2022 NFL Mock Draft: Washington, Broncos and Lions land quarterbacks; six receivers go in Round 1
Malik Willis makes his first appearance in Ryan Wilson's mock draft
By
Ryan Wilson
•
1 min read
Last week, it was Sam Howell sneaking into Round 1. This time, it's Malik Willis, who has been a favorite of the media mock-draft community for months. And while there's much to like about Willis' game, we haven't yet seen enough to be convinced that he's a slam-dunk first-round pick. A lot of that is because we have to project where he'll be in 2-3 years, which isn't that different to the conversations we were having about Josh Allen coming out of Wyoming. That said, if Willis balls out against Ole Miss on Saturday -- against Matt Corral, no less (and we've had Corral as the first QB drafted in recent mock drafts) -- then that will certainly change the conversation, and along with it, his draft stock.
Elsewhere in the first round, the aforementioned Corral again finds his way to Washington while the Broncos take a flier on Carson Strong, who would be our QB1 if there weren't concerns about his knee (and depending on how his medicals play out, could end up out of Round 1 altogether). And that's it -- three first-round quarterbacks in a year when we have questions about all of them. Put another way: If this group came out last year, the first one off the board would be QB6 after Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Justin Fields and Mac Jones.
Alright, let's get to all 32 picks, which this week includes six wide receivers.
One other thing, and this is important: the draft order below was determined using SportsLine's Super Bowl odds but in reverse order. We know folks are going to be very angry about why we have their team picking so high but it's not our fault. These are your team's current odds of winning a Lombardi Trophy.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Addressing the offensive line could be an option here but the Jets have four of the first 75 picks in this draft, so instead of overthinking it, they'll take Thibodeaux here. He battled an ankle injury early in the season but has since proven that he's just about unstoppable when he's on the field -- to the point that it's almost unfair.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Evan Neal is the best offensive lineman in this class (though Tyler Linderbaum has made his case) and the Jags need to protect Trevor Lawrence. They have RT Jawaan Taylor, but Cam Robinson is in the final year of his current deal.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
The Texans' defense has been replacement-level this season, according to Football Outsiders, but the secondary could use an infusion of youth, especially with Desmond King and Vernon Hargreaves possibly entering free agency after the season. Stingley is CB1, even if he doesn't play another snap for LSU this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
If there was a QB worth taking in the top five, the Lions would be all over it here. Unfortunately, this class doesn't have a clear-cut franchise passer so the Lions will have to look elsewhere to fill that need. Hutchinson, isn't a bad consolation prize. He's had a huge season for the Wolverines and immediately improves Detroit's defense against both the pass and the run.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
The Giants have young safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love, but that doesn't mean there isn't room in the secondary for Kyle Hamilton, too. He's a 6-4, 220-pound version of Ed Reed -- a sideline-to-sideline ballhawk -- and that makes him a Day 1 impact player.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 6
Originally a defensive end, Leal, at 6-foot-4, 290, has the versatility and athleticism to play up and down the line, and that versatility would be welcome in Philly, where the Eagles' defense has been a bottom-third-in-the-league unit, according to Football Outsiders.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Ryan Fitzpatrick is hurt and Taylor Heinicke has struggled with consistency. Corral has been both spectacular and tough this season for Ole Miss, most recently on Saturday night against Auburn. He has the tools to be a Josh Allen-type quarterback but he's still incredibly raw and will likely need some time to grow into the starting role at the next level.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
The Eagles are on track for three first-rounders, and if they don't package some (or all) of those picks for a QB, addressing the defense would be smart. Booth could end up being one of the best cornerbacks to come out of Clemson in recent years, and he's proven that at points during the '21 season.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 9
We love Tyler Linderbaum here -- and we've had him going to the Giants in this spot in recent weeks -- but New York has several needs along the offensive line, and Green, who lined up at left guard last season and has played every offensive position during his career, would bring both nastiness and versatility to NYC.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Ekwonu is a monster, and more importantly, beefs up a Jets offensive line that has struggled to protect Zach Wilson. Ekwonu lines up at left tackle for the Wolfpack, and while some people think his future may be inside, he could be dominant on the outside in the NFL, too. Wherever he lines up, he'll be the favorite to lead the NFL in pancake blocks.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Carson Strong is our QB1 but with one pretty big asterisk: His draft status is all going to come down to the medicals on a knee injury he suffered in high school, which is why we have Matt Corral going ahead of him in this mock draft. That said, Strong is the most consistent QB in this draft class and the Broncos need to upgrade the position, either through free agency or trade, or the draft.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Quarterback makes all the sense in the world here, especially now that the Panthers appear to be out of the running for Deshaun Watson. But again, if Corral and Strong are already off the board, Carolina will have to reach for a passer here. Instead, they bolster the offensive line. Linderbaum is one of the best O-linemen in the country, and while going 12th overall might seem high for a center, a) Linderbaum is that good, b) the Panthers can move on from 32-year-old Matt Paradis after the season.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
A.J. Terrell and Isaiah Oliver have been solid in coverage this year but Oliver has battled injuries and he's also in the final year of his deal. Elam has the size (6-foot-2, 190) and athleticism to be one of the best draft-eligible corners in '21.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Same as last week, mostly because while the Pats have needs along the O-line and the secondary, they also need to give Mac Jones a legit downfield threat, something this offense has lacked for years. Wilson and Chris Olave both have been unstoppable for Ohio State and those traits will transfer to the next level.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
The Steelers, like a lot of teams, really, really need a QB. And we've had them taking Corral and Strong in previous mock drafts. But with both players gone, Pittsburgh upgrades the offensive line, which has improved over the first half of the season but could use a stud on the outside, and Cross has that kind of potential.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
