The 2022 NFL Draft is a little more than a month away. This year’s draft is unique in that it lacks the star power of previous years. Moreover, NFL analysts and fans seem to be in agreement that there are no players up for selection who are “locks” to be successful in the league. While these factors can make mock drafts slightly more difficult, they also add a new element of ambiguity to the draft with respect to who will be taken in the first round. Without further ado, here are my choices for the first 32 picks:

Sidenote: Picks saying (via Team) indicate that the selecting team acquired the pick from the team in parentheses.

1st – Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson (Edge Rusher), Michigan

“With the first pick in the 2022 NFL, the Jacksonville Jaguars select” Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Rusher, Michigan. Hutchinson is a surefire pick at No. 1. His impressive strength and speed were impossible to miss last season as he led the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff Berth. 

2nd – Detroit Lions: Evan Neal (Offensive Tackle), Alabama

Regardless of who the starting quarterback is for the Lions next season, the offensive line needs work. Neal is a monster at 6’7” and 350 pounds. He will make an impact on Day 1.  

3rd – Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton (Safety), Notre Dame

The 2022 draft class lacks “freak” athletes. Kyle Hamilton, however, is a freak. Although safeties are generally not a high-pick-position, Hamilton is hard to pass up. 

4th – New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux (Edge Rusher), Oregon

Thibodeaux is essentially a less-developed Aidan Hutchinson. His floor is lower, but his ceiling is higher. 

5th – New York Giants: Ickey Ekwonu (Offensive Tackle), N.C. State

The Giants have failed Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones for years by not providing a good line. If the organization wants to continue to build around those pieces, that needs to change now.

6th – Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross (Offensive Tackle), Mississippi State

Just like the Giants, the Panthers are in dire need of offensive line improvements. Sam Darnold was a disaster in his own right, but Christian McCaffrey needs help. 

7th – New York Giants (via Chicago Bears): Devin Lloyd (Linebacker), Utah

Devin Lloyd is a man. He has incredible athleticism and is extremely physically imposing on the field. He will be a massive upgrade for a poor Giants interior.

8th – Atlanta Falcons: Nakobe Dean (Linebacker), Georgia

The Falcons have a lot of issues. Taking the leader of Georgia’s National Championship defense will solve some of them, but there is still a ton of work to do.

9th – Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Malik Willis (Quarterback), Liberty

The Seahawks are the first team to select a quarterback in an underwhelming year of prospects. Willis is a bit of a question mark, particularly considering his subpar competition in college. However, he has a massive ceiling and is worth the risk for a rebuilding team in Seattle. 

10th – New York Jets (via Seattle Seahawks): Derek Stingley (Cornerback), LSU

Stingley battled with injuries throughout his career at LSU. However, he has the chance to be a generational talent if he can stay on the field in the pros.

11th – Washington Commanders: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (Cornerback), Cincinnati

With the franchise’s first selection under the new name the “Commanders,” Washington selects Sauce Gardner. Washington’s defensive front is excellent, but the secondary needs help. Gardner did not give up a single touchdown in his career at Cincinnati.

12th – Minnesota Vikings: George Karlaftis (Edge Rusher), Purdue

Karlaftis was overshadowed in college by his Big 10 counterpart Aidan Hutchinson. However, Karlaftis is an absolute mammoth of a man with incredible power off the edge.

13th – Houston Texans: Garret Wilson (Wide Receiver), Ohio State

The first wide receiver taken in the draft is Garret Wilson. The Buckeye product will make an instant impact with his massive catch radius, 4.38 speed, and impressive athleticism. 

14th – Baltimore Ravens: Travon Walker (Edge Rusher), Georgia

The second Georgia defender to come off the board, Walker will fill the massive gap felt by the Ravens last year in the absence of Matt Judon. 

15th – Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami Dolphins): Trent McDuffie (Cornerback), Washington

Philadelphia’s secondary has fallen off in recent years. McDuffie will turn that around. He allowed just 16 catches in all of last season. 

16th – Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis Colts): Treylon Burks (Wide Receiver), Arkansas

The Eagles are notorious for picking receivers in the first round who turn out to be busts. Nonetheless, they need an upgrade at the position and Burks has great value at No. 16.

17th – Los Angeles Chargers: Jordan Davis (Defensive Tackle), Georgia

Davis is quite literally immovable on the interior. If all he does is stand still, he will make an impact against the run game. 

