Here it is, my official mock draft of the 2022 season. This is arguably one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent years and I am pumped for the many surprises that are ahead. All picks are based on team needs, interest, and purely what I think teams will do based on their draft tendencies. Enjoy!

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker EDGE – Georgia

I wanted to stick with what I have said all offseason and roll with Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson. But as draft day has approached, it seems that Georgia DE Travon Walker is the clear cut No. 1 overall pick. Although I believe Hutchinson is the better choice, Walker will still be an outstanding pick here. Walker can play every position on the defensive line. With his lateral speed and agility, he has become unstoppable against any o-lineman. Walker has the most upside in this draft and that will likely be the reason why he goes No. 1 overall.

2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson EDGE – Michigan

With the No. 2 pick, I have Detroit selecting the hometown kid Aidan Hutchinson. The former Michigan DE is a tremendous leader that has showcased great production throughout his career. He is a fearless rusher that constantly plays through the whistle. Hutchinson can play inside and EDGE at his size as a standup. His speed and fluid hands made him unbeatable and resulted in him being double-teamed almost every play. Dan Campbell should make the obvious decision here and keep the hometown kid in Michigan.

3. Houston Texans: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner CB – Cincinnati

Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner’s mentality, swagger, and athleticism makes him the perfect pick for Houston and Lovie Smith. Whether it be Gardner or LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr., Houston is certainly going CB here. The Texans simply need big-time players on their defense that can lock down the best receivers in the AFC South.

4. New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu OL – NC State

The New York Jets will be one of the most unpredictable teams in this year’s draft. I strongly believe that the Jets want to get Zach Wilson some help in order to successfully evaluate his sophomore season. NC State OL Ikem Ekwonu is the perfect pick here at No. 4. Ekwonu can play guard and tackle, making him versatile and a reliable pick here for the Jets. Plugging him in wherever they need an upgrade is the perfect scenario.

5. New York Giants: Evan Neal OT – Alabama

Snatching Alabama OT Evan Neal should be the obvious decision here at No. 5. Assuming no trades happen, the Giants should select the best OT available before the Panthers do at No. 6. Adding a 6-foot-7 OT like Neal will help Daniel Jones settle into the new offense under Brian Daboll. Jones is in the hot seat. If he doesn’t perform well behind an improved offensive line, that will be the determining factor of whether he’s released or not.

6. Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross OT – Mississippi State

There had been a lot of noise about Carolina taking Pitt QB Kenny Pickett at No. 6. The Panthers would love to improve at their QB position and replace Sam Darnold, but it’s not the biggest need. With Mississippi State OT Charles Cross falling to No. 6, I expect Carolina to run up the card on this one. The Panthers will likely trade back in this position, but addressing a hole on the offensive line here would not be a bad decision. Some say Cross is a reach here, while others believe he is potentially the best OT in this class.

7. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE – Oregon

The Giants will likely go OT and DE here at No. 5 and No. 7. With Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux falling, it is an obvious decision here. Thibodeaux’s length and versatility provides so much upside. He is an instant impact player that is being doubted constantly. Thibodeaux knows he has a lot to prove, and I expect him to come with a special mentality in his first season. Selecting Evan Neal and Kayvon Thibodeaux would be a home run for the New York Giants.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Malik Willis QB – Liberty

After the departure of veteran QB Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons opted for former Raiders QB Marcus Mariota. Mariota has spent several years as a backup, and I believe the move to add Mariota was just to be safe. At No. 8 is where I could see Liberty QB Malik Willis fly off the board. Similarly to the Giants, I believe Willis is the safest pick here despite having the need to fill the wide receiver position, along with many others. Willis is arguably the best QB in this class and has a cannon of an arm. His maturity and football IQ is off the charts, and I expect Willis to be the new fan favorite in Atlanta.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Jermaine Johnson II EDGE – Florida State

A roller coaster of an offseason inevitably led to the departure of former Seahawks franchise QB Russell Wilson and star veteran LB Bobby Wagner. At No. 9, I have the Seahawks opting for Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II. Teams have to address defensive ends in the draft, as they rarely come around in the offseason. Johnson II is an experienced rusher that brings energy that Pete Carroll will love. Jermaine’s stock shot up this offseason after an incredible Senior Bowl and great interviews, so I can easily see him taken off the board at No. 9.

10. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr. CB – LSU

The New York Jets remain in full rebuild mode after an up-and-down season in 2021. Zach Wilson elevated his leadership and solidified his place in the Jets offense. The Jets will continue to find form on offense, but in the 2022 NFL Draft I expect them to look toward adding more pieces on defense. New York is in serious need of a game changer on defense. Arguably the best cornerback in the draft is available here at No. 10. LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr. is the game changer that the Jets are looking for.

11. Washington Commanders: Garrett Wilson WR – Ohio State

With question marks surrounding Terry McLaurin and no sure WR2, I expect Washington to select Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson. The Commanders have met with WRs more than any other position, and I think they believe it’s a must to grab one here, especially due to how stacked this class is. Wilson is one of my favorite receivers in the past three to five years. His agility, speed, and route running is arguably the best in this entire draft class. Wilson and McLaurin would be one of the deadliest WR duos in the league.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Hamilton S – Notre Dame

The Vikings are a huge question mark at No. 12 overall. Needing an upgrade at every position in the secondary, I believe the Vikings will go with the best player available. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton has fallen down the board due to his testing numbers this offseason. Nonetheless, he is a generational talent at his size and position. Hamilton showcased some of the best athleticism this draft possesses throughout his career at ND. His ability to chase down a defender, make accurate angles, consistently tackle, and have smart decisions in coverage make him the obvious choice here at No. 12.

13. Houston Texans: Jameson Williams WR – Alabama

The Houston Texans are currently a lost cause and need improvements at every position. With this stacked WR class, I like Alabama WR Jameson Williams to be selected at No. 13. Houston needs a game changer and a for sure WR1 on offense. With two picks in the first round, it’s justified for them to take a gamble on a WR that is coming off a torn ACL in the national championship game. Houston will have several options, but Williams is a freakish athlete that can make plays with Davis Mills at QB. His route-running capabilities are unreal, which is why I believe he will make Mills look better than he is this upcoming season.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis DT – Georgia

The Baltimore Ravens love their defensive linemen. Known for their defense year after year, the Ravens continuously stack their defense with elite defenders. At No. 14, I expect the No. 1 DT to fall in their lap. Georgia DT Jordan Davis would be an elite pick here and would be an incredible combo alongside veteran Pro Bowler Calais Campbell. Davis is a tank at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds. His lateral quickness is unmatched across the line and is what makes him such a threat defensively.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Drake London WR – USC

The Eagles have extreme interest in every WR in this class. At No. 15, I believe selecting USC WR Drake London is a great option. London has potential to be the first WR off the board. Due to interest from certain teams, I like London to fall to No. 15. London is a 6-foot-4 receiver with insane reach and a consistent ability to catch the football, something the Eagles are in desperate need of. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts would love a reliable big body target, and the former USC WR is exactly that.

16. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave WR – Ohio State

The question marks surrounding the New Orleans Saints wide receiver core and star WR Michael Thomas are not good. Too much inconsistency and injury issues have caused far too many problems for the Saints offense. Ohio State WR Chris Olave can easily fix them all for New Orleans. Olave is arguably the most natural route runner with one of the best releases in this class. After opting to stay at OSU instead of the NFL Draft last year, Olave has gained valuable experience and now has even greater IQ at the position. New head coach Dennis Allen will love Olave’s leadership and instantly see him as a game changer in the Saints offense.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Trevor Penning OT – Northern Iowa