Dean plays with the type of urgency and physicality that has been lacking at times in the middle of this Eagles defense. And while Dean's playing on the best defense in the country, don't be fooled -- he's not riding on the coattails of a dominant defensive line -- he's been a huge reason for its success.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 17
Tua could use some playmakers, sure, but this Dolphins defense has been surprisingly bad and upgrading the D-line wouldn't be a bad move here. Karlaftis, who reminds us of AJ Epenesa, has flashed this season for Purdue. And while injuries and the pandemic saw him play limited snaps in '20, he was nearly impossible to stop in '19 when he recorded 17 TFLs and had 7.5 sacks.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
The team has already parted ways with 2020 first-rounder Jeff Gladney, and Patrick Peterson is on a one-year deal. Wide receiver could also be an option here but stockpiling defensive backs is never a bad strategy, and McCreary, who has gotten better each year against some of the best WRs in the country, is having a great season for the Tigers.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Rookie first-rounder Alex Leatherwood has been moved to guard (in part, due to injuries) and should the move be permanent, the Raiders could use a tackle and Kirkland's athleticism makes him an interesting middle-of-the-first-round option for teams looking to improve up front.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
The Saints' passing offense hasn't been nearly as explosive without Drew Brees and Michael Thomas. The good news is that Thomas will return at some point, though, and the Jameis Winston injury adds another wrinkle. But if New Orleans passes on a QB here, targeting a savvy, big-play wideout would be logical and Olave fits that description.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Think about this: The Bengals don't have a ton of needs! And while DJ Reader has been one of Cincy's best players, Larry Ogunjobi is in the final year of his deal, and more importantly, Davis has consistently been a one-man wrecking crew for Georgia.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
London, who was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing USC season before going down with a season-ending ankle injury, isn't going to run a 4.3 but he's a high-point-catch machine who can take over games. In Cleveland, Odell Beckham still doesn't look to be fully recovered from a knee injury and who knows what his future will be with the team. Jarvis Landry is still a go-to target, but after that, only second-year player Donovan Peoples-Jones and rookie Anthony Schwartz are under contract.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Joey Bosa has been his usual dominating self but he could use a bookend edge rusher now that Melvin Ingram is in Pittsburgh. Enagbare is a twitched-up athlete who flashes every week, and will only get better with more reps and added muscle.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
The Titans' defense has been better in '21 but there's still room for improvement, especially in the middle of the unit. Lloyd is a twitchy, sideline-to-sideline player who fits the mold of off-ball linebackers we've seen coming into the league the last 7-8 years.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Even though McDuffie plays cornerback, we get Tyrann Mathieu vibes when we watch him. We love him as a slot corner who serves as an enforcer in run support and locks down short and intermediate routes, though he has been balling out on the outside for the Huskies this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
The defense really has been a pleasant surprise -- in part because Dallas stocked up on that side of the ball in the '21 draft -- which is why the team targets wide receiver here (also worth noting: Michael Gallup and Cedrick Wilson could be free agents in the spring).
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Jameson Williams had just 15 receptions in his previous two seasons though he averaged more than 17.5 yards per catch. That was when he was still at Ohio State, where he had to leave to get more playing time. Now at Alabama, and in a post-DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle world, Williams has been way better than advertised -- to the point that it's hard to wrap your brain around the idea that he had to transfer (to 'Bama!) to get playing time. But through eight games, Williams has 35 catches and six touchdowns, all while averaging a whopping 20.3 yards per reception. We think Aaron Rodgers can work with that.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Darian Kinnard is a mauler who plays with an edge and he can wreak havoc as both a run and pass blocker. He may have to kick inside at the next level but his ability to open holes in the running game make him an immediate asset for this Cardinals offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jameson Williams had just 15 receptions in his previous two seasons though he averaged more than 17.5 yards per catch. That was when he was still at Ohio State, where he had to leave to get more playing time. Now at Alabama, and in a post-DeVonta Smith/Jaylen Waddle world, Williams has been way better than advertised -- to the point that it's hard to wrap your brain around the idea that he had to transfer (to 'Bama!) to get playing time. But through eight games, Williams has 35 catches and six touchdowns, all while averaging a whopping 20.3 yards per reception. We think Aaron Rodgers can work with that.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 30
This is the first time all fall Willis has made an appearance in our mock draft. So what changes? It's mostly due to the end-of-week expectations. Specifically, if he balls out against Ole Miss on Saturday he will have made a good case for why he deserves to be in the first-round conversation. If he's something less than that, or if Matt Corral (assuming he's healthy) clearly outplays him, then those questions will remain. And for us, that means a likely Day 2 grade. But don't misunderstand: We like a lot about Willis' game, and the toughest part of the evaluation is projecting what type of player he'll be in 2-3 years. But right now, he hasn't done enough to merit going early in Round 1.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
The Bills have the NFL's best defense, according to the advanced stats, but there isn't much depth behind Tre White and Taron Johnson. Kendrick is a first-round pick all day long, and he's proven that again this season with Georgia after transferring from Clemson. The biggest issue for NFL teams will be off-field issues; if Kendrick has matured since his time with the Tigers, he'll be worthy of a top 32 selection all day long.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
WR isn't a huge need but Antonio Brown is on a one-year deal and the Bucs will have to make a decision on Chris Godwin, whom they franchised last offseason. Ross, meanwhile, missed the 2020 season because of a neck injury but he was on track to be a first-round pick. He's showed glimpses this season of what makes him special -- consistently winning at the top of the route, reliable hands, and his ability to high-point throws over defenders helpless to do much about it -- on an offense that has sputtered without Trevor Lawrence.
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