Henry’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft

With the NFL Draft coming at the end of April, I thought I’d put together my first official mock draft. I’ll be going through every pick in the first round, giving notes for each pick along the way. This mock draft will feature trades, but nothing too big.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan

After improving the o-line in free agency, the Jags get a potentially elite player at a position of need in Hutchinson. 

2. Detroit Lions: Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame

While they could go QB here, I have the Lions taking Hamilton, who while not playing a premium position, may be the best player in the class.

3. Houston Texans: Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle, NC State

The Texans are a complete mess right now and need to start building in the trenches. Ekwonu is a monster in pass protection and should be able to protect whoever their QB of the future is.

4. New York Jets: Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama

The Jets’ top priority should be protecting Zach Wilson, and the 6’7 Alabama product should be able to help with that.

5. New York Giants: Sauce Gardner, Cornerback, Cincinnati

With James Bradberry likely on his way out, the Giants will have a need on the outside that Sauce could more than fill.

6. Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State

Thanks to a weak QB class, the Panthers decide to improve their atrocious o-line by taking Cross.

7. New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon

The Giants double down on defense and get an absolute steal in Thibodeaux at seven.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia

The Falcons are in full rebuild mode, and adding Walker, who some believe is the draft’s top edge, is a big step towards fixing their defense.

9. Seattle Seahawks: Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty

With Russ gone, the Seahawks take the ultra-athletic Willis to be the QB of the future.

10. New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., Cornerback, LSU

After getting absolutely torched through the air in his first season, Robert Saleh adds a lock-down corner to his defense.

11. Washington Commanders: Andrew Booth, Cornerback, Clemson

As a team that will live and die by their defense, the Commanders need to get better on the outside. Booth does just that.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

After putting together an all-time combine performance, Davis heads to Minnesota to help revive their defense.

13. Houston Texans: Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State

Houston continues to build up in the trenches, adding a super-versatile pass rusher in Johnson.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Devonte Wyatt, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

The other Georgia interior d-lineman heads to Baltimore to provide a versatile 3-down presence.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jameson Williams, Wide Receiver, Alabama

For the second straight year, the Eagles take a Bama receiver in the first, this time adding an elite big-play threat in Williams.

16. Philadelphia Eagles: Zion Johnson, Offensive Guard, Boston College

The Eagles continue to build on offense, this time by adding a starting guard who could potentially succeed Jason Kelce in the future.

           17: Los Angeles Chargers: Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa

Justin Herbert gets some help in the form of a 6’7 beast on the o-line.

           18: New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

The Saints add another Ohio State receiver to (hopefully) pair with Michael Thomas and help kick start their new era.

           19: Philadelphia Eagles: Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington

The Eagles finally make an addition on defense, bringing in a solid corner to play across from Darius Slay.

           20: Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh QB stays in Pittsburgh, who despite his baby hands, should provide a solid option for the Steelers as their QB of the future.

            21: New England Patriots: Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas

Burks is an elite athlete who could bring to the Patriots what they thought N’Keal Harry could, and more.

22. Green Bay Packers: Drake London, Wide Receiver, USC

With Davante Adams gone, the Packers are in desperate need of a receiver, and 6’5 Drake London should pair well with Aaron Rodgers.

23. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Gordon, Cornerback, Washington 

To say the Cards are lacking at corner feels like an understatement. Gordon is an exceptional athlete who should immediately improve the position group.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Wilson brings a RAC ability that the Cowboys are currently missing, and should help fill the void left by Amari Cooper.

25. Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida

With most of the top receivers gone, the Bills elect to add a corner to replace Levi Wallace across from Tre White.

26. TRADE: Seahawks trade picks 40, 72, and 109 to the Titans for pick 26 Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa

Despite a need at receiver, the Titans elect to test the depth of this class, and the Seahawks get a steal in Linderbaum, who falls mostly due to his short wingspan.

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

The Bucs patch up their interior o-line by adding Green to replace Alex Cappa.

28. Green Bay Packers: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue

After previously filling their biggest hole, the Packers add Karlaftis to help fill the void left by Za’Darius Smith.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State

With Tyreek Hill gone, Datson feels like a perfect fit for the Chiefs’ vertical passing scheme and should bring some good RAC ability.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Daxton Hill, Safety, Michigan

The same deal as pick 29. With Tyrann Mathieu gone, the Chiefs bring in Hill to fill his void.

31. TRADE: Panthers trade picks their 2023 first-rounder to Cincinnati for pick 31 Carolina Panthers: Matt Corral, Quarterback, Ole Miss

With the top tackles and corners gone, the Bengals decide to take a chance on next year’s draft, while the Panthers decide to trade up into the first to get the fifth-year option on Corral.

32. Detroit Lions: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan

A torn achilles will likely keep Ojabo out for 2022, but without that he would easily be going top 20. The Lions take a chance on him at 32 to get his fifth-year option.