The Mock Draft From the Night Before the Draft

    It was just as I was leaving the theatre having watched “Everything Everywhere All At Once” Wednesday night when I realized that the NFL Draft was on Thursday. At that moment, I thought that maybe in an alternate universe, it was on a Friday night (as things should be) and I had already written about it. However, I’m not living in an alternate reality and I cannot control every version of myself across the multiverse, so here we are. Jokes aside, I’m home from the movie and I’ve done my only and final mock draft of 2022. These are the picks that I think make the most sense for each team in the draft. No trades, no hypotheticals, just mocking. Let’s go.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

There isn’t much to say with the first overall pick. The Jags need basically everything on defense and after losing Myles Jack, Hutchinson and incumbent defensive end Josh Allen would provide Jacksonville with a superstar tandem on their defensive line. Hutchinson is the best player in the draft and they should pick Aidan first. If they don’t, that would just be so perfectly Jacksonville of them, now wouldn’t it.

2 and 32. Detroit Lions: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia and Daxton Hill, CB, Michigan

There are too many picks in this draft, so I’m just going to clump the teams’ picks together. At two, I think that the Lions will grab a draft riser in Walker. He’s got every attribute as an edge rusher and is a ball hawk, staying with plays, and playing through the whistle. At 32, they get a Michigan man in Daxton Hill. He played a whole lot of everything at Michigan and reminds me of Jabril Peppers if he had put his effort into being a corner. His versatility makes him extremely valuable and I can’t see him getting past round one.

3 and 13. Houston Texans: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati and Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Texans basically need everything and what better way to revamp one of the worst defenses in the league with two of the best secondary prospects in the draft. Gardner is clearly CB1 at this point and Kyle Hamilton is really the only marquee safety in this draft. There isn’t much to say here as I think it’s easier to find edge rushers and defensive linemen in either free agency, future drafts, or later rounds. However, top tier corners and safeties don’t come around every day. The Texans have a lot of building to do and this is a good start.

4 and 10. New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu, T, NC State and Drake London, WR, USC

To me, if the Jets are really committed to Zach Wilson as QB, they’ll go fully offense with their top picks. Yet, it seems like my mock draft is part of an alternate universe where the Jets are actually a forward thinking football team. All “Everything Everywhere All At Once” references aside, Ekwonu gives New York the top OT in the draft at four, giving Zach Wilson even more protection as he took the fourth most sacks in the league last year. At ten, the Jets get Drake London. London is a generational talent who’s contract flexibility will allow them to not have to overpay for one of the current star receivers in the league (i.e. Deebo Samuel, don’t do it Jets). These two moves give the Jets a much needed shot in the arm on offense while they compete in a division that’s only getting more explosive on that side of the ball.

5 and 7. New York Giants: Evan Neal, T, Alabama and Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

For the other MetLife Stadium tenant, the trenches are the focus of their first round. Both picks have been projected as number one picks at some point this year and fill voids on their team. Thibodeau could give the Giants a star on the defensive end which they’ve been lacking as of late. Neal gives the Giants a potentially generationally offensive lineman and more protection in a key year for Daniel Jones’ future with the Giants. As most of these teams have done, the Giants should focus on need filling towards the top of the draft, especially when those “need fillers” are still top talents.

6. Carolina Panthers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

This might be the first reach of my mock, but I think it’s worth it. The Panthers shouldn’t let recency bias determine their pick. They need a quarterback and at this point in my mock there isn’t an offensive lineman or any other “need” that trumps them taking the clear top QB. Willis can do everything and has the potential to be the next great quarterback for Carolina. He’d fit in right away in a run and gun offense and would allow Carolina to immediately forget the Darnold deal. If I’m the Panthers’ GM, I’m betting on Willis.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

There is no one pick that can fix the Falcons’ offense. There also isn’t a pick that could fix the Falcons’ defense, but Stingley is close. Up until about a month ago, he was CB1 for a year straight. His injury history is worrying, but coming out of DBU and being a proven shutdown corner, Stingley would pair alongside AJ Terrell to create an elite CB duo right away.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross, T, Mississippi State

The Seahawks need to retool. At this point in the draft, there probably won’t be much for Seattle to really pick from. They probably won’t contend next year and in an effort to build more than commit to the present, they should grab Cross. The Mississippi State tackle gives them stability at the second most important position in football. Knowing Carroll, he won’t take a risky swing here. 

11. Washington Commanders: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The Commanders don’t necessarily need a wide receiver, but knowing them and considering the lackluster production of free agent addition Curtis Samuel, this one makes sense. Terry McLaurin might also be out soon, so Olave might have to be the pick at this point. The stout defense of Washington can be bolstered in later rounds, but right now, Washington is a team without a QB and isn’t in a position to pick one of note.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

At twelve, I see another draft riser coming off the board in Johnson. He is versatile, quick, and big. He would give the Vikings an immediate sack threat on defense and could be the one piece that they need to get over the edge (No pun intended. Get it, because he’s an edge rusher). I love Johnson’s fit and he could slide right in as the premier focus on the defensive line. 

14. Baltimore Ravens: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

This pick is sweet and simple. Williams is WR3, available, and help for Lamar Jackson. As much as they need O-Line help, they need some receiving threats that don’t play tight end. Instead of beating around the bush with Marquise Brown and Rashod Bateman, it’s time to get a true number one. It’s time for Jameson Williams. 

