Commanders – Page 3

2023 NFL Mock Draft: 7-Round Super Mock

Posted on April 13, 2023March 19, 2024 by Jason Pruett in 2023 NFL Draft, Uncategorized

All 32 teams. All 7 rounds. All 259 selections. This is the DRAFTPLEX 2023 NFL Draft Super Mock.

Projections are based on the official draft order as of April 12 and my personal impressions of team needs and interests heading into the draft, and do not reflect any potential trade scenarios.

First-round selections are presented graphically below, followed by the complete seven-round mock draft.

2023 NFL DRAFT SUPER MOCK

Round 1

1) Carolina Panthers (from CHI) — Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
2) Houston Texans — Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama
3) Arizona Cardinals — Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
4) Indianapolis Colts — C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State
5) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
6) Detroit Lions (from LAR) — Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
7) Las Vegas Raiders — Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
8) Atlanta Falcons — Jalen Carter, DL, Georgia
9) Chicago Bears (from CAR) — Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee
10) Philadelphia Eagles (from NO) — Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
11) Tennessee Titans — Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State
12) Houston Texans (from CLE) — Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
13) New York Jets — Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
14) New England Patriots — Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
15) Green Bay Packers — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State
16) Washington Commanders — Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
17) Pittsburgh Steelers — Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia
18) Detroit Lions — Adetomiwa Adebawore, DL, Northwestern
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
20) Seattle Seahawks — John Michael Schmitz, OC, Minnesota
21) Los Angeles Chargers — Jordan Addison, WR, USC
22) Baltimore Ravens — Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
23) Minnesota Vikings — Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
24) Jacksonville Jaguars — Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
25) New York Giants — Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
26) Dallas Cowboys — Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
27) Buffalo Bills — Drew Sanders, LB, Arkansas
28) Cincinnati Bengals — Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
29) New Orleans Saints (from SF thru MIA & DEN) — Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
30) Philadelphia Eagles — Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Mississippi State
31) Kansas City Chiefs — Calijah Kancey, DL, Pitt

Round 2

32) Pittsburgh Steelers (from CHI) — Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
33) Houston Texans — Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
34) Arizona Cardinals — Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
35) Indianapolis Colts — Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
36) Los Angeles Rams — Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
37) Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) — Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan
38) Las Vegas Raiders — Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
39) Carolina Panthers — BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU
40) New Orleans Saints — Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
41) Tennessee Titans — Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
42) New York Jets (from CLE) — Joe Tippmann, OC, Wisconsin
43) New York Jets — Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
44) Atlanta Falcons — DJ Turner, CB, Michigan
45) Green Bay Packers — Keion White, EDGE, Georgia Tech
46) New England Patriots — Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss
47) Washington Commanders — Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma
48) Detroit Lions — Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama
49) Pittsburgh Steelers — Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State
50) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Matthew Bergeron, OT, Syracuse
51) Miami Dolphins — Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
52) Seattle Seahawks — Tuli Tuipulotu, EDGE, USC
53) Chicago Bears (from BAL) — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State
54) Los Angeles Chargers — Luke Musgrave, TE, Oregon State
55) Detroit Lions (from MIN) — Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina
56) Jacksonville Jaguars — Tyrique Stevenson, CB, Miami
57) New York Giants — Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina
58) Dallas Cowboys — Steve Avila, OG, TCU
59) Buffalo Bills — Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State
60) Cincinnati Bengals — Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah
61) Chicago Bears (from CAR thru SF) — Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin
62) Philadelphia Eagles — O’Cyrus Torrence, OG, Florida
63) Kansas City Chiefs — Derick Hall, EDGE, Auburn

