The Jets have plenty of needs, and offensive line and secondary are chief among them. Equipped with two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, New York can grab two elite-level talents in the top half of Round 1 (or in the top 10, depending on how the Seahawks finish the season).
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are going to be on the move this offseason, right? Let's assume a specific landing spot for one of them, which of course would alter that team's draft priorities.
Keep reading to see how the entire first round unfolds.
One other thing, and this is important: we're using the 2022 NFL Draft order (via tankathon) to determine selections 1-32 below.
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
We're entering "this is a lock" territory with Hutchinson and the Lions. Edge rusher is a need, and he's an elite prospect.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Ikem Ekwonu
OT
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
This should be trade-down central for the Jaguars. But without trades at this juncture, I have them addressing left tackle. It's a major need.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
The Texans could literally pick any of the elite prospects in this class, and I'd be fine with it. They have holes galore on their roster.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Stingley is too good of a cornerback prospect for the secondary-needy Jets to hope he lasts until they pick later in Round 1.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 5
Matt Corral
QB
Ole Miss
• Soph
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
Seems high, right? Well I have a feeling the Daniel Jones experiment will come to an end after this season, and a new GM will want his quarterback. Corral does have legitimate upside.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
I love the quarterback-tackle pairing for the Giants with back-to-back selections. Cross is headed for a big ascension during the pre-draft process. He's super smooth.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 7
Evan Neal
OL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 350 lbs
I've mocked Neal to the Jets with their first selection for a while but this is the smarter course of action. Neal hasn't been downright dominant, but he has dominant traits at his size. The protection of Zach Wilson is the most important element of Year 2 of the Robert Saleh era.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
Carolina is going to be all over the veteran quarterback market this offseason. If the Panthers don't land Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, or Aaron Rodgers, they'll turn their sights to Pickett.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
The Falcons desperately need offensive line help, but there's a case to be made that a playmaker on defense is just as vital of an addition. Hamilton can instantly boost Atlanta on that side of the ball.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 10
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Karlaftis is an alpha rusher with an NFL body, serious athleticism, and top-10 type productivity. He'd be an instant starter in Philadelphia in 2022.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 305 lbs
Hello, perfect segue from Jason Kelce at center in Philadelphia.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth has immense ball skills and the feet to stay with slippery wideouts on the outside in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
I feel like the Saints are going to land one of the big fish on the veteran quarterback market this offseason (see: Wilson, Russell), which would signal them needing more playmakers at receiver, and Burks is a beast.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Lloyd is a ferocious second-level defender with a massive tackling radius. He'd instantly help the Raiders defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
The Steelers have to get better against the pass at linebacker, and Dean is an impact player against the pass and run.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
David Ojabo
LB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 265 lbs
Ojabo has some things to learn as a rusher, like to more efficiently use his hands, but the athleticism and hustle are first-round caliber.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 200 lbs
Garnder is a physical outside cornerback with the twitch to run with separators immediately in the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 192 lbs
The Browns have a difficult decision at quarterback, but that won't come until after the 2022 season is complete. In the meantime, they get Baker Mayfield a supreme talent at receiver.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Back to the Ohio State well for the Football Team with the hyper-polished Olave to run routes alongside Terry McLaurin.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 323 lbs
Home-run selection for the Bills as Green has positional flexibility but is a masher at the guard position.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 21
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 200 lbs
The Eagles will probably need to address the safety spot early in the 2022 draft, and Brisker is one of the steadier defensive backs in the entire class.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 22
Washington
• Fr
• 6'7"
/ 328 lbs
The Dolphins' offensive line investment continues. It has to. Kirkland got worked over a bit by Hutchinson but otherwise was outstanding in 2021 for the Huskies.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
Penning is a tall, athletic mauler who'd slide in wonderfully to the right side of Los Angeles' offensive line.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 24
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 219 lbs
I'll actually be surprised if the Lions are able to nab Willis here -- his talent is too tantalizing -- but if there's a scenario in which he's available, Detroit needs to jump all over the opportunity to draft him.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Jordan Davis
DL
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 336 lbs
This is about as high as Davis will go, and no team will better utilize the oversized run-stuffing monster than the Ravens.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
London can fill the void left by the likely departure of Michael Gallup on the outside for the Cowboys. More weaponry for Dak Prescott.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Kyler Gordon
DB
Washington
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 200 lbs
Gordon is a twitchy playmaker on the outside who had seven pass breakups and two picks this season at Washington. He'd start immediately in Kansas City.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
The Cardinals have to add more youth to their secondary, and McDuffie can play multiple positions and thrive with Vance Joseph.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Penn State
• Soph
• 6'3"
/ 241 lbs
Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown are free agents at season's end, and Smith, who flies around the field, has been a steady producer for Penn State for years.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Logan Hall
DL
Houston
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 283 lbs
Given the ages of Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, and Jason Pierre-Paul, the Bucs have to get younger up front on defense. Hall is disruptive from multiple spots.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Florida State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 262 lbs
Matthew Judon has been tremendous around the corner for the Patriots, but New England could use more youthful reinforcements behind him.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Central Michigan
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 303 lbs
The Packers could use some more youth up front, and Raimann has major upside because of his length and inherent athleticism.
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