2022 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
Things get interesting in the back half of Round 1. When will one of these franchises take a QB off our hands?
17) Los Angeles Chargers: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Selected by: Michael Peterson (SB Nation)
Peterson made this statement on behalf of the organization about the pick.
“With Jordan Davis and all the top wideouts gone, the Chargers’ decision here is essentially made for them. The 6’7″, 320-pound Penning is everything they’re missing on the right side of the line, including the temperament and play style that will help elevate the offensive line even further after the unit’s revamping in 2021.”
Mock draft data shows that this is the spot for Trevor Penning. His EDP currently sits at 16.4, but there’s a ton of projection with the brawling offensive tackle from Northern Iowa.
First, he played on the left side during his time in college. Switching sides isn’t as easy as it sounds, and while physically Penning has all the tools to succeed, he already had mechanical deficiencies on the left side. Now, he’s switching up his drive and plant foot on the right side.
But this happens in the draft. Sometimes a team is so desperate for help that they will reach a bit on need. While this may not be seen as a reach, a player with 34 penalties in 36 career games in college will need to keep his tenacity somehow while not setting his team back unnecessarily.
In the end, protecting Justin Herbert is the only goal, and Storm Norton has proven he can’t be relied upon to do that.
18) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Selected by: John Stolnis (Bleeding Green Nation)
Philadelphia needed to find a complementary cornerback to Darius Slay, and they get just that with Trent McDuffie. Like all Washington DBs, McDuffie is pro-ready from a mental perspective. In military terms, he’s a perfect soldier. He’s always in the right place at the right time in the right uniform.
However, McDuffie still possesses some of the quirks that come with a Washington defensive back. They usually lack size or athleticism, and McDuffie is not unlike his predecessors. While he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the class, McDuffie is under 5-foot-11 and has arms under 30 inches.
The debate comes between the “sure thing” believed to be McDuffie and the upside of Clemson’s Andrew Booth Jr. Philly decided to play it safe with their second first-round pick.
19) New Orleans Saints (from PHI): Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
Selected by: Seth Galina (Pro Football Focus)
Galina made a team needs pick here. The Saints don’t have an option at left tackle, and thus, will throw Bernhard Raimann to the wolves. Raimann is an older prospect from Austria who spent his first few seasons at Central Michigan playing tight end. That shows in his footwork and overall athleticism. However, it also shows in his lack of anchor and overall raw technical ability.
Like Penning, this is a dangerous pick based on hopes and dreams. However, sometimes hopes and dreams are all we have. A while back, New Orleans took a small-school tackle that was a bit undersized and had outstanding athleticism. That worked out alright for nine seasons.
Raimann’s dedication is also impressive, and those character traits are important. He’s added 60 pounds in just over two years, which is why he’s a possible first-round prospect in 2022 NFL mock drafts.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
Selected by: Nick Farabaugh (Pittsburgh Sports Now)
Farabaugh made this statement when he saw the picks made before the Steelers were on the board.
“Malik Willis vs. Andrew Booth is not the debate I was expecting to have to make. But it’s a tough one.”
Things are getting interesting now. While a quarterback almost certainly goes before this point when the draft rolls around on Thursday night, nobody feels confident enough to take one in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. That should indicate how the media feels about this crop of quarterbacks, given how imperative the position is to the success of teams.
And it’s impossible to ignore the Steelers’ need at the position. Mitch Trubisky is not a long-term answer, and everyone knows that Mason Rudolph isn’t.
Andrew Booth Jr. has a lot to live up to if Malik Willis ends up being a franchise QB. However, he has the physical ability to do just that. Booth has natural ball skills and showed the ability to float through the air to contest passes. While he’s an aggressive cornerback, Booth has the fluidity and burst to recover quickly if he gets a bit out of position.
21) New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Selected by: Evan Lazar (CLNS Media)
Devin Lloyd feels like a Patriot. While he’s not Micah Parsons as a pass rusher, he has flashed some legitimate rush moves off the edge. Bill Belichick loves to use his linebackers to generate pressure, so he fits there. Lloyd’s also a ball hawk in coverage.