Round 3

64) Chicago Bears — Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
65) Houston Texans — Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa
66) Arizona Cardinals — Cedric Tillman, WR, Tennessee
67) Denver Broncos (from IND) — Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M
68) Denver Broncos — Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
69) Los Angeles Rams — Cory Trice Jr., CB, Purdue
70) Las Vegas Raiders — Isaiah Foskey, EDGE, Notre Dame
71) New Orleans Saints — Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State
72) Tennessee Titans — Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati
73) Houston Texans (from CLE) — Tank Dell, WR, Houston
74) Cleveland Browns (from NYJ) — Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
75) Atlanta Falcons — Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State
76) New England (from CAR) — Blake Freeland, OT, BYU
77) Los Angeles Rams (from MIA thru NE) — Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
78) Green Bay Packers — Ji’Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
79) Indianapolis Colts (from WAS) — Nick Saldiveri, OL, Old Dominion
80) Pittsburgh Steelers — Byron Young, EDGE, Tennessee
81) Detroit Lions — Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State
82) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
83) Seattle Seahawks — A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest
84) Miami Dolphins — Luke Schoonmaker, TE, Michigan
85) Los Angeles Chargers — Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane
86) Baltimore Ravens — Chandler Zavala, OG, North Carolina State
87) Minnesota Vikings — Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama
88) Jacksonville Jaguars — Jaelyn Duncan, OT, Maryland
89) New York Giants — Luke Wypler, OC, Ohio State
90) Dallas Cowboys — Rashee Rice, WR, SMU
91) Buffalo Bills — Roschon Johnson, RB, Texas
92) Cincinnati Bengals — Isaiah McGuire, EDGE, Missouri
93) Carolina Panthers (from SF) — Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
94) Philadelphia Eagles — Gervon Dexter Sr., DL, Florida
95) Kansas City Chiefs — Marvin Mims Jr., WR, Oklahoma
96) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt
97) Washington Commanders (compensatory) — Dorian Williams, LB, Tulane
98) Cleveland Browns (special compensatory) — YaYa Diaby, EDGE, Louisville
99) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
100) Las Vegas Raiders (special compensatory; from KC thru NYG) — Yasir Abdullah, LB, Louisville
101) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota
102) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory) — Marte Mapu, LB, Sacramento State

Round 4

103) Chicago Bears — Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois
104) Houston Texans — Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma
105) Arizona Cardinals — Zacch Pickens, DL, South Carolina
106) Indianapolis Colts — Trey Palmer, WR, Nebraska
107) New England Patriots (from LAR) — Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army
108) Denver Broncos — Olusegun Oluwatimi, OC, Michigan
109) Las Vegas Raiders — Braeden Daniels, OL, Utah
110) Atlanta Falcons (from TEN) — K.J. Henry, EDGE, Clemson
111) Cleveland Browns — Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Cincinnati
112) New York Jets — Christopher Smith II, S, Georgia
113) Atlanta Falcons — Emil Ekiyor Jr., G, Alabama
114) Carolina Panthers — Colby Wooden, DL, Auburn
115) New Orleans Saints — Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State
116) Green Bay Packers — Zach Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion
117) New England Patriots — Riley Moss, DB, Iowa
118) Washington Commanders — Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Ole Miss
119) Minnesota Vikings (from DET) — Jakorian Bennett, CB, Maryland
120) Pittsburgh Steelers — Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
121) Jacksonville Jaguars (from TB) — Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati
122) Kansas City Chiefs (from MIA) — Davis Allen, TE, Clemson
123) Seattle Seahawks — Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn
124) Baltimore Ravens — Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
125) Los Angeles Chargers — Byron Young, DL, Alabama
126) Cleveland (from MIN) — Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
127) Jacksonville Jaguars — Anthony Bradford, OG, LSU
128) New York Giants — Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
129) Dallas Cowboys — DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas
130) Buffalo Bills — Jammie Robinson, S, Florida State
131) Cincinnati Bengals — Zach Evans, RB, Ole Miss
132) Carolina Panthers (from SF) — Noah Sewell, LB, Oregon
133) Chicago Bears (from PHI) — Chase Brown, RB, Illinois
134) Kansas City Chiefs — Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse
135) New England Patriots (compensatory) — Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia

