2022 NFL Mock Draft | 17-32
The first half of Round 1 is in the books. Let’s continue with more names to know.
17) New England Patriots: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Patriots don’t lack youth on defense right now — they lack playmakers. Sure, Bill Belichick can scheme against the best of them and manufacture interceptions against rookie quarterbacks. But this defense is missing a pure playmaker at cornerback with elite-level ball skills.
Kaiir Elam runs routes better than receivers at times and has shown a penchant for big plays. He’s got terrific ball skills and has no trouble flying to the football. The Florida Gator is almost tailor-made for Belichick’s defense.
18) Los Angeles Chargers: Ikem Ekwonu, G, NC State
Ikem Ekwonu is a dominant left tackle at the collegiate level. His size, movement, and hand usage project him likely to the interior at the NFL level. For the Chargers, he fills the gap that is any position from center to right tackle, as evidenced from their play through two weeks this season. Ekwonu would almost be a steal for Los Angeles here.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
Right tackle Lane Johnson isn’t the spry chicken he once was, but he’s still no slouch. Signed through 2025, Johnson would present a perfect teacher for the massive Faalele while he continues to hone his craft and develop into an NFL tackle.
As the saying goes, you can’t teach size, and size is what Faalele has in spades. At 6’9″, 380 pounds, Faalele could transform into one of the better right tackles while being the biggest at his position. Imagine an offensive line bookended by the 6’9″ Faalele and the 6’8″ Jordan Mailata. That’s scary.
20) Indianapolis Colts: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
Rasheed Walker has proven his own time in and time out so far in 2021. Despite its young age, this season has proven to be a revelation for Walker. He’s playing with tremendous poise, balance, and strength, routinely carving out rushing lanes for the Nittany Lions.
He immediately upgrades a Colts offensive line which has disappointed so far this year. Left tackle Julie’n Davenport isn’t quite cutting it, and Walker slides in from Day 1.
21) Dallas Cowboys: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
The run on offensive tackles continues as Nicholas Petit-Frere gives the Cowboys their final piece of the puzzle on the offensive line. While his teammate has been a disappointment in 2021, Petit-Frere has not. Petit-Frere is a name to know, possibly continuing his ascension in the ranks. In fact, with some more solid play at left tackle, he could even make it higher in our next 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
The injury to La’el Collins almost proved too much to handle in Week 2, and depth is a concern as always for Dallas on the offensive line. Tyron Smith is still as great as ever, but he’s in Year 11. A future left tackle is needed in Big D.
22) New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Ohio State wide receivers down in the Bayou — sound familiar? While we still await Michael Thomas’ 2021 debut, the Saints grab another Buckeye receiver in Chris Olave. With great play speed and terrific agility, Olave makes all the catches and runs a full route tree.
He’s not had the best quarterback play this season but has still made plays on his own. He’s not the best at any one feature, but he may be the best all-around receiver in the country.
23) Tennessee Titans: Drake London, WR, USC
Two-sport star Drake London is the second receiver selected in this 2022 mock. In fact, London gets looked at hard by the Saints at No. 22 to be the first receiver taken. London has a chance to be the best USC receiver from a group that includes Michael Pittman Jr., Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Tyler Vaughns.
A true athlete, London is arguably the No. 1 receiver after the catch in college football. A gritty receiver with the ball in his hands, he also runs great routes and is dynamic at the catch point. There’s nothing he does that isn’t elite or could become elite.
24) New York Jets: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
The Jets need a playmaker over the middle of the field, and they need an outlet for Zach Wilson while their offensive line continues to be built. Jalen Wydermyer is both of those things and a solid pass protector and run blocker if needed. A consistent threat, he’ll immediately upgrade the New York aerial assault.
25) Cleveland Browns: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Browns fans, rejoice, the next great receiver is in your midst. Like OBJ and Jarvis Landry, Jalen Tolbert also hails from the Deep South. And like the former LSU receivers, he is a proven threat with the ball in his hands with the ability to take over games.
Tolbert is the top playmaker at the Group of Five level — perhaps in all of college football. Tolbert could blossom into one of the 2022 NFL Draft’s best players with consistent quarterback play of an NFL starter.