Few college linebackers are plus defenders in zone coverage, but Lloyd is. He was a safety before he got to Utah, and it’s evident when he drops into coverage. New England doesn’t have any long-term players at the position, so taking the first one off the board at pick 21 is outstanding value in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
22) Green Bay Packers (from LV): Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Selected by: Kevin Turner (97.1 The Eagle)
Turner made this statement on behalf of the organization about the pick.
“They had to cut Billy Turner for cap reasons. Lost Lucas Patrick. Royce Newman sucked last year. They love guys who can move all over.”
A few teams were praying that Zion Johnson would fall to them. However, his outstanding tape and positional flexibility made him a high priority for the Packers, who are looking to upgrade their offensive line.
Johnson is a powerful player but also shows burst and fluidity on tape. That transferred to his athletic testing. While he’s short and a tad light for the position, Johnson posted a 9.75 RAS. He also has 34-inch arms, so the length will never be an issue for the stocky guard. The Johnson selection keeps Elgton Jenkins at right tackle, where he can be most valuable.
23) Arizona Cardinals: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Selected by: Blake Murphy (SB Nation)
Murphy made this statement on behalf of the organization about the pick.
“(A.J.) Green is 34 this year, and with (DeAndre) Hopkins turning 30, they could use a young outside guy. Dotson is undersized but doesn’t play like it. He’s a zone-coverage beater, and if there’s one thing that Murray has needed to develop in, it’s beating zone. Without Hopkins last year, teams were content to force (Christian) Kirk/Green to beat them 1-on-1 or to rush four and play zone.”
While their need for a pass rusher is one of the most significant needs in the NFL, Murphy decided he liked the potential pairing of Jahan Dotson and a second-round EDGE more than someone like Arnold Ebiketie or George Karlaftis and a second-round receiver.
That may sound counterintuitive based on everything we know about receivers and pass rushers, but for the 2022 class, he’s right. The Cardinals will most likely miss out on a potential double-digit sack artist but could still find a competent contributor at 55.
24) Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Selected by: Jeff Cavanaugh (D Magazine)
For those that know Jeffrey, you know this pick couldn’t have come easy. He’s a lover of wide receivers and has a deep adoration of Skyy Moore. He also very much dislikes interior offensive linemen. So, to take a center, which isn’t even a primary need for Dallas, shows just how highly he thinks of Tyler Linderbaum.
While Dallas could stick with Tyler Biadasz and survive at the position, they would get an immediate upgrade in Linderbaum. While he’s an undersized center, Linderbaum is technically proficient, and that proficiency lends itself to solid strike timing and placement. His wrestling background is evident. He’s not a violent blocker but wins with supreme positional leverage.
25) Buffalo Bills: Daxton Hill, CB/S, Michigan
Selected by: Joe Marino (The Draft Network)
While it may feel unconventional to draft Daxton Hill to play outside cornerback when his college career was spent in the slot and at safety, it’s not an unheard-of transition. We saw it just a few years ago when L’Jarius Sneed transitioned from safety to cornerback for Kansas City.
Hill has every trait necessary to play outside cornerback at the NFL level. However, he probably won’t stay there. Jordan Poyer is at the end of his contract, and both he and Micah Hyde are becoming elevated in age.
Hill fills an immediate need, is unbelievable against the run, and also can be a successor, allowing a buffer for Buffalo to explore other options on the outside. Marino went outside of the box here in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, and it could pay off for the Bills.
26) Tennessee Titans: Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
Selected by: Tyler Rowland (Locked On Titans)
Rowland made this statement on behalf of the organization about the pick.
“(The) Titans have some holes on the offensive line, and getting back to being dominant up front is key. Green is a physical road grader with versatility. (It’s a) perfect match for the Titans.”
Kenyon Green was recently flagged for knee troubles, but Dane Brugler said those he spoke with said it’s not an immediate future issue. The interior of Tennessee’s offensive line is. Green is a physical people-mover as a run blocker, which is perfect for the downhill style Tennessee employs.