Round 5

136) Chicago Bears — Charlie Jones, WR, Purdue
137) Buffalo Bills (from ARZ) — Payne Durham, TE, Purdue
138) Indianapolis Colts — Rejzohn Wright, CB, Oregon State
139) Denver Broncos — Jose Ramirez, EDGE, Eastern Michigan
140) Cleveland Browns (from LAR) — Kendre Miller, RB, TCU
141) Las Vegas Raiders — Aidan O’Connell, QB, Purdue
142) Cleveland Browns — JL Skinner, S, Boise State
143) New York Jets — Karl Brooks, DL, Bowling Green
144) Las Vegas Raiders (from ATL) — Daniel Scott, S, California
145) Carolina Panthers — Kei’Trel Clark, CB, Louisville
146) New Orleans Saints — Nick Herbig, LB, Wisconsin
147) Tennessee Titans — Ricky Stromberg, OC, Arkansas
148) Chicago Bears (from NE thru BAL) — Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
149) Green Bay Packers — Jaren Hall, QB, BYU
150) Washington Commanders — Tre Tucker, WR, Cincinnati
151) Seattle Seahawks (from PIT) — Andrew Vorhees, OG, USC
152) Detroit Lions — Carter Warren, OT, Pitt
153) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Clayton Tune, QB, Houston
154) Seattle Seahawks — Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
155) San Francisco 49ers (from MIA) — Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU
156) Los Angeles Chargers — Nick Hampton, LB, App State
157) Baltimore Ravens — Lonnie Phelps Jr., LB, Kansas
158) Minnesota Vikings — Dylan Horton, DL, TCU
159) Detroit Lions (from ATL through JAX) — Mike Morris, EDGE, Michigan
160) New York Giants — Moro Ojomo, DL, Texas
161) Houston Texans (from DAL) — Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama
162) Indianapolis Colts (from BUF) — Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
163) Cincinnati Bengals — Derius Davis, WR, TCU
164) San Francisco 49ers — Jay Ward, DB, LSU
165) New Orleans Saints (from PHI) — Nick Broeker, OG, Ole Miss
166) Kansas City Chiefs — Colby Sorsdal, OT, William & Mary
167) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — McClendon Curtis, OG, Tennessee-Chattanooga
168) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Juice Scruggs, OC, Penn State
169) Dallas Cowboys (compensatory) — Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU
170) Green Bay Packers (compensatory) — Asim Richards, OT, North Carolina
171) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Keondre Coburn, DT, Texas
172) New York Giants (compensatory) — DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB
173) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Will Mallory, TE, Miami
174) Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory) — Jerrod Clark, DT, Coastal Carolina
175) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory) — Atonio Mafi, OG, UCLA
176) Indianapolis Colts (compensatory; from DAL) — Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford
177) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma

Round 6

178) Kansas City Chiefs (from CHI thru MIA) — Deuce Vaughn, RB, Kansas State
179) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from HOU) — Dee Winters, LB, TCU
180) Arizona Cardinals — Darrell Luter Jr., South Alabama
181) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from IND) — Andre Iosivas, WR, Princeton
182) Los Angeles Rams — Isaiah Land, LB, Florida A&M
183) Detroit Lions (from DEN) — Jarrett Patterson, OC, Notre Dame
184) New England Patriots (from LV) — Sidy Sow, OG, Eastern Michigan
185) Jacksonville Jaguars (from NYJ) — Kobie Turner, DL, Wake Forest
186) Tennessee Titans (from ATL) — Jason Taylor II, S, Oklahoma State
187) New England Patriots (from CAR) — Brodric Martin, DT, Western Kentucky
188) Houston Texans (from NO) — Alex Forsyth, OC, Oregon
189) Los Angeles Rams (from TEN) — Jake Haener, QB, Fresno State
190) Cleveland Browns — SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pitt
191) Los Angeles Rams (from GB) — Jake Moody, K, Michigan
192) New England Patriots — Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
193) Washington Commanders — Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
194) Detroit Lions — Ronnie Bell, WR, Michigan
195) Denver Broncos (from PIT) — Chad Ryland, K, Maryland
196) Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Jaylon Jones, DB, Texas A&M
197) Miami Dolphins — Cameron Young, DT, Mississippi State
198) Seattle Seahawks — Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
199) Baltimore Ravens — Justin Shorter, WR, Florida
200) Los Angeles Chargers — Jordan McFadden, OL, Clemson
201) Houston Texans (from MIN) — Tyler Lacy, DL, Oklahoma State
202) Jacksonville Jaguars — Brandon Hill, S, Pitt
203) Houston Texans (from NYG) — Alex Austin, CB, Oregon State
204) Las Vegas Raiders (from DAL) — Warren McClendon Jr., OT, Georgia
205) Buffalo Bills — Thomas Incoom, EDGE, Central Michigan
206) Cincinnati Bengals — Desjuan Johnson, DT, Toledo
207) New York Jets (from SF thru HOU) — Starling Thomas V, CB, UAB
208) Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI) — Grant DuBose, WR, Charlotte
209) New York Giants (from KC) — Cam Jones, LB, Indiana
210) New England Patriots (compensatory) — Isaiah Moore, LB, North Carolina State
211) Minnesota Vikings (compensatory) — Joey Fisher, OL, Shepherd
212) Dallas Cowboys (compensatory) — Chamarri Conner, S, Virginia Tech
213) Arizona Cardinals (compensatory) — Jalen Redmond, DL, Oklahoma
214) Las Vegas Raiders (compensatory) — Arquon Bush, CB, Cincinnati
215) Washington Commanders (compensatory) — Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame
216) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Viliami Fehoko Jr., EDGE, San Jose State
217) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory) — Puka Nacua, WR, BYU

Round 7

218) Chicago Bears — Robert Beal Jr., EDGE, Georgia
219) Philadelphia Eagles (from HOU thru MIN) — Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
220) Las Vegas Raiders (from ARZ) — Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern
221) Indianapolis Colts — Anthony Johnson Jr., S, Iowa State
222) San Francisco 49ers (from DEN) — Nesta Jade Silvera, DT, Arizona State
223) Los Angeles Rams — Jaxson Kirkland, OL, Washington
224) Atlanta Falcons (from LV) — Ryan Hayes, OT, Michigan
225) Atlanta Falcons — Jacob Copeland, WR, Maryland
226) Jacksonville Jaguars (from CAR) — Mekhi Blackmon, CB, USC
227) New Orleans Saints — Deneric Prince, RB, Tulsa
228) Tennessee Titans — Blake Whiteheart, TE, Wake Forest
229) Cleveland Browns — M.J. Anderson, DL, Iowa State
230) Houston Texans (from TB thru NYJ) — D.J. Johnson, EDGE, Oregon
231) Las Vegas Raiders (from NE) — Elijah Higgins, WR, Stanford
232) Green Bay Packers — Dontayvion Wicks, WR, Virginia
233) Washington Commanders — Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Kentucky
234) Pittsburgh Steelers — Bryce Ford-Wheaton, WR, West Virginia
235) Green Bay Packers (from DET through LAR) — Mekhi Garner, CB, LSU
236) Indianapolis Colts (from TB) — Demario Douglas, WR, Liberty
237) Seattle Seahawks — Xavier Gipson, WR, Stephen F. Austin
238) Miami Dolphins — Nic Jones, CB, Ball State
239) Los Angeles Chargers — Ronnie Hickman, S, Ohio State
240) New York Giants (from BAL) — Tyrus Wheat, EDGE, Mississippi State
241) Pittsburgh Steelers (from MIN thru DEN) — Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Jackson State
242) Green Bay Packers (from JAX) — Ochaun Mathis, EDGE, Nebraska
243) New York Giants — Tyson Bagent, QB, Shepherd
244) Dallas Cowboys — Max Duggan, QB, TCU
245) New England Patriots (from ATL thru BUF) — Adam Korsak, P, Rutgers
246) Cincinnati Bengals — John Ojukwu, OT, Boise State
247) San Francisco 49ers — Jack Podlesny, K, Georgia
248) Philadelphia Eagles — Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan
249) Kansas City Chiefs — Hunter Luepke, FB, North Dakota State
250) Kansas City Chiefs (compensatory) — Jeremy Banks, LB, Tennessee
251) Los Angeles Rams (compensatory) — Ventrell Miller, LB, Florida
252) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (compensatory) — Dante Stills, DL, West Virginia
253) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Lew Nichols III, RB, Central Michigan
254) New York Giants (compensatory) — Shaka Heyward, LB, Duke
255) San Francisco 49ers (compensatory) — Austin Ajiake, LB, UNLV
256) Green Bay Packers (compensatory) — Xazavian Valladay, RB, Arizona State
257) New Orleans Saints (compensatory) — Durell Nchami, EDGE, Maryland
258) Chicago Bears (compensatory) — Jon Gaines II, OG, UCLA
259) Houston Texans (compensatory) — Derek Parish, FB, Houston

