2022 NFL Mock Draft: Atlanta selects quarterback while Eagles, Giants punt on position for defensive players
Teams make a commitment to upgrade the protection of young quarterbacks
By
Josh Edwards
•
1 min read
The NFC East is a very interesting division this season because Philadelphia, New York and Washington could all conceivably be in the market for a quarterback depending on how the season plays out. In this exercise, three quarters of the division opted to bypass the position in favor of other positions. Which NFC team took the plunge? Find out below.
The draft order below was determined using SportsLine's Super Bowl odds through Week 3 but in reverse order.
Let's kick this off!
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Teams at the top of the draft order that do not have a need at quarterback give me peace of mind because I am not comfortable projecting one of these quarterbacks that early. New York pairs Carl Lawson with Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
My top three players are defensive backs and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Jacksonville loaded up on defensive backs last offseason, while Thibodeaux is off the board. Evan Neal has a great size profile and rare athletic traits to match, but I am not in the camp that thinks he is a slam dunk prospect just yet. The Jaguars need offensive line help and take one of the top talents.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Houston is one of the oldest teams in the league. They need young talent at every position. Derek Stingley Jr. makes more sense for them than Kyle Hamilton.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Detroit takes the top prospect on my board right now. Kyle Hamilton has a great feel for the game, and his body is already developed. The energy with which he plays suggests he loves the game, and that should endear himself to Dan Campbell.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Cincinnati has a wealth of playmakers, so now it is time to build the offensive line and defense. The interior offensive line receives a boost from a player with the versatility to play offensive tackle, though his best position is guard in my opinion.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
My quarterback order is far from cast in stone, but Atlanta is rebuilding and Carson Strong might be in the mold of what Arthur Smith is looking for out of a quarterback.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
New York continues to add diversified ability to that defensive front, allowing defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to be more creative.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
It is dangerous to lock in to one prospect for a team, but I feel like that has happened with DeMarvin Leal and Philadelphia in these early exercises.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 9
The board does not really set up well for the Giants. There is a comfort in building depth on defense. It also discourages poor cap decisions made on need. Adding Andrew Booth Jr. to a defensive backfield that already consists of Adoree Jackson, James Bradberry, Xavier McKinney and Jabrill Peppers makes that unit a strength.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Ron Rivera could have targeted a more dynamic quarterback with this pick, but I think he will value a more consistent option with good leadership skills.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
The secondary continues to be an issue for Minnesota. The organization has made a concerted effort to upgrade the unit but to little avail. Kaiir Elam is another dart throw. The Vikings have several needs along the offensive and defensive lines as well.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 12
Ahmad Gardner steps into the building as a viable long-term addition to the defense. Philadelphia has Steven Nelson and Darius Slay currently, so it is reasonable to suggest Gardner could be afforded the chance to learn at his own pace before being thrust into the starting lineup.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Was Henry Ruggs' touchdown reception a sign of his budding production or a flash in the pan? Adding a reliable performer like Chris Olave takes some of the pressure off of Darren Waller. From Michael Thomas to Terry McLaurin, Ohio State receivers have made big contributions in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Indianapolis brought veteran Eric Fisher in as a tourniquet after the retirement of Anthony Castonzo. Zion Nelson is a physical specimen who few can match. I think he has a lot of untapped potential, and the Colts saw a similar narrative in last year's first-round pick -- Kwity Paye.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Carolina has done a good job of scheming receivers open for Sam Darnold, and that has allowed him to get the ball out quickly and build confidence. The next step is to build a fortress around him. Zion Nelson is a good start.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
It is hard to fathom that Pittsburgh will ride with any quarterback on its roster beyond this season. The defense is so good, and the offense is squandering a real opportunity to compete. I am honestly not sold on Spencer Rattler just yet, but short of trading for a veteran (and that's tough to do being so far down in the draft order), the Steelers have to take what they can get.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Brandon Staley's fingerprints are all over the current installment of the Chargers defense, but it would be fun for Joey Bosa to have a Robin to his Batman again. The organization saves on moving expenses by investing local.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Part of me thinks Bill Belichick believes he can win with just about anyone at wide receiver; that is the only thing that makes sense investing so much in Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne. Another part of me understands that the team already used a first-round pick on N'Keal Harry and traded a second-round pick for Mohamed Sanu. He could be gun shy after those attempts failed, but I have seven months to come to that verdict.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Tennessee bypasses on a chance to fix its mistake of drafting Isaiah Wilson to bolster the interior offensive line with Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
I am on the fence on whether or not Sean Payton might consider taking a quarterback. Instead, I will take the pass catcher. The relationship between Michael Thomas and the organization is on unstable ground. If that partnership comes to an end, the Saints have an even more pressing need at the position.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Bradley Chubb has been unable to stay healthy and, to the dismay of Denver fans, Von Miller's run is going to come to an end sooner rather than later. He is making a king's ransom, and his performance will not match the financial commitment eventually.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
I was interested to see how Neville Gallimore had improved this offseason, but an elbow injury prolonged that exposure. The defensive tackle rotation has some solid young depth pieces, but they need a starter.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
I am projecting Darian Kinnard to play inside and pave the way for Kyler Murray up front. He has been a road grader in recent years but is gaining more and more comfort in pass protection with a new offensive scheme in Lexington.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 24
There has been an emphasis on surrounding Zach Wilson with offensive talent. I believe they have some good foundational pieces on that side of the ball. If they can add Kayvon Thibodeaux and Trent McDuffie to go along with Quinnen Williams and Carl Lawson, then no one has to answer the question of whether they should have devoted more assets to either cornerback or edge rusher.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Cleveland could conceivably retain Jadeveon Clowney and draft Aidan Hutchinson. They are not shy to take a position where they already have some players. Greg Newsome was taken in the first round when they already had Denzel Ward, Troy Hill and Greedy Williams.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
The Jace Sternberger experiment came to an end one year after the Jimmy Graham version. Green Bay does not have a dynamic player at the position. Jalen Wydermyer would be a welcomed addition for Jordan Love...possibly?
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Baltimore's hand was forced when Orlando Brown Jr. demanded a trade, and the aftermath of that decision has been underwhelming play. A strength has morphed into a weakness in short order. Jaxson Kirkland provides more stability moving forward.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 28
Barring a positive development from Austin Jackson, Miami will have to look itself in the mirror at the end of the season and realize this just is not working. If the Dolphins want to stick with Tua Tagovailoa, then they need to put him in a position to achieve that success.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 29
With its first pick, Detroit added Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. The Lions have several needs, and I honestly do not believe quarterback is chief among them. Assets should be filtered to the wide receivers and defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Buffalo builds depth at cornerback and provides another option opposite Tre'Davious White.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Tampa Bay's thought process is preparing for the future rather than the present. The selection of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was made with the understanding that he would eventually take over for Jason Pierre-Paul. Devin Lloyd gives them an eventual replacement for Lavonte David.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Kansas City adds some flash off the edge in the form of Adam Anderson.
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