2022 NFL Mock Draft | Round 7
Round 7 kicks off in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Some more trades are still appearing, believe it or not.
222) Jacksonville Jaguars: Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
Playing at one speed, Delarrian Turner-Yell somehow got overlooked at Oklahoma. He’s underrated, but he certainly warranted the pick here. Turner-Yell can cover well, and his best attribute is his ability to close space in coverage. He is no slouch in run defense either.
223) Cleveland Browns (from DET): Kevin Austin Jr., WR, Notre Dame
Kevin Austin Jr. heads to Cleveland after the big man averaged over 18 yards per catch in 2021. He showcased an ability to win outside — even as the primary target — as the season went on. Austin Jr. also proved to be more athletic than we gave him credit for. It may have been the Notre Dame system holding him back.
224) Detroit Lions (from HOU via NE, BAL, and MIA): Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
Mock Trade: The Dolphins sent pick Nos. 224 and 247 in 2022, as well as a 2023 seventh-round pick, in exchange for Detroit’s pick No. 181.
With their newly-acquired pick from Miami, the Lions start a run on cornerbacks by selecting Joshua Williams from Fayetteville State. Williams has size and athleticism in spades, checking in at 6’3″ and leaping through the roof. He also has plenty of ball skills, and his length allows him to close space with or without top speed.
225) Pittsburgh Steelers (from NYJ): Corey Sutton, WR, Appalachian State
Another C. Sutton on the Steelers as Corey Sutton joins Cameron Sutton. Corey — an NFL legacy player — pairs with a talented receiving corps that allows him to hone his craft for another year before sliding into the slot in place of Anthony Miller in 2023.
226) Cincinnati Bengals (from NYG): Marquan McCall, DT, Kentucky
Marquan McCall is a ball of energy on the defensive line. He is quick off the line and brings a tenacious attitude. Slightly limited in his pass-rush arsenal, McCall will still boost the Bengals’ defensive unit with his attitude and athleticism.
227) Las Vegas Raiders (from CAR): Tre Turner, WR, Virginia Tech
The Raiders secured the services of Davante Adams but still need some assistance at wide receiver. Grabbing Tre Turner from Virginia Tech gives them just that, as he averaged nearly 18 yards per catch over his career. He’s a tremendous downfield threat who can win easily out wide.
228) Green Bay Packers (from CHI via HOU): Arron Mosby, EDGE, Fresno State
Needing another EDGE for depth and future purposes, the Packers use their first Round 7 pick on Arron Mosby from Fresno State. Mosby took over the game at times for the Bulldogs as he has a knack for finding the football. He can also rush the passer from a variety of alignments.
229) Seattle Seahawks: Shaun Jolly, CB, Appalachian State
It’s challenging to make waves as a Group of Five cornerback nowadays, but Shaun Jolly made tidal waves at times during his career. Finishing with 6 career interceptions, Jolly’s ability to shut down receivers in his coverage is more than just his interception totals. With his sticky coverage skills, he forces incompletions with ease and creates tight throwing lanes.
230) Washington Commanders: Juanyeh Thomas, S, Georgia Tech
The Commanders defense is ready to win today. Juanyeh Thomas is a big piece of this puzzle that doesn’t need much to be complete. Thomas plays big and excels in coverage. He’s a ballhawk on the back end and could be counted on to play vital snaps in a rotation before eventually cracking the starting lineup.
231) Buffalo Bills (from ATL): Josh Thompson, CB, Texas
Helping to improve Buffalo’s secondary, Josh Thompson is the Bills’ final pick. He had a great career at Texas despite what some box-score scouts may say. He’s long and had a knack for finding the ball once he got in the mix at Texas. He’ll be a valuable CB4 or CB5 in the near future.
232) Denver Broncos: Tyreke Smith, EDGE, Ohio State
Doubling down on edge defenders from the Big Ten, Denver makes Tyreke Smith their final pick. Smith is a talented pass rusher with some athletic limitations. But he still presents large upside with his size and strength. Finding favorable matchups and situational pass-rush reps for him would pay dividends for the overall health of the Broncos’ unit in 2022 and beyond.
233) Kansas City Chiefs (from MIN): Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
As mentioned multiple times here, every team needs cornerbacks. And every team needs multiple starting-caliber players at the position. The Chiefs add Chase Lucas from Arizona State in an attempt to improve their secondary and get to that point. Lucas has starting potential and more than enough size and length to lock down cornerbacks outside if he can quickly adjust to the NFL game.
234) Detroit Lions (from CLE): Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
Another cornerback because, well, let’s face it, they need help there. This time, a big cornerback with a bigger game heads to Detroit as Jaylen Watson joins the Lions’ secondary. At 6’2″, 197 pounds, Watson comes with terrific size and more than enough speed to stay with receivers from a variety of alignments. Honing in on his fundamentals while adjusting to the NFL speed will be critical, but he could quickly become a valuable fourth cornerback in Detroit.
