The NFL Combine is wrapping up, making it apparent to create another mock draft. Overall, the combine did not change much for me in this draft, other than that I could see Jordan Davis get picked over Ebiketie in this mock draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars→ Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Ikem Ekwonu has risen up draft boards, but I still think that Neal is the best all around blocker in the draft. Both will become stars, but with Neal having played better pass-blocking snaps this season, I think the Jaguars lean towards Neal in order to protect Trevor Lawrence.   

2. Detroit Lions→ Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

While the Hutchinson vs. Kayvon Thibodeaux debate continues to ramp up, nothing can change my mind from Hutchinson being the best edge rusher in this draft. The Heisman finalist had a stellar season that went way above Thibodeuax’s (statistically) and earned himself the right to be the first defensive player taken in this class. 

3. Houston Texans→ Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

As stated above, Thibodeaux was not quite on Hutchinson’s level last season. However, the Texans, much like the Lions, lack strength at many positions. Taking Thidobeaux, who is a bit more raw of a prospect, gives the team hopes at a future, something that seemed impossible considering Davis Mills is their one true, young superstar. 

4. New York Jets→ Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

It’s understandable if the Jets would select Derek Stingley Jr. over Gardner, but Gardner is the top corner in this class, in my opinion. This past season, Gardner proved that he is the top corner in the class and that his success was not unwarranted. Performing against Alabama on the biggest stage against the best players in the country proved to me that Gardner is worth the selection. 

5. New York Giants→ Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State

Ekwonu has rising draft stock and continues to be one of the best talents in this draft. With a struggling offensive line, even with Andrew Thomas stepping up his game in 2021, Ekwonu is the perfect fit at number five.

6. Carolina Panthers→ Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Cross is one of the best all around linemen in this draft and could arguably be the OT1 (although he is my OT3).With the Panthers looking at a rebuild on offense, Cross will give them a good lineman to work around and build upon for the future.

7. New York Giants→ George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue

With two picks inside of the top ten, the Giants have the opportunity to do something special. Addressing their lackluster offensive line at number five is great but they need to bolster their pass-rushing presence as well. Leonard Williams has been solid, but the Giants still need someone else to wreak havoc, making Karlaftis an ideal fit.

8. Atlanta Falcons→ Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Burks is easily the best wide receiver in this draft class. He does everything right and has, by far, the best potential out of any other receiver in the draft. Burks has displayed speed, strength, footwork, route-running, hands and everything in between. The Falcons will nail this selection by taking Burks who will bring a Deebo Samuel-like presence to the organization.

9. Denver Broncos→ Derek Stingley Jr, CB, LSU

Stingley falling out of the top five seems unimaginable, but if teams believe that Gardner is the CB1 in the class, it could happen. If it does, the Broncos get another young outside cornerback to pair up with Patrick Surtain II and lockdown opposing offenses. With Kyle Fuller being underwhelming, the Broncos could really use Stingley on the outside.

10. New York Jets→ Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

Dean impressed many over the course of Georgia’s National Championship-winning season. The Jets pass rushing presence has been depleted, making Dean a good pick to give them extra force. Bolstering their defense with Dean and Gardner will help New York finally assume some success. 

11. Washington Commanders→ Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

Taylor Heinicke may have almost brought Washington a playoff win in 2020, but besides from that lone moment of success (and they still lost the game), Heinicke has not been anything special and the Commanders need to address the quarterback position. Pickett has an absurd amount of accuracy on throws and is excellent at extending plays. In other words, Pickett is a glorified Heinicke but with ten times the amount of potential. Selecting a QB in this year’s draft class will not be easy, but Pickett gives the Commanders hope at finding more success as the future nears.

12. Minnesota Vikings→ Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

Kirk Cousins proved all of his doubters wrong after one of the best seasons of his career. If the Vikings can get Cousins some more protection inside, they will set up an even better offense than before. The Vikings could very well end up back in the playoffs with the addition of the best center in the 2022 Draft Class, Tyler Linderbaum.

13. Cleveland Browns→ Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

Any NFL Draft website will tell you that Garrett Wilson is the best receiver in the class, but he is not even top five in the class in my opinion. Williams is a much better option as he does it all, finding gaps in defenses, returning punts, making huge plays, and plenty more. There is no doubt in my mind that Williams and Burks should be the first two receivers off of the draft board in 2022.

14. Baltimore Ravens→ Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

There is no doubt to anyone following the 2022 NFL Draft class that Hamilton is the best safety and arguably a top three prospect in the draft. Unfortunately for Hamilton, safety is not a highly valuable position, just like running back, and I can’t see him going as high as many projected. For the Ravens, this is an absolute steal. Chuck Clark will get a great free safety partner as the Ravens continue to bulk up their secondary. 

15. Philadelphia Eagles→ Drake London, WR USC 

London fits the bill of many other USC receivers. The Eagles could use a tall and physical deep threat, like London, to propel a better passing offense in 2022. London would be a major upgrade over Jalen Reagor and Greg Ward Jr. Giving Jalen Hurts additional weapons will be huge for the Eagles next season.

16. Philadelphia Eagles→ Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Lloyd could easily go before 16 which is why this is a surefire selection for Philadelphia. A team that lacks strength at linebacker as much as the Eagles will take Lloyd in a heartbeat. The Eagles beef up their roster on back to back picks.

17. Los Angeles Chargers→ Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

I feel like Elam is slipping under the radar in this draft. He had a solid career as a Gator covering some of the best receivers in the country while playing in the SEC. He has good ball skills and plays great man to man coverage. The Chargers can bolster their secondary with this selection, as they look to heading back to the postseason.