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition

Posted on March 23, 2023March 19, 2024 by Jason Pruett in 2023 NFL Draft, Uncategorized

DRAFTPLEX 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition projections are based on the current first-round draft order and personal impressions of team needs and interests as of March 22, and do not represent any potential trade scenarios.

DRAFTPLEX 2023 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition

1	Carolina Panthers (via CHI)	QB	C.J. Stroud	Ohio State
2	Houston Texans	QB	Bryce Young	Alabama
3	Arizona Cardinals	EDGE	Will Anderson Jr.	Alabama
4	Indianapolis Colts	QB	Anthony Richardson	Florida
5	Seattle Seahawks (via DEN)	EDGE	Tyree Wilson	Texas Tech
6	Detroit Lions (via LAR)	LB	Nolan Smith	Georgia
7	Las Vegas Raiders	CB	Christian Gonzalez	Oregon
8	Atlanta Falcons	CB	Devon Witherspoon	Illinois
9	Chicago Bears (via CAR)	OT	Broderick Jones	Georgia
10	Philadelphia Eagles	DL	Jalen Carter	Georgia
11	Tennessee Titans	OT	Paris Johnson Jr.	Ohio State
12	Houston Texans (via CLE)	EDGE	Lukas Van Ness	Iowa
13	New York Jets	OT	Peter Skoronski	Northwestern
14	New England Patriots	WR	Zay Flowers	Boston College
15	Green Bay Packers	WR	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	Ohio State
16	Washington Commanders	TE	Dalton Kincaid	Utah
17	Pittsburgh Steelers	CB	Joey Porter Jr.	Penn State
18	Detroit Lions	DL	Adetomiwa Adebawore	Northwestern
19	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	OT	Darnell Wright	Tennessee
20	Seattle Seahawks	WR	Jordan Addison	USC
21	Los Angeles Chargers	EDGE	Myles Murphy	Clemson
22	Baltimore Ravens	CB	Deonte Banks	Maryland
23	Minnesota Vikings	QB	Will Levis	Kentucky
24	Jacksonville Jaguars	EDGE	Will McDonald IV	Iowa State
25	New York Giants	OC	John Michael Schmitz	Minnesota
26	Dallas Cowboys	RB	Bijan Robinson	Texas
27	Buffalo Bills	LB	Drew Sanders	Arkansas
28	Cincinnati Bengals	OT	Dawand Jones	Ohio State
29	New Orleans Saints (via SF)	WR	Quentin Johnston	TCU
30	Philadelphia Eagles	OL	Cody Mauch	North Dakota State
31	Kansas City Chiefs	DL	Calijah Kancey	Pitt

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

2022 NFL Mock Draft: Final Edition

Posted on April 24, 2022February 23, 2023 by Jason Pruett in 2022 NFL Draft, Uncategorized

The moment of truth has arrived. The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here and after spending hours evaluating, questioning, changing, agonizing, and changing again, my final selections are now locked in.