235) Jacksonville Jaguars (from BAL via DEN): Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
The name of the game is coverage in today’s NFL, and the Jaguars need more cornerbacks, like just about every team. Jack Jones is one of the most experienced corners in this class and comes fully equipped with terrific ball skills. He’ll be best suited as a CB4 or CB5 to start his career, but he can blossom in the right system in Jacksonville.
236) Los Angeles Chargers: Stanley Berryhill III, WR, Arizona
Getting open quickly at the line of scrimmage is one of Stanley Berryhill III’s best skills. Not only does he present a challenge to cover along his routes, but Berryhill can also put defenders in the spin cycle right off the bat. He can get open quickly and often in the right system.
237) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO): Jeremiah Gemmel, LB, North Carolina
Jeremiah Gemmel presents upside with special-teams play immediately. He can cover with the best of them, but he may have some size issues right away. He’s an experienced linebacker with a durability that will allow him to be counted on in time.
238) Los Angeles Rams (from MIA): Kolby Harvell-Peel, S, Oklahoma State
The Rams head to the secondary with this pick, grabbing Kolby Harvell-Peel from Oklahoma State. A pair of Cowboy safeties go back-to-back in this draft after Harvell-Peel and Tre Sterling anchored the Oklahoma State defense the past few years. Harvell-Peel recorded 10 career interceptions, and his free-ranging ability is among the best we’ve seen at the college level in recent years.
239) Indianapolis Colts: Tre Sterling, S, Oklahoma State
The Colts’ secondary is on an upward trend with the acquisition of Stephon Gilmore. They grab Tre Sterling here, as the Cowboys’ safety didn’t quite finish his career on the highest of notes. Still, his previous two seasons of heavy action at Oklahoma State were terrific, as he’s a three-down safety with great ball skills in man or zone coverage.
240) Washington Commanders (from PHI via IND): Nate Landman, LB, Colorado
Playing sideline to sideline for the Buffaloes, Nate Landman is a terrific three-down linebacker. He’s a tackling machine in the mold of former Cal LB Evan Weaver, except Landman made a bigger impact with his pass-rushing ability at Colorado.
241) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Rockette, CB, South Alabama
Another cornerback with tremendous upside, all Devin Rockette did at South Alabama was lock down defensive backs. He was targeted heavily at times and rarely gave up big plays. His coverage ability will allow him to stick on an NFL roster, as will his special-teams ability.
242) Carolina Panthers (from NE via MIA): Brandon Sebastian, CB, Boston College
Brandon Sebastian singlehandedly won Boston College a game against Missouri in 2021, and that wasn’t the most famous moment of his season. He had an entire comic book made after him, as The Interceptor lived up to his name against Missouri. Sebastian heads to Carolina, where he could become a household name sooner than later.
243) Kansas City Chiefs (from LV via NE): Kyron Johnson, EDGE, Kansas
One of the more athletic players in this entire draft, Kyron Alexander heads to the Chiefs. Alexander can rush the passer as a down lineman or as a stand-up rush end while presenting a hybrid style of play that allows him to drop back into coverage. Alexander isn’t the traditional hybrid, three-down player, but he offers great value and depth as a situational pass rusher at this stage of the draft.
244) Arizona Cardinals: Christopher Allen, EDGE, Alabama
Though Christopher Allen’s season lasted all of 10 snaps in 2021, his 2020 campaign more than put him on the map. He can easily get after the quarterback and has a bevy of pass-rush moves for a guy his size. While everyone knows Arizona’s first-round pick David Ojabo, more people would have known Allen’s name had he not gotten hurt in the season opener last year.
245) New England Patriots (from DAL via HOU): Cordell Volson, OL, North Dakota State
The Patriots need bodies, and they need versatility. Cordell Volson has the chance to kick inside or play his natural tackle position at the NFL level. The best part about this pick is New England will likely need Volson’s help at any position where he’s comfortable — not just in 2022, but beyond.
246) Cleveland Browns (from BUF): Tayland Humphrey, DT, Louisiana
The Browns grab Louisiana’s Tayland Humphrey to close out their 2022 NFL Draft haul. Humphrey is a big man on the interior who shines against the run. Though he may not be the most adept at pass rushing, short-yardage situations will be his bread and butter, as he’ll add a vital component to red-zone packages.
247) Detroit Lions (from TEN via MIA): Dylan Parham, G, Memphis
Mock Trade: The Dolphins sent pick Nos. 224 and 247 in 2022, as well as a 2023 seventh-round pick, in exchange for Detroit’s pick No. 181.
With their final pick of the draft, the Lions finally return to the offensive side of the ball. They grab Dylan Parham, a big man on the interior, to help improve depth and eventually the starting lineup. The Lions are set on the edge and at center, so Parham improves the depth behind Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
248) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sincere McCormick, RB, UTSA
The long-term answer to Tampa Bay’s running back issues can be found late in the draft, and their pick here is Sincere McCormick. A talented runner with the football, McCormick gets upfield quickly and makes the most of every carry. He dominated Conference USA action at UTSA, helping put the Roadrunners on the map.
