Thanks to the wildest free agent and trade carousel I can ever remember, we now have more clarity as to what teams will likely do in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft in late April.
The veteran quarterback market is nearly dried up -- outside of Jimmy Garoppolo and Baker Mayfield -- but there are still a few teams in need of young promising talent at that position.
Because we're about a month away from the actual draft, I've included a trade in in this mock. The Chargers and Giants agree to a deal, one that I posited earlier this week in a separate article. Here are the details.
Chargers get: No. 7 overall, 2023 sixth-round pick
Giants get: Los Angeles' 2022 first-round pick (No. 17 overall), 2023 first-round pick, 2023 fifth-round pick
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For now, keep reading to see how the first 32 picks play out.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Aidan Hutchinson
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
The Jaguars are going Hutchinson at No. 1 after franchising Cam Robinson. The Michigan star is an instant-impact type who can thrive on three downs.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 219 lbs
The Lions surprise the masses by picking a quarterback at No. 2. Willis can sit behind Jared Goff for a season then take over in 2023.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 272 lbs
Walker is an all-upside selection for the rebuilding Texans.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 200 lbs
Robert Saleh gets his large, fluid, physical alpha cornerback in Gardner.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Evan Neal
OL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 350 lbs
Neal is a mammoth human who carries 337 pounds as well as any human on this planet. He has All-Pro upside.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
We aren't quite sure what the Panthers are going to do at quarterback, but the offensive line has to be better regardless.
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Mock Trade from
New York Giants
Round 1 - Pick 7
Ikem Ekwonu
OL
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
The Chargers can't wait and hope a stud tackle falls to them, so they get aggressive and land Ekwonu to play right tackle for Justin Herbert.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
The Falcons are ecstatic to add a big, multi-dimensional playmaker to their defense.
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From
Denver Broncos
Round 1 - Pick 9
Kayvon Thibodeaux
EDGE
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
The Seahawks can't pass on the uber-talented Thibodeaux as he nearly falls out of the top 10.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 192 lbs
Wilson is the springy, well-rounded wideout the Jets have to add for Zach Wilson's development.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Olave's been on the draft radar for seemingly a decade, and he ran 4.39 at the combine. He's going early, and the Commanders have to give Carson Wentz more help.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Jermaine Johnson II
EDGE
Florida State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 262 lbs
Johnson has had a fine pre-draft process and was super-productive at Florida State in 2021. The Vikings give Danielle Hunter a running mate on the outside.
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From
Cleveland Browns
Round 1 - Pick 13
LSU
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Walker and Stingley equate to quite a first-round haul for the rebuilding Texans. Marquee talents at premier positions.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Jordan Davis
DL
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 336 lbs
Davis lands in a rightful place for him, Baltimore, whose defense is predicated on physically overwhelming its opponents.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
McDuffie is the perfect fit in the Eagles' zone-heavy defense.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Lloyd is the missile the Eagles need at the second level of the defense.
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Mock Trade from
Los Angeles Chargers
Round 1 - Pick 17
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
After the trade back, the Giants get Daniel Jones a big-bodied wideout who wins down the field and after the catch.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Burks would give the Saints offense a dynamic YAC complement to Michael Thomas.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
George Karlaftis
EDGE
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Karlaftis is ready to go on the edge in Philadelphia's defense. Fun pairing with Haason Reddick.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
The Steelers simply can't pass on Pickett here given the positional value. He'll be in a fun competition with Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph this summer.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
Dean is the cerebral, athletic, coverage-based linebacker Belichick will love to add to his defense.
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From
Las Vegas Raiders
Round 1 - Pick 22
Jahan Dotson
WR
Penn State
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 182 lbs
Dotson is the downfield speedster who runs sharp routes and can thrive with Aaron Rodgers.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 323 lbs
The Cardinals have to make improvements up front. Green is legitimately versatile and was battle-tested in the SEC for years.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 305 lbs
Linderbaum is one of the best center prospects we've seen in a long time. He falls a bit because of his shorter arms and the fact he was under 300 pounds at the combine.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 180 lbs
With the Jamison Crowder signing, the Bills can afford to wait for Williams to fully recover. Then Buffalo's offense will be loaded with receiving talent.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
Penning is the mauling type the Titans will love up front on their physical offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 199 lbs
Cine is the assert-his-will safety the Buccaneers prefer, and they just lost Jordan Whitehead in free agency.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Tyler Smith
OL
Tulsa
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 332 lbs
With Smith, the Packers get a high-upside blocker who can be groomed under David Bakhtiari.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 29
Kaiir Elam
CB
Florida
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 191 lbs
The Chiefs cornerback room is pretty barren right now beyond L'Jarius Snead. Elam has the length, speed, and SEC experience to be picked this high.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Boye Mafe
DL
Minnesota
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 261 lbs
Mafe is a rising prospect with an ascending skill set. His athletic profile screams first-round pick, and he uses his hands like a first-round pick too. The Chiefs add to the defense first, then plan to go receiver with one -- or both? -- of their second-round selections.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth is a springy, ballhawking cornerback who can thrive in zone or man with the Bengals.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
The Lions get a playmaking cornerback/safety for their secondary. Big need, and Hill is one of the most athletic players in the entire draft.
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