18th – New Orleans Saints: Matt Corral (Quarterback), Ole Miss

It’s time for the Saints to start thinking about the future. Even if Jameis Winston gives them a few solid years, having Corral as a backup will be very beneficial. Plus, he played college ball locally and will be a fan-favorite instantly.  

19th – Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Linderbaum (Offensive Guard), Iowa

Iowa produces excellent NFL players. Linderbaum will likely follow suit, providing Jalen Hurts with some much-needed help along the offensive line.

20th – Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett (Quarterback), Pittsburgh

Mitch Trubisky is not a good quarterback, so the Steelers will be searching for a replacement. Locals watched Pickett play college football in the Steelers stadium, and they will welcome him back to Heinz Field in the black and yellow.

21st – New England Patriots: Chris Olave (Wide Receiver), Ohio State

Mac Jones needs a WR1. Olave has excellent speed (4.39), great hands, and perhaps the best route running in the entire draft class. Moreover, he is a standout on special teams, an asset that will appeal to Bill Belichick. 

22nd – Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas Raiders): Drake London (Wide Receiver), USC

Davante Adams has left for the Raiders. Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Allen Lazard are free agents. Aaron Rodgers, however, is coming back, and he will need immediate assistance at the wide receiver position. 

23rd – Arizona Cardinals: Trevor Penning (Offensive Tackle), Northern Iowa

Penning is one of the biggest question marks in the class because, while physically dominant, he played for Northern Iowa. If the Cardinals can help translate his skills to the NFL, he will be a much-needed tackle for Kyler Murray.

24th – Dallas Cowboys: David Ojabo (Edge Rusher), Michigan

Ojabo needs development, but he has great potential at the edge position. He could become a nightmare beside Micah Parsons on a Cowboys team that is a defense away from a Super Bowl.

25th – Buffalo Bills: George Pickens (Wide Receiver), Georgia

Prior to suffering an ACL tear in March of last year, Pickens’s name was floated around as a top 10 pick. The injury set him back slightly, but he was able to return to the Bulldogs during their playoff championship run. His large size and speed will be a great fit for a Bills team looking to replenish their wide receiver corps after losing Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders.

26th – Tennessee Titans: Jahan Dotson (Wide Receiver), Penn State

The Titans had a poor passing attack last year outside of AJ Brown. While this team will always be run-first behind Derrick Henry, having another dangerous receiver on the outside will keep defenses guessing.

27th – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Green (Offensive Guard), Texas A&M

The Buccaneers do not have any glaring team needs; they are essentially returning the entire roster that won a super bowl just over a year ago. However, an offense is only as good as its line and Green is one of the best interior offensive lineman available in this draft. 

28th – Green Bay Packers: David Bell (Wide Receiver), Purdue

Davante Adams is 6’1”, 212 lbs, and runs a 4.56 40-yard dash. David Bell is 6’1”, 212 lbs, and runs a 4.65 40-yard dash. The Packers will look to Bell to do his best Davante Adams impression in order to keep Aaron Rodgers happy.

29th – Kansas City Chiefs (via Miami Dolphins): Jermaine Johnson II (Edge Rusher), Florida State

Johnson has a massive frame at 6’5” and 262 lbs. If the Chiefs can line him up beside Chris Jones, one of the largest players in the league, they will give opposing quarterbacks nightmares.

30th – Kansas City Chiefs: Jameson Williams (Wide Receiver), Alabama

Williams was easily the most dominant wide receiver in college football last season. However, he tore his ACL in the national championship game against Georgia. Once healthy, his speed will be harnessed by Mahomes and Chiefs to fill the gap of Tyreek Hill. Also to note: Williams transferred from Ohio State prior to last season, making him the 3rd Buckeye receiver from the 2020-2021 national championship roster to be selected in the 2022 draft. 

31st – Cincinnati Bengals: Bernhard Raimann (Offensive Tackle), Central Michigan

Joe Burrow was sacked 7 times in the Super Bowl and 19 times in the 2022 playoffs, both NFL records. The offensive line is in dire need of improvement and Raimann is step 1.

32nd – Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Sam Howell (Quarterback), UNC

Jared Goff is not the long term solution in Detroit. While Howell’s numbers dipped over his time at UNC, that was largely due to the talent around him departing for the NFL. He is slightly undersized, resembling the height and weight of Drew Brees, but could develop into the best quarterback from this class.