Tuesday, January 4, 2022

2022 NFL MOCK DRAFT - 1/4/22

There are only 2 bowl games left, and one is the National Championship.   The NFL playoffs are just one week away as well. This means that the draft order is firming up & many draftable players still have a shot to make another impression in a actual game. Whether its for good or ill is yet to be decided. The players who can make the biggest gains and losses right now would be that rare senior that is not only playing in their bowl game, but also paying in the Senior Bowl. So far this looks like a draft deep in edge rushers. Cornerback's , off the ball linebackers, and Safeties also have a chance to be a strength on defense. As a matter of fact the top of this draft is the opposite of last years. in 2021 the first 9 players on my board were on offense, with the 10th guy being Micah Parsons , who we can all agree that I ( and pretty much everyone else ) was too low on. This year I expect 7 or 8 of the top 10 to be on defense. On offense this drafts definite strength is O-lineman , but this classes WR's , and more surprisingly TE's are growing on me. However, while it is a deep draft there are very few sure thing blue chip type players flying off the screen to me right now. Due to the financial losses from Covid I expect another off season with a lot of veteran QB movement , and 3 or more first round QB'S again, WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR NOT.  even though the college QB situation has gotten more muddied for me early this year. With big name QB's like Spencer Rattler, Kedon Slovis, and D'eriq King all faltering the first QB off the board is probably still up for grabs in most draft rooms . Personally I am now favoring Matt Corral , and Corral definitely looked better in the heads up match with Malik Willis, but he now has a ankle injury too. Although, there are 2 other QB's that I can see challenging him for that mantle. I was thinking Sam Howell should go back to school so his supporting cast can get better , and he can revive his draft stock, but he is balling anyway.  Plus with this uncertain QB class he still has a shot to be the first QB taken this year, which is unlikely in 2023 going against Bryce Young and others. Don't forget Kenny Pickett either, as he has better size , far more experience than the other 2, and had the best tape this year. Although I question a guy when it takes 5 years of college to put it all together, but right now I think that he is the most likely top 10 pick among the QB's in this draft. .So a lot of trades will probably happen, but I don't put trades in mocks until the regular season is over. The losers of the Deshaun Watson derby ( out of Philly, Carolina, Miami, and Denver)  might be looking to trade up. I no longer think the top pick is traded to a QB needy team this year , because right now I wouldn't do it for any of college guys.  Also ,if the Pack doesn't bend over for Aaron Rodgers he will be on the market too, and Denver is the most likely bet to get him. Then there is the Seahawks, Falcons, and Vikings. All of them might be moving on from their veteran QB's, but I believe that Cousins is the most likely to stay with his current team. Personally I would give up more for Russell Wilson than any of them, and the Giants & Eagles have the multiple first round picks to get it done. Next week I am on vacation, and will be able to grind even more tape. January 9th will be the date of my first fully written up mock of the year, with trades included. Without further ado here it is. Agreeing or disagreeing is welcome, but please do it intelligently & respectfully or I just won't post it. so here it is. Enjoy.



1.JAGUARS - AIDAN HUTCHINSON  - DE/OLB - MICHIGAN

2.DETROIT - KAYVON THIBODEAUX - OLB-DE - OREGON

3.HOUSTON EVAN NEAL -T/G-ALABAMA

4.JETS - DEREK STINGLEY - CB - LSU

5.GIANTS - KENNY PICKETT - QB - PITTSBURGH

6.GIANTS-(bears) - TYLER LINDERBAUM - C - IOWA

7.CAROLINA - IKEM EKWONU - G/T - NC STATE

8.WASHINGTON - KYLE HAMILTON - S/LB - N. DAME

9.DENVER - GEORGE KARLAFTIS - DE - PURDUE

10.JETS-(seattle)- NAKOBE DEAN - LB - GEORGIA

11.BROWNS - JAMESON WILLIAMS - WR - ALABAMA

12.ATLANTA - CHARLES CROSS - OT - MISS. ST.

13.VIKINGS -  ANDREW BOOTH - CB - CLEMSON

14.STEELERS - ROGER MCREARY - CB - AUBURN

15.SAINTS -  MATT CORRAL - QB - OLE MISS

16.RAIDERS -  GARRETT WILSON - WR - OHIO ST.

17.EAGLES-(miami)- SAM HOWELL - QB - N. CAROLINA

18.RAVENS -  KAIIR ELAM - CB - FLORIDA

19.EAGLES - KENYON GREEN - G/T - TEXAS A&M

20.EAGLES-(colts) - DEMARVIN LEAL - DT/DE - TEXAS A&M

21.MIAMI -(49ers)-  DARIAN KINNARD - T/G - KENTUCKY

22.CHARGERS - JORDAN DAVIS - DT - GEORGIA

23.PATRIOTS - DRAKE LONDON - WR - USC

24.ARIZONA - TRENT MCDUFFIE - CB - WASHINGTON

25.BENGALS -  AHMAD GARDNER - CB - CINCINNATTI

26.DETROIT-(rams)- CHRIS OLAVE - WR - OHIO ST.

27.BUFFALO - DAVID OJABO - OLB/DE - MICHIGAN

28.DALLAS - DEVIN LLOYD - LB - UTAH

29.TITANS - TREVOR PENNING - OT - N. IOWA

30.PACKERS-JERMAINE JHONSON- DE/OLB - FLA. ST.

31.CHIEFS - TREYLON BURKS - ARKANSAS

32.TAMPA BAY - DEVONTE WYATT - DT - GEORGIA