The Panthers have to get their quarterback situation right. Sam Darnold isn't it. The Cam Newton reunion was nice, but at his age, he's of course not the long-term answer. Malik Willis can be that guy.
The usual suspects at quarterback land inside the top half of this first round, and I snuck an under-the-radar passer into this mock to a team that has to address the position in the offseason.
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One other thing, and this is important: we're using the 2022 NFL Draft order (via tankathon) to determine selections 1-32 below.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Evan Neal
OL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 350 lbs
Neal is the best offensive tackle with the highest upside in this class given his size and athleticism. The Jaguars have to build their offensive front.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
Hutchinson feels like a Dan Campbell type. He's big, physical, with good pass-rush moves. He'll be welcomed locally coming from Michigan.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
Davis Mills was plenty good enough as a rookie to keep the Texans from going quarterback here. They need another rusher on defense opposite Jonathan Greenard.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
Given that he's super young and has ultra-smooth athleticism, Cross has major upside and the Jets need to shore up their blocking unit in front of Zach Wilson.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
Crazy, early right? Not really. Whoever the next coach is for the Giants will want his pick at quarterback, and he'd get the pick of litter in this scenario. Pickett erupted in his final season at Pittsburgh and is from New Jersey.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 219 lbs
Sam Darnold is not the guy, Panthers. Willis has a rocket arm and insane athleticism but just needs time to fine-tune his decision-making skills.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 7
Ikem Ekwonu
OT
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Quarterback with the first pick, franchise right tackle with the second selection, and suddenly things are starting to look up for the Giants offensively.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
LSU
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Give me A.J. Terrell and Derek Stingley in the same secondary. The Falcons go defense instead of receiver here.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
The Broncos have to address linebacker, regardless of who the next coach is. Dean is a cerebral lightning bolt on the field.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
The Jets get a magnificent playmaker in Hamilton at No. 10 overall. Awesome news for Robert Saleh.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Matt Corral
QB
Ole Miss
• Soph
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
This selection would make for a fun quarterback competition between Corral and Taylor Heinicke in training camp. They have similar skill sets.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 192 lbs
Wilson will provide Justin Jefferson a running mate on the perimeter in Minnesota.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Olave is a polished receiver who'd help get the most out of Baker Mayfield.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 200 lbs
Gardner is a nasty in-your-face cornerback who'll immediately man the outside cornerback role in Baltimore's blitz-happy, man-coverage scheme.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 305 lbs
Going from Jason Kelce to Linderbaum would be the natural progression at center for the Eagles.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth is lightning quick and has tremendous ball skills. Nice combination for a cornerback.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
David Ojabo
LB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 265 lbs
Ojabo is raw, but man, his wins are of the All-Pro variety already because of his bend and burst.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Burks is a bully on the perimeter with high-end YAC abilities because he's not stiff and is a load to bring to the turf.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Karlaftis is a grown man up front with a complete skill set. He'll replace Derek Barnett in Philadelphia.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 207 lbs
Ridder is a super-experienced, successful quarterback from a smaller school with good improvisational ability and good arm talent. Sound like anybody the Steelers have had at quarterback?
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Kaiir Elam
CB
Florida
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 191 lbs
Elam is a long press man specialist, perfect for Bill Belichick's defense.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 22
Central Michigan
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 303 lbs
Rainmann is a former tight end who had high-quality film at Central Michigan and has legit NFL offensive tackle length and size.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
McDuffie is a versatile chess piece who can man multiple positions in the Raiders defense that still needs work.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
London is a silky smooth big man who stars when the ball is thrown a few feet above his head.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 323 lbs
Green can play any spot up front and does so with balanced power. Good idea for the Joe Burrow-led Bengals.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Auburn
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 190 lbs
McCreary gets it done with awesome technique and stellar football IQ. The Bills could use more reinforcement in their secondary.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 27
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Lloyd is a rocket on the field and would bring a fast, physical presence to the Lions defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
David Bell
WR
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 212 lbs
Bell accumulated nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in the past three seasons at Purdue. He's not an athletic marvel but does everything well. This would be a Michael Gallup replacement.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
San Diego State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 267 lbs
Thomas produced more as his career progressed at San Diego State. He's the long, high-motor edge rusher Kansas City needs.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Hill was a monster recruit for the Wolverines and played up to the expectations as a safety-slot cornerback hybrid with serious quicks and ball skills.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
Penning is a tall, well-built, athletic blocker ready to rise boards after the Senior Bowl. The Titans have to work on the offensive front this offseason.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Logan Hall
DL
Houston
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 283 lbs
The Packers love long, oversized, multi-faceted defensive linemen and that's precisely what Hall is.
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