And I have to be honest — I feel both a sense of confidence in my projections and a sense of dread that those that did not make the final cut will factor into how the draft plays out Thursday night. But, this is what I’m going to let ride.

With that being said, I am pleased to present my final 2022 NFL Mock Draft. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my impression of team needs heading into the draft. And while many may be implied, there are no potential trade scenarios being projected.

Enjoy the mock and enjoy the draft!

1 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
It is rare that the first overall pick remains a relative mystery headed into draft week, but here we are. Aidan Hutchinson is still the favorite, but the meteoric rise of Travon Walker has him firmly in the conversation. Against my better judgment, I’m following the smoke and serving a last-minute swerve at #1.

2 | Detroit Lions — Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
If the first card turned into the commissioner doesn’t read Aidan Hutchinson, the second absolutely will. The fit is almost too perfect for the Lions. We’ll see if the scenario is too good to be true on Thursday.

3 | Houston Texans — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
What the Texans do with the third overall pick was the most difficult projection for me to make, because I think it sets the tone for the first half of the draft. An offensive tackle makes total sense, as would a pass rusher. There is also Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, who has been connected to Houston and was going to be my pick for them coming into this final exercise. But, I wonder about Derek Stingley Jr. and if a team were completely comfortable with him as a prospect after doing their homework, where he would go. While the more likely marriage between team and player is at #13 or in a trade-back scenario, I’m taking a leap that Derek Stingley Jr. becomes the next Texan at #3.

4 | New York Jets — Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
As a prospect, the personality is polarizing, but the talent is elite. Of course, we’re talking about Kayvon Thibodeaux. I am confident that if he remains on the board at #4, the Jets will bank on the promise that under the bright lights of Broadway, a star is born.

5 | New York Giants — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
If this scenario plays out, the Giants have all of the top offensive linemen still on the board. Any one of Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, or Charles Cross could realistically be the selection, but in a mild upset, my projection is Cross, who they reportedly favor among the trio.

6 | Carolina Panthers — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
The Panthers have been all over the quarterbacks in this class, but at this point, I really wonder if they will go all in here when the time comes Thursday night. Having Ikem Ekwonu and Evan Neal (or potentially Charles Cross) still on the board only makes that decision more difficult. If they stand in and pick, I think they pass on a passer and draft a tackle — in this case, Ekwonu.

7 | New York Giants (via CHI) — Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Giants have been closely linked to Sauce Gardner throughout the process and he’s likely in consideration for them at #5. Unless another team steals him away, I don’t see a scenario where Sauce doesn’t become a Giant.

8 | Atlanta Falcons — Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
What the Falcons do at #8 is another pivotal point in the draft sequence Thursday night. They could draft a quarterback, draft the best player available still on the board (in this case, tackle Evan Neal), trigger the run on receivers, or draft a pass rusher. As badly as I believe they need offensive help, I have them taking Jermaine Johnson II and then looking to add weapons on day two of the draft.

9 | Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
I think the Seahawks are in position to land a prospect receiving Top-5 consideration. As it turns out here, they are in position to land Evan Neal, a prospect who has and should still be receiving consideration at #1 overall. Neal would bring blue-chip talent to an offensive line that desperately needs it.

10 | New York Jets (via SEA) — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
The Jets made a play for Tyreek Hill and are reportedly interested in trading for Deebo Samuel, so they are clearly looking to upgrade their receiver corps. While Garrett Wilson and Drake London would make sense, I am actually projecting Jameson Williams, who looks to be on track to a full, speedy recovery from his ACL tear, to be the first receiver off the board and on his way to New York.

11 | Washington Commanders — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Commanders likewise have been linked to the top group of receivers, specifically the Ohio State duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. If Wilson ends up going to the Falcons or the Jets, I think Olave will be the pick. But, in this case, Wilson is there for the taking and is off to Washington to join fellow Buckeyes Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel in the Commanders’ receiving corps.