The left side of the Titans’ offensive line needs an injection of youth. Taylor Lewan is 30 and Ben Jones is 32. Green can grow between them as a pro before becoming a leader of the unit as a veteran down the road.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
Selected by: Jon Ledyard (Pewter Report)
Pairing Antoine Winfield Jr. with Lewis Cine feels unfair to opposing offenses. The Buccaneers now have two safeties that can play on the back end or come up and punch a ball carrier squarely in the chest.
Losing Jordan Whitehead in free agency was a bit of a blessing in disguise. Cine is a turbocharged version of Whitehead. While DT may be a larger need, the caliber of player wasn’t quite there.
Tampa Bay has been a difficult team to mock for throughout the process. They don’t have any massive needs on the roster aside from guard and defensive tackle. Both guards are already gone, so they decided to draft the best player they found.
28) Green Bay Packers: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Selected by: Kevin Turner (97.1 The Eagle)
George Pickens is one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft. Off talent alone, most see him as a top-five WR in a very talented class. He’s one of the few that have traditional WR1 X-receiver upside. He’s big, physical, and athletic. Without missing almost his entire final season, Pickens may be a mid-first-round pick.
However, the maturity concerns from multiple anonymous sources have come out of the woodwork, which muddies the waters. In reality, Pickens could be one that falls into Day 2. But here, Turner went with the upside and with the hope that Pickens could be the alpha receiver Aaron Rodgers needs him to be after this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
29) Kansas City Chiefs (from SF via MIA): Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
Selected by: Matt Lane (KC Sports Network)
It took folks a while to get around to Arnold Ebiketie‘s tape. But once they did, his stock — at least on mock drafts — skyrocketed. Ebiketie went from being taken right around Round 3 in late January to just outside of the top 32 by March.
While Ebiketie is small for an EDGE at 6-foot-2, he’s stacked together nicely at 250 pounds. Oh, and he uses his 34 1/4″ arms as weapons when rushing the passer. The talk has long been about receiver for Kansas City because of the Tyreek Hill departure. But first and foremost, they absolutely needed a shot in the arm off the edge — because right now, Chris Jones doesn’t have any help.
30) Kansas City Chiefs: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
Selected by: Matt Lane (KC Sports Network)
If you liked watching Golden Tate and Steve Smith play football, you’ll love Skyy Moore. The compact receiver is a blast after the catch, which is perfect for Andy Reid. However, Moore also proved to be a high-volume target while at Western Michigan and could command that same attention from the slot or out wide in the NFL.
Moore’s explosive and shifty both as a route runner and after the catch. He also has impressive 4.41 speed, although he didn’t often get to show it with his role in college. Moore’s technical prowess should make him an immediate impact player for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
31) Cincinnati Bengals: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Selected by: James Rapien (Sports Illustrated)
George Karlaftis produced like a madman early on in his time at Purdue, but that production tailed off in the next two seasons. While he isn’t necessarily a bendy or long player, neither is the guy going first overall in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
No, Karlaftis wins with outstanding power in his hands and the ability to use his inside arm as a single long-arm to drive blockers back and set the edge without allowing them into his chest. He will be a nice complement to Trey Hendrickson, who serves as the primary pass-rushing force.
32) Detroit Lions (from LAR): Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Selected by: Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network)
It took us 32 draft picks for a quarterback to finally come off the board, and Cummings was still a bit apprehensive about it. Malik Willis was the 43rd-ranked player on Ian’s Top 300 Big Board. There are several questions about how long the learning curve will be for Willis at the NFL level.
But that is why Detroit is the perfect spot for him. He can sit behind Jared Goff on a team that is improving the roster and has a good offensive line but isn’t ready to compete yet. Willis’ process must improve, but that is where practice reps and tape grind will come in handy.
QB selections are often based on personality as much as the player’s physical skill set. Everything we’ve heard and seen from Willis is top-tier, which is one of the reasons he’s seen as the top QB in this class despite being a raw prospect.