenses in NFL history.
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams would likely be the No. 1 receiver off the board if he didn’t tear the ACL in his left knee in the national title game in January. He’s explosive but might miss some time early in the season. This would mean back-to-back-to-back first-round receivers for the Eagles, who might just move on from Jalen Reagor.
Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
New Orleans made an interesting trade with the Eagles to get ahead of the Chargers, and it has to be for a tackle, right? Penning could step in and start at left tackle to replace Terron Armstead. He’s a great player.
Devin Lloyd, ILB, Utah
The Chargers would be extremely disappointed if the Saints took Penning; there’s not another tackle I’d take this high. Still, they have a need at off-ball linebacker, as 2020 first-rounder Kenneth Murray has disappointed. Lloyd is a playmaker who flies to the football.
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
This could be a defensive end, but the No. 2 corner spot on the other side of Darius Slay is a huge hole. McDuffie is a tough and physical corner with versatility.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
Here we go — the first quarterback. There just aren’t many teams excited about the signal-callers in this draft. The Saints have a bigger need at tackle, which is why I went that way at No. 16, but this is good value for Pickett, who could compete with Jameis Winston for the starting job.
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Steelers could get a quarterback and not have to trade up for him. I have Willis ranked just slightly over Pickett, and I think he has the highest ceiling of the guys in this class. He’s super talented with a huge arm. We know Mike Tomlin & Co. heavily scouted the passers last month.
Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan
What does Bill Belichick want from his defenders? Versatility. Hall played mostly as a slot corner last season and could help there for the Patriots. He ran a 4.38 40 at the combine and has long arms. This is a great fit. I also thought about cornerback Kaiir Elam, who would be more of a straight replacement for J.C. Jackson.
Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
With Lucas Patrick gone to Chicago in free agency, the Packers could address their hole at guard here. Green played everything but center for the Aggies and is a really good all-around player.
Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College
I know — back-to-back guards doesn’t really excite fans much, but Johnson is another player I really like. He was phenomenal at guard last season and took some snaps at center at the Senior Bowl. He’s strong and explosive.
Tyler Smith, OT/G, Tulsa
I thought about a wide receiver, but the Cowboys’ offensive line is aging. Smith would play right tackle in this scenario. He was a dominant pass-blocker in college, though he can get a little too physical at times; he was called for 12 penalties last season.
Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
I really struggled here because I wanted to give the Bills running back Breece Hall. I just can’t do it, though I’m going to be kicking myself if general manager Brandon Beane takes Hall. Ultimately, Beane could find a good back on Day 2. Buffalo’s need at corner is just too large to use a luxury pick here. Elam is a long, press-man corner with some ball skills.
0:53
Check out some of the best highlights from Iowa State RB Breece Hall’s college campaign.
Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
As I said in my two-round mock, the Titans need to get faster at receiver. Dotson is sure-handed and will make plays after the catch. And he could be moved all around the formation.
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
If either of the top two guards are still available, the Bucs could pick one. Wyatt also fits a hole next to Vita Vea, though. He went under the radar on the loaded Bulldogs’ defense, but he has some intriguing physical traits.
Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
Here you go, Aaron Rodgers. Here’s your first-round receiver. Watson is 6-foot-4 and ran a 4.36-second 40 at the combine. He averaged 20.2 yards per catch in his career for the Bison. He has a chance to develop into a true No. 1 wideout.
Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
How about a curveball here? The Chiefs could go with a cornerback with one of these two picks, but Moore is a good fit as a high-upside pass-catcher. He’s No. 35 overall on my Big Board, and at 5-foot-9, he could remind coach Andy Reid of Tyreek Hill. Moore doesn’t drop passes, and he makes defenders miss after the catch. And he ran a 4.41 40 at the combine.
Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
This was a toss up between Ebiketie and Boye Mafe, and you should know by now that Ebiketie is one of my favorite prospects in this class. He would help a Kansas City pass rush that needs much more production off the edge. He had 9.5 sacks after transferring from Temple last season.
George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
This pick was a late scratch, as I wanted to give the Bengals a top tight end in Trey McBride after they lost C.J. Uzomah in free agency. This is a little high for McBride, though, and the Bengals could get a tight end on Day 2. Cincinnati plays in a conference with great quarterbacks, and the value for Karlaftis is high here. He could be a rotational edge rusher in Year 1 as he grows into a starting spot.
Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Will any team trade into this spot to get a quarterback and the fifth-year option? Don’t rule it out. For Detroit, this pick is about improving a porous defense, and Cine is explosive, physical and could be a great center fielder.