The NFL never stops. Super Bowl. Senior Bowl. Combine. And then on Tuesday, we had an avalanche of enormous news that will have a direct impact on many things related to the 2022 season, including the draft in late April.
This mock draft takes the Aaron Rodgers decision and Russell Wilson trade into consideration (of course), along with the widespread developments from the combine which suddenly feels like three weeks ago.
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OK, let's get to it.
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Evan Neal
OL
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 340 lbs
The buzz for Neal will take off after his workout at the Alabama Pro Day.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Aidan Hutchinson
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
The Lions don't overthink it and pick Hutchinson to be their alpha rusher instantly.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 272 lbs
Walker parlays an otherworldly combine to being a top 3 pick. The Texans bet on his upside.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
Hamilton is a home-run selection here for the Jets, a club in dire need of playmakers in its secondary.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
Cross is a smooth operator on the outside and has immense upside given his age.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
Pickett is the first quarterback off the board given his recruiting ties to Matt Rhule.
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From
Chicago Bears
Round 1 - Pick 7
Kayvon Thibodeaux
EDGE
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
Thibodeaux falls into the Giants' lap and they can't pass on him a second time.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 219 lbs
Willis lands in Atlanta to be the heir apparent to Matt Ryan.
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From
Denver Broncos
Round 1 - Pick 9
Ikem Ekwonu
OL
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Regardless of who the quarterback is long-term in Seattle, he will need to be protected better than Wilson was.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
This may feel early for Penning, but he's checked all the boxes emphatically during the pre-draft process. The Jets have to get better up front.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
Olave has the speed, route-running chops, and ball-tracking skills to be a tremendous complement to Terry McLaurin.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 190 lbs
Gardner would be an ideal replacement for Patrick Peterson in Minnesota. He has All-Pro upside on the perimeter.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 183 lbs
Wilson went to the same high school as Baker Mayfield, and the two Texas natives will be reunited in Cleveland.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Jermaine Johnson II
EDGE
Florida State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 254 lbs
Johnson is a sturdy run defender with the length and speed-to-power conversion to go this early.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Boye Mafe
DL
Minnesota
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 261 lbs
Mafe is an ascending player because of his calculated pass-rush plans and big-time athleticism.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
LSU
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
The Eagles can't pass on Stingley with all of their first-round selections. He has too much upside and the position is a need in Phily.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Jordan Davis
DL
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 336 lbs
Davis is the exact type of monstrous, run-halting presence the Chargers need on their defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
Burks is the big-bodied type who'd formulate an intimidating duo with Michael Thomas in New Orleans.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 305 lbs
Linderbaum is one of the best center prospects we've seen, and the Eagles are likely going to need to replace Jason Kelce this offseason.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 207 lbs
Ridder is the experienced, decently improvisational quarterback the Steelers will likely gravitate toward if they stay put at No. 20 overall.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Hill feels like a do-everything secondary member Bill Belichick would love in his defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Nakobe Dean
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 231 lbs
The Raiders get an instinctive playmaker at the second level of their defense in Dean.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
David Ojabo
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 265 lbs
Ojabo won't be able to fully replace Chandler Jones himself, but he'll be part of the edge-rusher-by-committee approach in Arizona.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Lloyd didn't run quite as fast as people expected at the combine, but he would be a force behind Dallas' defensive front thanks to his range.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Clemson
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 194 lbs
Booth would give the Bills a springy complement to Tre'Davious White on the outside. That cornerback spot needs an upgrade.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Central Michigan
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 303 lbs
Raimann is an older prospect but would be an instant starter on the right side of Tennessee's offensive front. The Titans need to be in win-now mode.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Zion Johnson
OL
Boston College
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 316 lbs
Johnson is a high floor, Week 1 starter at guard to fill the void created by Ali Marpet's retirement.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
George Karlaftis
EDGE
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Karlaftis would infuse some youth into the Packers front and give Rashan Gary a running mate on the outside.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 29
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 323 lbs
Green can play every position up front and has NFL-caliber size and power -- exactly what the Dolphins need.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Baylor
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 198 lbs
Pitre can be a Tyrann Mathieu replacement in Kansas City. He's that type of safety-slot defender prospect.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Minnesota
• Jr
• 6'8"
/ 380 lbs
Faalele might not be a stud in his first month at tackle in the NFL, but the upside is tremendous because of his size and movement abilities.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
Skyy Moore
WR
Western Michigan
• Jr
• 5'10"
/ 195 lbs
The Lions stay local with Moore, an explosive and polished wideout ready to rock in the NFL as a rookie.
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