2022 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
With one quarterback gone in the first 16 picks, just how many more quarterbacks are taken in the back half of Round 1?
17) Las Vegas Raiders: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Following an emergence that few others have achieved, Jameson Williams heads to the Las Vegas Raiders after exploding in his first season at Alabama. After transferring from Ohio State, Williams’ draft stock soared due to his all-around ability on the field. Williams can make contested catches, run crisp routes, and speed past defenders with ease. He’s among the nation’s top big-play threats, while he also maintains a level of reliability with his hands.
18) Baltimore Ravens: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
One of the top senior players in this class, Trevor Penning is a name to remember for not only Baltimore Ravens fans but all NFL fans in general. As the world catches up to his ability, just know this: Penning is everything his former teammate Spencer Brown is and then some. He’s terrific in pass protection and — like Brown — mauls defenders in the ground game with strength and speed.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The best linebacker in the class heads to the Philadelphia Eagles at Pick No. 14. The Eagles have three picks in a span of 10 selections. A common defensive theme develops, and Devin Lloyd is the starting piece.
Lloyd goes sideline-to-sideline better than anyone in college football this past season. He’s a thumper in the run game and possibly even better in coverage. Lloyd is athletic, long, rangy, fast, and has a snappy athleticism to his tackles. Reaction speed isn’t lacking either, and he’ll close gaps with football IQ and his strength-with-speed combination.
20) Philadelphia Eagles: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The third Michigan defender taken and the second defensive player grabbed by the Eagles, Daxton Hill heads east. Hill is a closer of space in the run game and a rangy coverage man against the pass. He’ll thump backs on the ground and swat balls down in the air. Hill lacks no skills to be one of the better defensive backs from this class.
21) Miami Dolphins: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
Sure, the term “generational talent” is thrown around far too much. So when the time comes that the term is actually applicable, it’s hard to use it. Still, Tyler Linderbaum is every bit of a generational talent at the center position. There was no better center in college football in 2021, and the Miami Dolphins nab the best center prospect in some time at No. 21.
22) New England Patriots: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
A massive man on the inside, Jordan Davis is as athletic of a big man as you’ll find. Despite his 6’6″ stature, Davis can move up and down the defensive line with ease. His nimble feet are only outmatched by his strength at the point of attack. Davis uses his quick hands and even quicker feet in the pass-rush game incredibly well despite essentially seeing double-teams every rep.
23) Philadelphia Eagles: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
With their third pick in the top 23, the Eagles grab their third defensive player. They also grab their second defensive back with their selection of Cincinnati’s Ahmad Gardner. A true lockdown cornerback, Gardner truly blanketed one side of the field for Cincinnati in 2021. He was rarely targeted, so the box-score stats didn’t follow him in terms of interceptions and pass breakups. Yet, his ball skills and football IQ shined brightly on multiple occasions, even when he wasn’t the primary coverage defender.
24) Jacksonville Jaguars: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
Trade: Jacksonville sends picks 33 and 72 in the 2022 NFL Draft to Arizona in exchange for the Cardinals’ pick No. 24.
The Jaguars hop back into the first round with their selection of NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu. The Arizona Cardinals receive second- and third-round picks in exchange for their lone first-round selection. Ekwonu heads south to Jacksonville after dominating at left tackle for the Wolfpack. He may project inside, but his skill set will certainly be able to be utilized across the line as the new regime sees fit in Jacksonville.
25) Buffalo Bills: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
With his declaration behind him, Trent McDuffie becomes a first-round selection of the Buffalo Bills. As previously stated, today’s NFL defenses cannot have too many good cornerbacks, and McDuffie enters the fold of a talented, young secondary. The Bills should be on the lookout for a safety with both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde entering the final years of their contract in 2022, but cornerback is absolutely a need as well. McDuffie has plenty of versatility to play outside or from the slot and can handle both positions incredibly well.
26) Cincinnati Bengals: Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
The third safety taken, Jaquan Brisker heads to the Cincinnati Bengals to join Jessie Bates and Co. Brisker is a hard-hitter, a fierce run defender, and a great coverage man in the open field. He’ll wallop backs in space, and he’s missed very few attempts over his career. A sure tackler, Brisker also displays a ton of football intelligence — he knows when to pass off receivers and when to latch on to them in coverage.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
Like other edge defenders in this class, Jermaine Johnson II‘s rise in the ranks becomes complete as he’s selected in the first round. Johnson heads to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after winning ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. He wins with speed and great lower-body strength. Johnson has the draft class’ best combination of a high motor and physical durability. He rarely missed a snap and hardly ever played at anything other than top speed.
28) Detroit Lions: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The second quarterback is off the board as the Detriot Lions utilize their selection from the Los Angeles Rams on a quarterback. Malik Willis heads to Motown on the heels of a Superman-esque season at Liberty. He was asked to do too much with the Flames, yet he displayed a ton of upside and raw talent in the process.
Willis has terrific arm strength and even better out-of-structure ability. He’s an athlete first but still maintains his vision downfield on scrambles. Willis is a year or two away from starting in the NFL, but maybe the Lions have that luxury if they have to wait until their potential 2023 out in Jared Goff’s contract.
29) Tennessee Titans: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Tennessee Titans grab an incredible scheme fit with Nakobe Dean. Securing a three-down linebacker at the tail end of Round 1 is one thing. Grabbing a guy who is as strong as an ox is another. Dean is perhaps the strongest of the linebacker prospects despite his lesser stature. He plays powerfully while also utilizing his speed and athleticism well. Dean thumps in the run game and excels when rushing the passer. Oh, and he can cover anything.
30) Dallas Cowboys: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
The sixth edge defender selected in the first round, Myjai Sanders heads to the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders is a talented, massive pass rusher with terrific skills to become a three-down defensive end. His influence on the Cowboys’ defense allows Micah Parsons to play a more free role off the edge, something that would behoove Dallas in 2022 and beyond. Sanders can rush the passer from a multitude of positions as well, granting Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn several key cogs in an ever-improving defense in Big D.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Relatively unfair to select him, the Kansas City Chiefs make one of the smartest picks of the 2022 NFL Draft. Treylon Burks is limited to a few routes at the current moment, but no receiver runs a better “9” route. Simply put, Burks utilizes his speed and size on “go” balls, running straight past defenders and high-pointing the football over safeties in coverage. As he hones in his route-running ability, Burks can rely on Patrick Mahomes’ incredible arm strength to get him the ball as he runs past NFL cornerbacks.
32) Green Bay Packers: David Bell, WR, Purdue
With some of the best body control of this or any recent draft class, David Bell is a brand-new weapon to utilize in Green Bay. Bell’s body control is terrific, but don’t let it outshine his other abilities, such as great routes, underrated speed, and a terrific burst off the line. No matter the quarterback in Green Bay for the 2022 season, Bell will be a featured wideout in no time.
The following franchises did not have a first-round selection in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft. Here’s a look at what the Mock Draft Simulator did for the following teams with their first pick.
Chicago Bears (Pick 39)
Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
Seattle Seahawks (Pick 40)
Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
San Francisco 49ers (Pick 52)
Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
Arizona Cardinals (Pick 56)
Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Los Angeles Rams (Pick 100)
Alec Lindstrom, C, Boston College