15 and 18. Philadelphia Eagles: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington and Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

At both of these picks, I see Philly filling the holes that they failed to fill in the past two years. They went offense in the 2021 draft and in 2022, it’s time for defense. McDuffie and Lloyd give them versatile and quick day one starters. In a league where speed is becoming the hot, new offensive trend, these two picks provide the Eagles with a deterrent from those potent offenses. 

16 and 19. New Orleans Saints: Bernhard Reimann, T, Central Michigan and Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

At these two picks, I see New Orleans, like other teams, suring up their trenches. This is one of the best OL/DL drafts in recent memory and these two guys give them solid starters for up to a decade. Reimann is a bit of a reach, but I think that it’s worth it as he’s heavily underrated because of where he went to school. Davis, the big school product, gives them a lethal defensive line duo with Cam Jordan. When in doubt, pick the trenches.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Chargers have swept the offseason and don’t expect that to stop in the draft. At 17, I think they’ll take a WR1 to play their WR3. When you’re as good as the Chargers, you can stock the luxuries and aim for the stars. For them, it’s making sure that they don’t land on the pavement.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

While I can’t see Washington reach for a QB, Pittsburgh definitely could. After Big Ben’s retirement, they’ll get desperate for a QB replacement and what better story than picking the hometown kid who rode a historic senior season to being a Heisman finalist? They’ll reach and it might work out and it might not. For Pickett, it’s about which coach can best utilize his arm. High floor, low ceiling player. Not a huge risk.

21. New England Patriots: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

New England needs to get faster. They looked painfully slow in their blowout playoff loss to the Bills and Dean is an immediate fix. It’s hard to gauge who they’ll pick, but after cutting ties with former stallworths in Hightower, Van Noy, and Collins, the Patriots are clearly trying to change their scheme. A fast and versatile linebacker like Dean would not only fit in, but star right away on an evolving defense. They can get defensive backs later, but linebackers like Dean don’t come around every day. (Also watch for Georgia’s Quay Walker here.) 

22 and 28. Green Bay Packers: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa and George Pickens, WR, Georgia

After resigning Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are in cap hell. They need cheap help and key positions now. Linderbaum gives them their center of the future, which is a key position that they need and Pickens gives them an immediate Adams replacement. I have them going Pickens here over Moore and Burks here strictly due to play style. Pickens and Adams are very similar, so why mess with a good thing in Green Bay? Pickens will fit in right away.

23. Arizona Cardinals: Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia

The Cardinals need health on their defensive line and what better way to get that than picking another Georgia defensive stud. Every Georgia defender in this draft will work out in the NFL and Wyatt is a beast on the defensive line. In a division with the Super Bowl Champs, it’s time to load up the trenches and hope for the best in competing against the Rams. 

24. Dallas Cowboys: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College

Dallas has reportedly tried to trade up in this draft for someone, but I really don’t care. Their offensive line has become surprisingly thin. While not as flashy as most Dallas picks, it’s the most effective. Knowing them, the Cowboys will probably reach for Skyy Moore or Treylon Burks here and I’ll be disappointed again. They hit last year with Parsons and on Lamb the year before that, but before then, where have they succeeded with flashy reaches? They need to think like a football team and not a movie studio. Go for the effective pick, not the flashy one.

25. Buffalo Bills: Travis Jones, DL, UConn

Although they were one of the worst teams in college football, UConn still produced a first round talent in Travis Jones. The Bills don’t need anything on offense and they don’t need much on defense. However, they could use some help in the trenches and Jones would give them an immediate boost. For me, this is an easy pick. If there’s no better defensive lineman there, take Jones.

26. Tennessee Titans: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Once projected to go in the top five, Karlaftis’ fall has been fascinating. Similarly to the Stingley pick at 8, I’d ignore the draft combine numbers here. Just go with the effectiveness in-game and ignore the numbers. The Titans need an Edge rusher and Karlaftis is going to be a steal wherever he goes. All Tennessee has to do is be the team to steal him.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M

Tom Brady is back and Tampa needs to do everything to protect him. After losing Ali Marpet and lots of offensive lineman depth, Green gives them another elite young player at his position. The Bucs don’t rebuild, they reload.

29 and 30. Kansas City Chiefs: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan and Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

The biggest losses of the offseason for the Chiefs have been speed and their secondary. Moore gives them a Tyreek Hill heir apparent and Booth gives them a much needed shot in the arm at defensive back. Maybe now they won’t have to get into 3OT battles against Buffalo next year.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

After losing in the Super Bowl last year, the Bengals biggest needs were clearly their offensive line and their cornerback depth. In free agency, they addressed their offensive line woes. In the draft, they should probably fix the cornerback problem. Elam is a versatile and reliable corner. He can do just about everything on the defensive end that you’d ask a corner to do. He’s likely to be a solid CB2/3 on any other team to start. He’ll walk into Cincinnati as a clear CB1 and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing yet.

Takeaways

There isn’t a deep message here. Football is unpredictable and I’m probably wrong in predicting what will actually happen. However, what I learned in “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is that nothing matters and anything is possible. So, with that being said, I don’t think it matters if I’m right and that’s a good thing. Anyone should be able to predict what will happen with a variety of accuracies. The draft is not just a chance for NFL teams to improve, but an event for the public to bask in the glory of our favorite teams giving a chance to a premier young talent. I don’t know what they say to start a draft, but for now, I say: play ball.