Chargers QB Justin Herbert has been a beast with a very mediocre offensive line. In this draft, I believe the Chargers will make the right move to finally solidify their offensive line. Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning is the right move here. Penning is regarded as one of the most fierce tackles in this class. Penning’s willingness to block and do everything he can for his QB doesn’t go unnoticed. The Chargers will love Penning’s consistency and reliability, making him an instant plug and play offensive tackle.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: Trent McDuffie CB – Washington

With the 15th and 18th picks overall, the Philadelphia Eagles are left with several options to address their defensive needs. Veteran cornerback Darius Slay is now 31 years old, and the Eagles have very little depth at the position. With Washington CB Trent McDuffie falling, I expect them to run up the card on this one. McDuffie is a versatile lockdown defender that can play slot and outside. His patience is elite, as well as his ball recognition. McDuffie made outstanding plays in his time with Washington and is an obvious pick here at No. 18.

19. New Orleans Saints: Daxton Hill DB – Michigan

This pick was a difficult one for me, as I believe the Saints could go multiple ways here. If Malik Willis is not on the board, I like the Saints to roll with Jameis Winston and select a defensive weapon. Michigan DB Daxton Hill is arguably the second-best safety in this class. Hill can play both corner and safety. I expect him to be willing to play both positions and plug in instantly wherever the Saints need him. New Orleans struggled with injuries in the secondary last year and is in need of an upgrade at safety. Hill will bring more speed and physicality to the Saints defense.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett QB – Pitt

The Steelers are the one team that is a lock to select a QB. I am not doing trades in this mock draft, but I expect the Steelers to trade up for either Pitt QB Kenny Pickett or Liberty QB Malik Willis. Willis will likely be off the board by No. 20, and for that reason I have the Steelers selecting Pickett. Keeping the hometown hero in Pittsburgh would be a great narrative. Mike Tomlin knows he has an elite defense and a team that can win in the AFC North, but he doesn’t want to spend years rebuilding. Pickett doesn’t have the most upside, but he is a player that can instantly start in this offense if Mitchell Trubisky doesn’t win the job.

21. New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd LB – Utah

Based on positional needs, there is a good chance Utah LB Devin Lloyd falls to the Patriots at No. 21. Lloyd’s superb athleticism will match perfectly in the Patriots defense. His versatility is what makes him a valuable pick and will probably be the reason why he goes off the board here. The Patriots have a bigger need at CB, but Lloyd’s value and production makes him arguably the best defensive player on the board at No. 21.

22. Green Bay Packers: Treylon Burks WR – Arkansas

The departure of Pro Bowler Davante Adams has left the Packers no choice but to select a WR with one of their first-round picks. A stacked WR class has fortunately left Green Bay with many options. Back-to-back MVP QB Aaron Rodgers is looking for another freakish athlete that can get open consistently. I’ve said this in all of my mock drafts and I believe Arkansas WR Treylon Burks has arguably the best film out of all WRs, but due to his combine numbers he will likely fall down the board. The Packers have kept in touch with Burks all offseason, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the pick here at No. 22.

23. Arizona Cardinals: Kenyon Green IOL – Texas A&M

The Cardinals’ incredible offense made flashy plays almost every week. But Cardinals QB Kyler Murray performed poorly in a select few games, mainly due to an overwhelming amount of pressure getting into the back field. Texas A&M’s Kenyon Green could help Murray tremendously. The Cardinals will have the option of putting Green anywhere they see fit, as Green played both tackle and guard in college. Green shows great patience when pass blocking and is fearless in run blocking, making him one of the best offensive linemen in this draft class.

24. Dallas Cowboys: George Karlaftis EDGE – Purdue

I expect Jerry Jones to look toward adding a defensive end in this upcoming draft, after the departure of Randy Gregory and the defensive end group getting older. This year, the edge rushers contain incredible versatility and maturity, making them arguably the best position group in this draft class. Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis is exactly who Dallas should be looking for. Karlaftis has great experience and stellar film, which are both extremely ideal, making him valuable and likely to be drafted in the middle of the first round.

25. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Booth CB – Clemson

The Buffalo Bills are another team that could go multiple ways at No. 25. I expect the Bills to go safety or cornerback here. Clemson CB Andrew Booth is a corner who has made stellar plays throughout his career. Booth knows he is being doubted and potentially looked at as the fifth/sixth-best CB. The Bills have kept continued interest in Booth, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they took a chance on him here. Booth is a former five-star recruit and is an outstanding athlete with great length.

26. Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson IOL – Boston College

After losing LG Rodger Saffold and right tackle David Quessenberry, the Tennessee Titans are now in the market for an offensive lineman. The Titans have met with several of the top offensive linemen, and at No. 26 I expect them to select Boston College IOL Zion Johnson. Johnson is a hard worker and strives every day to perfect his patience at the guard position. In the run game, he uses great pad level and showcases a strong frame, allowing him to bulldoze anyone in his path. Johnson needs a lot of work in pass protection, but I still believe he has upside and is the ideal replacement at the left guard position in Tennessee.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devonte Wyatt DT – Georgia

Veteran defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh and Steve McLendon are edging closer to the end of their careers. Their free agency status remains in question, which will inevitably affect Tampa Bay’s decisions in this year’s draft. The Buccaneers have met with defensive linemen more than any other position and have had extreme interest in Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt. There is a good chance Wyatt goes earlier than No. 27, but I like him to fall to the Buccaneers. Wyatt displayed freakish speed this offseason at the combine and has shown that he is one of the fastest defensive linemen in this draft class.

28. Green Bay Packers: Perrion Winfrey DT – Oklahoma

With Devonte Wyatt off the board, I like Green Bay to select Oklahoma DT Perrion Winfrey. Wyatt is better than Winfrey and will likely be gone when the Packers are on the clock. With DL being such a crucial need, I expect the Packers to reach for Winfrey here. Winfrey has great upside, which makes him a reasonable pick. His size and length is great, but his film and production is what may result in him falling down the board.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Jahan Dotson WR – Penn State

The departure of Pro Bowl WR Tyreek Hill has left Kansas City with no choice but to be in the market for a wide receiver. The Chiefs’ depth is very minimal and would not be enough to make it through a brutal AFC West division, even with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. Penn State WR Jahan Dotson is a 5-foot-11 receiver with abnormal reach for his size. He’s another receiver in this class that can absolutely “Moss” people and blow by the secondary. Whether it be Dotson or someone else, the Chiefs have to select a WR here or with the next pick.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Boye Mafe EDGE – Minnesota

Adding Minnesota DE Boye Mafe to a stacked defensive line group would make the Chiefs defense menacing. Frank Clark and Melvin Ingram are getting older and will need their contracts restructured eventually. Mafe at 6-foot-4 and 261 pounds contains abnormal athleticism to make up just another incredible edge rusher in this draft class. Clark and Ingram would pave the way for Mafe to be yet again another stellar defensive player for Kansas City. Mafe is too good to pass up here, despite DE potentially not being the biggest need for the Chiefs.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Lewis Cine S – Georgia

Bengals star safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III are entering their final seasons with Cincinnati. With uncertainty drawing near, the Bengals will have to address a secondary need. The next best safety available in my eyes is Georgia S Lewis Cine. Cine is a hard-hitting safety that takes tremendous cuts to the ball. He’s another freakish athlete from Georgia that has a great eye for the football. Cine can fit in any scheme and would be a versatile safety that can fit in for Bell and/or Bates.

32. Detroit Lions: Desmond Ridder QB – Cincinnati

The No. 32 pick is another one that will be filled with surprises. My gut tells me that a QB will be selected here for Detroit. Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder could go earlier than 32, but I like him to fall right into the Lions’ lap. Ridder is a mature QB with great upside. With Jared Goff as the starter, Ridder would be a great fit as a backup for a year or two. I believe Dan Campbell wants another option at QB just to be safe for the next several years. Ridder has surprised a lot of people and shot up his draft stock this past season after taking a trip to the College Football Playoff.