12 | Minnesota Vikings — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Kyle Hamilton has had a rollercoaster of a draft season and may now have the widest projected range of any top prospect based on the evaluation of his ability and the valuation of the position he plays. I personally feel his range is between picks 11-15 at this stage, which would put the Vikings in play as a suitor, especially with Derek Stingley Jr. off the board.

13 | Houston Texans (via CLE) — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Lovie Smith defenses are known for having stud linebackers. If a pass rusher they covet isn’t on the board after they secure their choice of cornerback, I could see Devin Lloyd being a consideration for the Texans at #13 or in a trade-back scenario.

14 | Baltimore Ravens — George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
The Ravens could go in a number of different ways here, but perhaps the top consideration is an edge rusher to pair with Odafe Oweh. I think the most likely options in this range would be Jermaine Johnson II and George Karlaftis. With Johnson off the board, it’s Karlaftis.

15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) — Drake London, WR, USC
The Eagles continue the mid-first run on wide receivers, drafting Drake London, who would pair with last year’s first-round selection DeVonta Smith and provide a big, athletic target for quarterback Jalen Hurts.

16 | New Orleans Saints (via IND thru PHI) — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
The Saints are another team with designs on drafting a wide receiver, with Chris Olave being perhaps the most popular target. Here, the board falls in their favor.

17 | Los Angeles Chargers — Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Chargers have been linked to different prospects here, but the offensive line seems to be where they have the most to sort out. Tackle Trevor Penning is a possibility, but I think it might be Zion Johnson who is primed to appear next season in powder blue.

18 | Philadelphia Eagles — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Back on the clock, the Eagles expect to turn their attention to defense with their second first-round pick, with cornerback and safety being the most likely considerations. I would look at Trent McDuffie being the pick here and becoming an instant starter for Philadelphia.

19 | New Orleans Saints — Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Saints expect to address both trenches at some point early in the draft. With that in mind, drafting either Jordan Davis or Devonte Wyatt from Georgia would go a long way toward strengthening the interior defensive line, with Davis being my pick for the Saints here.

20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Like Carolina, Pittsburgh has done their due diligence on this quarterback class. But, I think the Steelers are in less of a panic position than the Panthers, and thus, can afford to let the board fall to them. But, I’m not sure that they do. That said, while they are able to draft the quarterback I believe they favor — Malik Willis — here at #20 in this scenario, I can see them making a play to move up, perhaps into the Top-10, to come away with him.

21 | New England Patriots — Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
After bouncing Trevor Penning around in various draft positions and destinations as I worked through this final mock, I landed on the Patriots — and really liked the player-team fit. Their offensive line is in a state of flux and they may also be willing to move up to get the blocker of their choosing, which puts Penning in the mix. Zion Johnson was the other name I looked at here for New England before bumping him up to the Chargers.

22 | Green Bay Packers (via LV) — Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan
Will the Packers pass on drafting a receiver with their first of two first-round picks? Perhaps! I have them drafting Daxton Hill, whose versatility would be a valuable addition to the secondary now and in the future in Green Bay.

23 | Arizona Cardinals — Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State
There is always a surprise or two on draft night and this would be no exception. Arnold Ebiketie is not a name commonly found in the Top-25, but is worthy of first-round consideration — especially for a team like Arizona that needs an edge and will likely be wiped out if they wait until they come back around on the clock in the second round. I think Ebiketie is also a trade-back option for the Cardinals in case a team wants to move up.

24 | Dallas Cowboys — Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
Wide receiver, pass rusher, and offensive line look to be the Cowboys first-round targets. That said, I think they are focused in on addressing left guard and will end up doing so with Kenyon Green, who will be a plug-and-play starter for Dallas.