18. New Orleans Saints→ Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Dotson can be compared to Michael Thomas. While Dotson isn’t nearly as big as Thomas, he plays bigger than his height shows and has, by far, the best hands in this draft class. Dotson has even better speed and a bigger route tree than Thomas, making him the ultimate receiver to replace the Ohio State standout whose time in Louisiana looks to be coming to a close.

19. Philadelphia Eagles→ David Ojabo, DE, Michigan

The Eagles pass rush has not had the same kind of fire power that it once had. Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham and Ryan Kerrigan all do not have nearly the same playmaking ability that they once had, making Ojabo the perfect pick to spark some energy and pressure into a defense that once lacked it.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers→ Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Many Steelers fans will agree that Willis is not exactly the best of picks here, but something about the Liberty product has stuck with the Steelers’ scouting department. He may be a raw prospect, but Willis has all of the tools to develop into a star. While the Steelers could use help at linebacker, cornerback and on the offensive line, Willis found a heart string on Mike Tomlin and co., making him the definite selection if available here.  

21. New England Patriots→ Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

This year’s cornerback class has been widely debated and McDuffie is one of those players that seemingly everyone has different opinions on. McDuffie is good, but I feel like Gardner and Elam offer more as outside corners. McDuffie is still skilled, but Washington cornerbacks do not always develop immediately (take Byron Murphy, for example). The Patriots are known for hitting on their cornerback picks and Murphy could eventually develop to be the next diamond in the rough if he develops as well as Murphy did for the Cardinals. Either way, the Patriots need to be patient on this one.

22. Las Vegas Raiders→ Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

Another cornerback that some could consider the best in the draft. Booth is outstanding and played some great competition throughout his college career as a result of playing at a bigger school like Clemson. Being the most proven corner in the draft, I could see Booth going off of the board a bit higher than 22. Regardless, the Raiders would love Booth here as their secondary has been very lackluster after missing on plenty of their past first round picks. 

23. Arizona Cardinals→ Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

Despite not being heavily projected in the first round, Green is a great pick here as arguably the best guard in this draft. Kyler Murray has been running for his life recently and Green would help fix that. 

24. Dallas Cowboys→ Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

At one time, the Dallas Cowboys had the best offensive line in the league. After players aging and leaving in free agency, the Cowboys have been left with a pretty average offensive line. While it is still pretty solid, a young stud like Raimann would help bring some youth into the line and improve the standout weakness in Dallas.

25. Buffalo Bills→ Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State

Ebiketie was a monster in his first season with the Nittany Lions in 2021. He recorded a whopping 18.5 tackles for loss and was a huge presence in a very solid Penn State defense. The Bills defense could use an excellent pass rusher, like Ebiketie, if they hope to advance farther in the postseason.

26. Tennessee Titans→ Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

As much as it pains NFL fans to say, Julio Jones had a very poor season as he did not live up to the massive expectations put on him in Tennessee. A.J. Brown has been good but, besides Brown, the Titans lack wide receivers. Olave has excellent footwork and is very shifty. He may not be as great all around as Burks or Williams, but he has been great at Ohio State and is rising up my draft board from an early second round pick to a mid first rounder.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers→ Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

This pick just sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it could very well happen. I have always been a big fan of Moore and NFL scouts are beginning to say the same. Numerous sources state that Moore is rising up draft boards and could now be an early second round pick rather than the third round selection that he was once valued at. 27th overall might be a bit of a reach but Moore brings a lot to the table. He almost reminds me of a smaller Deebo Samuel, as he is very tough and physical but also has a good mix of speed. His hands looked fantastic as well when I watched his tape. While Moore may be a reach at 27, I really like this as a good spot for him.

28.Green Bay Packers→ George Pickens, WR, Georgia

This pick sounds equally as impossible as the Moore pick. But, just like the Moore pick, this has a chance of happening. Pickens has a boatload of talent and could, in the long run, be worth this early of a selection. With Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Davante Adams being free agents, Pickens would be a great selection to make up for the loss of wide receiver talent in Green Bay. 

29. Miami Dolphins→ Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Tua Tagovailoa has had virtually zero protection for his passing role. Penning would be a good tackle to give Tagovailoa extra help in rebuilding the Dolphins. If Tagovailoa gets some additional help, he will have more time to hit Jaylen Waddle on deeper routes. 

30. Kansas City Chiefs→ Jalen Pitre, CB, Baylor

Pitre has flown up draft boards to the point that Pro Football Focus has him ranked as high as the 28th best prospect in the class. While I do not believe that Pitre should be regarded that highly in terms of this class, he is still a good prospect that will help out a cornerback-needy team. For the Chiefs, their secondary is not terrible but the likes of Mike Hughes and Chavarius Ward can not take the Chiefs back to a Super Bowl without additional help. 

31. Cincinnati Bengals→ Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College

Johnson has risen up draft boards and has quickly become one of most scouts’ top three interior linemen in the draft. The Bengals’ offensive lineman was their biggest flaw over the course of the season. Joe Burrow can lead Cincinnati back to the Super Bowl behind a rebuilt offensive line. 

32. Detroit Lions→ Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

32 may be very low for Wilson, but, as stated many times before, I do not believe that he is a first round talent. This draft has an amazing class of receivers and if eight receivers do go off the board, Wilson should be one of them, even though I believe that he is a middle of the second round talent. Wilson plays very smoothly and has pretty decent hands, but his footwork and acceleration are far from great. The Lions could use some better receivers and, even with him not being towards the top of my draft board, Wilson would be a big upgrade over Breshad Perriman and Kalif Raymond.