2022 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
Two quarterbacks were selected in the first half of Round 1. How many quarterbacks come off the board in the back half of this 2022 NFL Mock Draft?
17) Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Zion Johnson put on a clinic during the athletic testing drills at the Combine. He performed well and measured even better. He’s a great athlete in the middle for the Los Angeles Chargers, who need an injection of youth and skill at either guard spot. Johnson pencils into the left guard spot but has plenty of verstaility.
18) New Orleans Saints: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
The New Orleans Saints are in the market for a quarterback, there’s no denying that. What they do in free agency will ultimately tell us whether or not they grab a quarterback at pick No. 18.
With Matt Corral on the board here, however, he’s the easy selection, as he can lead the team from Day 1. Corral has a terrific arm, a bevy of platforms to throw it from, and even more athleticism if the play breaks down.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: Drake London, WR, USC
Perhaps the top receiver on some team’s boards, Drake London was unable to test at the Combine, so he’ll look to put his best foot forward during athletic testing drills at his pro day. London is a big-bodied receiver with the best yards-after-catch ability in the class. He’ll quickly become a reliable threat in the short and intermediate passing game for Jalen Hurts and eat up the YAC yards.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
The slide for Ikem Ekwonu is real, and the Pittsburgh Steelers are the benefactors. Ekwonu could be considered a potential first overall pick, but without projecting trades, and other teams ahead of them with larger needs than LT, the Steelers hit the jackpot.
Ekwonu is incredibly talented in all facets and more than held his own in pass protection this past season. His growth from 2020 to 2021 was terrific and his continued ascent is remarkable.
21) New England Patriots: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Improving their secondary is a wholesale endeavor for the New England Patriots. Free agency will make or break their defense as a whole, but it’s clear there are likely to be a bevy of options at cornerback available for them at pick No. 21. Trent McDuffie is a talented, physical cornerback with great ball skills. He’ll slide in as a starter on the outside almost immediately.
22) Las Vegas Raiders: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
A big-play threat is what the Las Vegas Raiders need, and Jameson Williams is that threat. The only cause for concern with Williams is the fact that he may not be ready to play immediately come training camp and could miss time during his rookie season. Nevertheless, his ability to take the top off defenses with his speed and catch radius mitigates any loss of playing time in his rookie season.
23) Arizona Cardinals: Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
Arguably possessing the best motor in this class, Jermaine Johnson II heads to the Arizona Cardinals as their next great pass rusher. As durable as they come, Johnson was incredibly productive in his lone season with Florida State. He has an array of pass-rush moves as well as an elite get-off at the line of scrimmage. Johnson should have an immediate impact.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The Dallas Cowboys will need more than a few positions on defense if they want to further their playoff runs in the future. Daxton Hill dramatically improves their defense in both the run and pass game. He comes downhill in run defense well and closes off in coverage perhaps even better. Hill is a dominant athlete and a versatile defender on the back end.
25) Buffalo Bills: DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
Bringing DeMarvin Leal in to pair with Ed Oliver is a step in the right direction for a Buffalo Bills defensive line that needs help this offseason. Leal can play a bevy of positions from inside and out as his presence at the Combine proved. He’s a talented pass rusher and perhaps an even better havoc-wreaker in the run game.
26) Tennessee Titans: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
As strong as an ox, Nakobe Dean‘s smarts and football IQ put his strength on the backburner in terms of what he does best. Dean will diagnose plays pre-snap and set his defense to best see success, as he understands the game of football at an incredible rate. He also has terrific strength and more impressive play speed. He reads and reacts better than any defender in the class.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
A smooth pass rusher and stout run defender, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers grab Devonte Wyatt as they again go to the center of the defensive line in Round 1. Adding Wyatt allows them to get younger and more versatile, as he can move around the interior of the defensive line with ease. He’s a long-term projection as a starter who will get to learn from one of the best ever if the Bucs re-sign Ndamukong Suh.
28) Green Bay Packers: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
With elusiveness and great speed comes Jahan Dotson. The Green Bay Packers grab a weapon to either help alleviate the loss of Davante Adams or to pair with him, giving them a legitimate 1-2 punch on the outside. Dotson has great skills at and before the catchpoint. He’s a reliable receiver with plenty of separation that comes naturally.
29) Miami Dolphins (from SF): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Another gift to an AFC team on the offensive line. The “generational talent” that is Tyler Linderbaum slides down to the Miami Dolphins at pick No. 29.
Linderbaum’s wrestling background allows him to contort his body and use his leverage better than any prospect in recent memory. He understands angles and physics better than most linemen currently in the NFL. Linderbaum uses that to his advantage to get under his defender and violently shove them away in both the run and pass games.
30) Kansas City Chiefs: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
A rapid riser at the Combine, Christian Watson is speedy, big, and talented. His quickness is second to his frame, but together, his attributes formulate one talented, hard-to-bring down athlete with the ball in his hands. Watson can use his quickness off the line to create separation and get open for Patrick Mahomes in the quick game, or he can high-point the ball over smaller DBs with ease.
31) Cincinnati Bengals: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Yet another slide for an offensive lineman is ended by an AFC team, this time again in the AFC North. The Cincinnati Bengals need help at every offensive line position, and Charles Cross is the pick here. He may not slide directly into left tackle due to Jonah Williams’ presence, but Cross could immediately improve the Bengals’ line as he adjusts to the game and a potential shift to the right side.
32) Detroit Lions (from LAR): Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
There’s a new face of the franchise in Detroit as the Lions grab Kenny Pickett, making him the fourth quarterback of the first round. Pickett proved he can make the NFL throws at the Senior Bowl and at the Combine despite his hand measurements. He’s also a gifted athlete who makes plenty of space on his own in the pocket or on the run, all while maintaining vision downfield for the big play.