26) Detroit Lions: Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson
Justyn Ross hasn’t done enough statistically to warrant a higher draft selection than here in 2021, but he hasn’t really had to. All he had to prove this season was that he was healthy and could play a full game’s worth of snaps. His dominance on tape from the 2018-2019 seasons is more than enough to signify an easy first-round pick.
27) Miami Dolphins: Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA
Like many teams, the Dolphins are in desperate need of a pass-blocking left tackle. Former first-round pick Austin Jackson doesn’t seem to be the answer, and Liam Eichenberg has been forced to play both tackle spots so far. Sean Rhyan is developing nicely and has all the right tools to fit the bill of a stalwart left tackle over the years.
He can move well and uses his hands just as impressively. He’s solid in the run game but proven to be a staple of protection for Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s blindside this season.
28) Baltimore Ravens: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Making plays on the ball is the name of Ahmad Gardner‘s game. His fit into the Ravens’ system is opposite another first-round corner in Marlon Humphrey, as each has their strengths. Gardner can run extremely well and has great length.
He also possesses elite ball skills at times and is rounding out into a great man corner with solid skills in different zones. Gardner is far from a safe pick at this stage but certainly brings with him the proverbial “high ceiling.”
29) Green Bay Packers: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Garrett Wilson may not get the hype as his teammate Olave does, but he’s every bit as talented. He may not do everything Olave does, or at least as spectacularly, but he still has elite traits. With a proven ability to line up in either the slot or outside, Wilson’s ability to win across the offensive formations suits Matt LaFleur’s system.
30) Buffalo Bills: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
The Bills will need to address the safety position sooner rather than later as Jordan Poyer will have one year left on an extension. Fellow safety Micah Hyde will also have just two years remaining, and both of them will turn 31 before the 2022 season.
Jordan Battle should immediately see playing time for Buffalo as a box safety and could develop over time into the team’s starter at strong safety.
31) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
With no real position of need available with top prospects on their board, the Bucs will likely have the freedom to choose the best player available here, again. Tampa will soon have to replace some aging stars on the defensive line if they don’t jettison in free agency, that is.
Myjai Sanders is a true pass rusher and has immense size. He can take over games and win around all sorts of linemen. The Bucs would be set on the edge for years with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Sanders dominating NFC South tackles.
32) Kansas City Chiefs: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
This selection almost seems unfair. At 6’3″, 225, Treylon Burks runs like he’s a much shorter man. He also dominates from the inside. With Burks’ short-area agility and burst coming in bunches, he can create space against even the best defensive backs.
But with his ability to win from the slot, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid could manufacture mismatches with Burks lined up against linebackers and safeties. Again, this pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft almost seems unfair to the NFL.
2022 NFL Mock Draft | Round 2
Didn’t get who you wanted for your team in Round1? Don’t fret — there’s plenty of talent left in the pool.
Picks 33-48
33) Houston Texans
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
34) Detroit Lions
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
35) Jacksonville Jaguars
Zach Harrison, DE, Ohio State
36) New York Jets
Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
37) Cincinnati Bengals
Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
38) New York Jets
Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
39) Philadelphia Eagles
Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern
40) Las Vegas Raiders
John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
41) New York Giants
Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
42) Atlanta Falcons
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
43) Chicago Bears
Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
44) Washington Football Team
Ed Ingram, G, LSU
45) Arizona Falcons
Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
46) Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
47) Denver Broncos
Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
48) Minnesota Vikings
Leon O’Neal Jr., S, Texas A&M
Picks 49-64
49) New England Patriots
David Bell, WR, Purdue
50) Los Angeles Chargers
Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
51) Miami Dolphins
Jarrett Patterson, C, Notre Dame
52) Philadelphia Eagles
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
53) Dallas Cowboys
Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
54) New Orleans Saints
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
55) Atlanta Falcons
Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
56) Seattle Seahawks
Josh Jobe, CB, Alabama
57) Cleveland Browns
Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
58) Los Angeles Rams
Henry To’o To’o, LB, Alabama
59) San Francisco 49ers
Allie Green IV, CB, Missouri
60) Baltimore Ravens
Obinna Eze, OT, TCU
61) Green Bay Packers
DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
62) Buffalo Bills
Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
63) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jerrion Ealy, RB, Ole Miss
64) Kansas City Chiefs
Jalen Catalon, S, Arkansas