2022 NFL Mock Draft | Picks 17-32
Mock. Yeah! Draft. Yeah! This 2022 NFL Mock Draft rolls on from Providence all the way to Las Vegas. Remember that the draft order is most current heading into the final weekend of the NFL season. A new mock draft will be released early in the week following the conclusion of all of Week 18’s action.
17) Pittsburgh Steelers: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
Big Ben Roethlisberger has played his final home game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The need for a new quarterback has risen up the totem pole of importance. With the top free-agent quarterbacks not doing much for me, grabbing Matt Corral and his upside is too much to pass up.
He’s no system quarterback either. Corral can sling it from all kinds of platforms and has great accuracy and zip on his passes. As he adjusts to the NFL, he can rely on his athleticism and well-documented ability to hit his receivers in stride. He may need some new weapons in the ‘Burgh, but this class is stacked at receiver, and we’ll hit that on Day 2.
18) Las Vegas Raiders: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
It’s true what they say: senior citizens, though rare in college football nowadays, can still serve a purpose. Chris Olave, the resident senior citizen of the big three receivers, spent an incredibly productive four years at Ohio State. He’s OSU’s career touchdown receptions leader and is injected into a Las Vegas Raiders offense that needs receiver help.
19) Philadelphia Eagles: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Eagles are certainly not pinching pennies nor are they on a tight budget. With three first-round picks, they’ve already moved up to secure a cornerstone defensive back. At 19, they secure a second-level defender with similar potential.
Nakobe Dean has the best instincts in the class and routinely diagnoses plays before the span. He closes space in the run game and is no slouch in coverage. Oh, and he’s as strong as an ox.
20) Los Angeles Chargers: Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
The Los Angeles Chargers love their Florida State defensive players in the draft, and for good reason. After the success of Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James (when healthy), they hit the defensive well in Tallahassee once again. Jermaine Johnson II, like Jameson Williams, made terrific use of the transfer portal this season. Johnson left Georgia for a chance to showcase his ability at FSU. All he did was become the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and drastically improve his draft stock.
Some people just aren’t cut out for life on the road, but Johnson is not one of them. His ability to move from UGA to FSU and see immediate success proves his NFL readiness. Johnson also has a tremendous motor and is incredibly durable. Johnson and Joey Bosa should make one formidable duo.
21) Philadelphia Eagles (from Indianapolis): Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
A third defensive player for the Eagles in this class. Their other biggest needs just don’t match up to the best player available in this mock draft.
Daxton Hill is a true free safety who gives head coach Nick Sirianni a blanket in coverage and a downhill run-thumper in space. Hill, Dean, and Stingley — what a haul.
22) Miami Dolphins (from San Francisco): Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
You can give me a bunch of crap about me not listening to you or something, but I promise you, unlike Harry Dunne, I’m paying attention. The Miami Dolphins need help on the offensive line. Charles Cross and Tyler Linderbaum are the only two options here, but Linderbaum becomes the next Dolphin. He’s as solid as a center prospect comes, not just in this class, but maybe in any class since the Pouncey brothers entered the NFL.
23) New England Patriots: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
Like Bill Belichick, you need only a few words to describe why Kaiir Elam is the pick here. He’s got great ball skills. We think he’d make an excellent complement to our already great defense. He’s outstanding in all types of coverage.
Sure, that’d actually be a lot for Belichick to say, but Elam is certainly worth even more words. He showcased his range in coverage as well as his football IQ multiple times during his career with the Gators. He’ll routinely pass off defenders in his coverage to make plays on balls not even thrown his way.
24) Arizona Cardinals: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Charles Cross hails from Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, while Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury runs a similar variant of that scheme in the NFL. Cross is already versed in the terminology and certainly has his pass sets for this offense all lined up. He’d have very little to adjust to in the passing game.
That’s something he can rely on as he adjusts to the Cardinals’ run-blocking schemes. For Cross, you’d think his NFL transition would be a little rockier than this.
