The 2022 NFL Draft is coming soon, which means NFL teams can look to shore up their rosters and plug the holes in problematic areas. This is also where NFL legends start. So with that said, we are presenting TopBet’s mock draft and predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Widely considered as the best overall prospect in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft, Hutchinson will raise the defensive ceiling of a Jaguars team that needs help from almost every front.
2. Detroit Lions – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Another defensive piece goes off the board, with the Lions taking a safety in Hamilton. Detroit still has plenty of holes to address after a disastrous 2021 NFL season, and that includes their porous pass defense that ranked last with 7.6 yards allowed per reception.
3. Houston Texans – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The Texans also pick another secondary stud here, with the addition of Stingley out of LSU. As a true freshman in 2019, Stingley got the highest coverage grade in the nation from Pro Football Focus.
4. New York Jets – Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Thibodeaux used to be the consensus top prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft, so if he falls into the laps of the Jets here, he could be the steal of the first round. What Thibodeaux will bring to the Jets is explosive pass rush abilities
5. New York Giants – Charles Cross, T, Mississippi State
The jury is still out on Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, and 2021 could be his last shot at proving he is a long-term asset for the team. Getting someone like Cross, meanwhile, should help improve the Giants’ offensive line, which favors the team whether they stick to Jones or not beyond the 2022 NFL season.
6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu, T, NC State
Speaking of tackles, we got another one here in Ekwonu, whose specialty is jamming rushing lanes. He should be perfect for the Panthers, who allowed over 113 rushing yards per game in 2021. According to PFF, Ekwonu’s “18 big-0time blocks in the run game” were the most – by a mile – by any offensive lineman in the five major conferences.
7. New York Giants –Evan Neal, T, Alabama
The Giants shouldn’t just stop with Cross. Getting someone like Neal will further help ensure the future of the franchise’s offensive line. Pass protection has been a problem for some time now for the Giants. It’s just high time for them to fortify their o-line with elite talents.
8. Atlanta Falcons –Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Atlanta’s defense in 2021 had more holes than Swiss cheese. For their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Falcons can raise the ceiling of their stop unit by getting McDuffie, who’s a bit undersized but has shown the ability to wreak havoc downfield in breaking up passes. He gave up just 16 catches on 36 targets for a mere 111 yards in 2021.
The Legion of Boom era is now over in Seattle, but how about rebooting it, beginning with the acquisition of Gardner? The Cincinnati product was just a 3-star recruit (per 247 Sports) but he played bigger than that by not surrendering a touchdown in his college career even though he played as a starter for three years with the Bearcats.
10. New York Jets –George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
After taking Thibodeaux, the Jets plugs their defensive line with yet another highly touted pass rusher in Karlaftis, whose versatility would come in handy for New York. Karlaftis had 15 sacks in college.
Predictions for the rest of the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft
11. Washington Commanders – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
12. Minnesota Vikings – Drake London, WR, USC
13. Houston Texans – Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
14. Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Davis, DI, Georgia
15. Philadelphia Eagles –Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
16. New Orleans Saints – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
18. Philadelphia Eagles – Trevor Penning, T, Northern Iowa
19. New Orleans Saints – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