249) Green Bay Packers: D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
The Packers add another linebacker in this class. D’Marco Jackson may be one of the better coverage linebackers in this year’s draft. He can sink in zone coverage without drifting while also challenging running backs or tight ends with his man coverage skills.
250) Minnesota Vikings (from SF via DEN): Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
The Vikings receiving corps gets a dose of speed and sound hands with Jalen Nailor. The speedy receiver from Michigan State put on a show at times with his routes and separation ability. If he can echo that same success and Kirk Cousins can find him, he could look more like a Day 2 pick than a seventh-round selection.
251) Kansas City Chiefs: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
The Chiefs continue on the defensive side of the ball with Percy Butler. A rangy safety prospect, Butler was dominant in the Sun Belt. The Chiefs signed Justin Reid and added Daxton Hill in this mock draft, but getting Butler as a backup still makes sense. He comes downhill well and ranges in coverage with the best of the second-tier safety prospects.
252) Cincinnati Bengals: Kellen Diesch, OT, Arizona State
A long tackle with plenty of bend and strength, Kellen Diesch has the perfect mold for a tackle in today’s NFL. He can add to the Bengals’ improved offensive line with his ability to play either tackle spot in a pinch. Diesch looked comfortable and polished during his time at the Shrine Bowl.
253) Los Angeles Rams: EJ Perry, QB, Brown
A long-term play, EJ Perry is a quarterback every general manager wants on their team. The Rams grab him here and could slide him directly into the QB2 role with his athletic ability, smarts, and his ability to elevate talent around him. Perry, a former Boston College quarterback, is a coach’s player (literally) and will improve the Rams’ QB room simply with his presence.
254) Los Angeles Chargers (compensatory selection): Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
Like many of the running back selections here, I can guarantee you I am lower on them than you are — and especially lower on them than they’ll actually be drafted. There’s value in RBs, especially those on rookie contracts. But there’s even more value in running backs who can do everything you’d ask of them. Dameon Pierce can pass block, catch, and run between the tackles with a tenacious attitude. He’s a rare three-down back in this class.
255) Los Angeles Chargers (compensatory selection): Jean Delance, OT, Florida
As they did with their pick of Joshua Ezeudu, the Chargers improve their offensive line versatility by selecting Jean Delance. The Florida product has excellent athleticism, as he can bend with edge defenders and presents a great base. Keeping that athletic ability as he puts on strength will be key for his long-term development.
256) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory selection): D’Vonte Price, RB, Florida International
Again, I’m sure that I am lower on just about every running back in this draft class. In fact, I’d venture to guess that I’m lower than the average fan on nearly every RB in the NFL. Every NFL team needs 2-3 good running backs — no longer do they need one great RB. By grabbing D’Vonte Price, the Cardinals now have three solid backs in James Conner, Eno Benjamin, and Price.
257) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory selection): Tyrese Robinson, G, Oklahoma
Arizona’s reworked offensive line gets another great addition, especially this late in the draft. Tyrese Robinson is as experienced as they come and can play either guard spot. His sturdy base and great strength will undoubtedly see him earn a roster spot and potentially take over the left guard spot when Justin Pugh moves on.
258) Green Bay Packers (compensatory selection): Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State
I’m sure I’m a bit lower than most on Pierre Strong Jr. That being said, once the draft is coming to a close, teams can begin to find running backs that can contribute — and Strong is on that list. He’s a great physical runner and can also contribute to the passing game.
259) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory selection): Luke Wattenberg, G/C, Washington
The Chiefs grab Luke Wattenberg, who can play a multitude of roles on offense for KC. Wattenberg can play center, but he won’t need to with Creed Humphrey in the picture. He can also play either guard spot. That versatility allows Wattenberg to slide into several spots that may be hampered by injuries or as an extra lineman in goal-to-go situations.
260) Los Angeles Chargers (compensatory selection): Carson Wells, LB, Colorado
With their last draft pick, the Chargers grab Carson Wells from Colorado. Listing him as a linebacker does him a disservice, as he can do a little bit of everything. However, Wells excels when rushing the passer. Watching him run stunts off the edge was one of the highlights of the Shine Bowl practices earlier this offseason.
261) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory selection): Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
There were ho-hum pro days, and then there were disasters. Texas A&M was that disaster, and Jalen Wydermyer‘s draft stock plummeted. As such, the Bucs could have pulled off the steal of the draft by grabbing him here with the penultimate pick in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Wydermyer plays differently than he tests, but the jury is out on whether that will correlate to the NFL field.
262) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory selection): Brock Purdy, QB, Iowa State
The 49ers make Brock Purdy Mr. Irrelevant in the 2022 NFL Draft. At one point, Purdy had first-round aspirations. However, his stock fell as he failed to elevate his game or the talent around him in subsequent years. Yet, Purdy rewrote the Iowa State passing record book and performed well at the Shrine Bowl. He’s in an ideal landing spot as he can play behind Trey Lance once San Francisco moves on from Jimmy Garoppolo.