25) Buffalo Bills: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Buffalo Bills will be perennial Super Bowl contenders as long as Josh Allen is quarterback, but that doesn’t mean they can rest on their laurels. Jordan Davis is available and fills a need on an aging defensive line.
Ed Oliver and Davis would present one of the more challenging interior duos to stop in the NFL. Davis, a massive man, moves well in the run game and is essentially double-teamed on every pass-rush snap. Yet, he still disrupts the passing game frequently.
26) Cincinnati Bengals: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
Considered by some to be the best senior tackle in the class, Trevor Penning slides to the Cincinnati Bengals. If there’s anything that is certain, it was the right call to draft Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell last year. But that still means they have a need at tackle to protect their franchise QB, Joe Burrow.
Penning has been a mauler in all facets for Northern Iowa. His former teammate Spencer Brown’s success in the NFL is a great indication of his readiness to block in the NFL. Penning should become a cornerstone left tackle in the NFL for a decade-plus.
27) Dallas Cowboys: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
The Dallas Cowboys may be without defensive coordinator Dan Quinn if he takes a head coaching job next year, but adding an elite run defender and great cover man at safety should still be the priority.
Lewis Cine is all of those and then some. He punishes running backs all over the field. Cine also instinctually closes space in the passing game by disrupting throwing lanes and jumps on routes inside his coverage area.
28) Jacksonville Jaguars: Drake London, WR, USC
Trade: The Jaguars send Pick Nos. 33 and 70 to the Buccaneers for Pick No. 28.
The Jaguars desperately need to add a consistent threat at wide receiver for QB Trevor Lawrence. Even though they pick first in Round 2, a run on receivers could occur from picks 29-32. As such, they offer up a third-round selection to in-state rival Tampa Bay to move up five picks and secure Drake London from USC.
London, coming off a fractured ankle, led the Pac-12 in receiving yards despite missing a sizeable portion of the year. His dual-sport background proves his athleticism, and he can jump through the roof. London is a talented receiver who can high-point the ball better than anyone in this class. He’s still working on a full route tree but has more than enough ball skills, contested-catch ability, and speed to make an immediate impact in 2022.
29) Kansas City Chiefs: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Treylon Burks‘ go routes are as good as money, sir. They’re I.O.U.’s, as the defensive backs he’ll routinely posterize will certainly remember the time they matched up against the big man from Arkansas.
Pairing Patrick Mahomes’ incredible arm talent with a viable deep threat and contested-catch weapon like Burks is near perfection. There are other receiver options to choose from, but pairing Burks with Mahomes and Tyreek Hill is far too enticing.
30) Detroit Lions (from LA Rams): David Bell, WR, Purdue
The Detroit Lions are in a hole. It’s not going to do them any good sitting there whining about it. They need more than their fair share of help from the 2022 NFL Draft. David Bell gives Jared Goff a potential WR2 opposite the emerging Amon-Ra St. Brown. Bell has incredible body control and terrific hands. He snatches the football away from defensive backs and is great after the catch.
31) Tennessee Titans: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
If we know Mike Vrabel as well as we think we do, he’ll invite Jahan Dotson right in for tea and strumpets. A welcome addition to an already sound wide receiving corps, Dotson gives the Tennessee Titans a viable threat if they move on from Julio Jones.
Even if Jones is on the roster past his potential out this offseason, the trio of Julio, A.J. Brown, and Dotson would prove nearly too much for any secondary to stop. Dotson has great hands and even better routes. He’s a complete receiver.
32) Green Bay Packers: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
Projected to win the Super Bowl, this may be the final go for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. If that’s the case, the pick here may change. But still, Jalen Tolbert caps the run on five straight receivers as teams are reaching for their top target at the position. The Packers select a player who can win all over the field with his hands. He high-points the football well and brings down contested catches with ease.
Tolbert also has underrated speed and accelerates through his breaks. He’ll fight for extra yardage and take what the defense is giving him. He’s just the third Sun Belt receiver to top 3,000 career receiving yards. Considering the quarterback talent he’s done that with, that’s an ultra-impressive feat.