25 | Buffalo Bills — Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
The Bills have an obvious need at cornerback that I’ve addressed with Andrew Booth Jr. in both of my previous 2022 mock drafts. But, here, I’m being a little reckless and having them finally drafting a first-round running back like it seems like we’ve all been projecting them to do for years. Breece Hall, welcome to Buffalo!

26 | Tennessee Titans — Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Yes, the Titans are in win-now mode, but after coming up short this post-season, you have to wonder if their quarterback play with Ryan Tannehill is good enough to win now in a stacked AFC. With that in mind, the Titans might consider bringing in either Kenny Pickett or, my pick here, Desmond Ridder to push Tannehill.

27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Devonte Wyatt, DT, Connecticut
Tampa Bay has work to do on both lines, but late in the first round and with this scenario playing out as it has, offensive line help is probably not the value play. The interior defensive line, however, could receive a tremendous boost with the addition of Devonte Wyatt, who expects to go in this range.

28 | Green Bay Packers — Logan Hall, DL, Houston
Will the Packers also pass on drafting a receiver with their second of two first-round picks? Apparently so! I feel like Logan Hall is making a late push for first-round consideration and the Packers could be the team to take him off the board. They still have two seconds and can also put together a package to trade up for one of the receivers in the next tier, such as Skyy Moore or Christian Watson, if they would like.

29 | Kansas City Chiefs (via SF thru MIA) — Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Chiefs are in a similar situation as the Packers, with receiver being a primary need and a likely target with one of their two first-round picks. But, they also have two seconds and can also put together a package to trade up on night two of the draft. They are also in prime position to trade back for a team wanting to jump back into the first round. Whether they stay or go, I think one of their early picks will be allocated to cornerback, with Kaiir Elam being my pick.

30 | Kansas City Chiefs — Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
Same story here, but with the twist I mentioned with Arizona’s pick. The Chiefs need help on the edge, but probably miss out on a player they want if they wait until the second round. Like Arnold Ebiketie, I think Boye Mafe is worthy of consideration in the late-first, with Kansas City being in the conversation to take him off the board.

31 | Cincinnati Bengals — Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
It’s difficult not just slotting in center Tyler Linderbaum to the Bengals and calling it a day. But, I think they might feel good about what they’ve done with their offensive line through free agency, and if they do decide to draft a center, are fine to do so on Friday or Saturday. Alternatively, I think cornerback is a consideration, where I decided to go with Kyler Gordon, who is in the late-first round mix.

32 | Detroit Lions — George Pickens, WR, Georgia
I feel like George Pickens gets his name called at some point late on Thursday night, with Green Bay and Kansas City being the most likely to turn in his card, but what about Detroit? Aside from the physical talent, there’s a grit and intensity to his game that would seem to appeal to the Lions. If they don’t draft a potential successor to Jared Goff or another team doesn’t trade up with quarterback aspirations of their own, maybe Pickens is the pick and Goff gets another chance to find success with better talent around him.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX

2022 NFL Mock Draft: 1.0 Edition

Posted on March 26, 2022February 23, 2023 by Jason Pruett in 2022 NFL Draft, Uncategorized

As the wildest NFL offseason in recent memory — if not ever — continues to unfold, the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft is shaping up to be just as unpredictable.

With this draft class lacking the typical buffet of budding superstar quarterbacks and blue-chip positional prospects at the very top, this was initially viewed to be a ‘down’ year. But instead, it looks to be one of the deepest drafts in quite a while, as teams can expect to find starting-caliber talent three to four rounds deep and intriguing developmental talent well beyond the seven rounds of official selections.

Of course, it all starts with the first round. And approximately one month ahead of the commissioner coming to the podium to open the proceedings, we’re no closer to a consensus on how night one of the draft is going to play out than we were in January — which just adds to the excitement and enjoyment of doing this year after year.

With that being said, I am pleased to present my 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0. These first-round projections are based on the current draft order and my impression of team needs as of March 26, and do not reflect any potential trade scenarios. Enjoy!

1 | Jacksonville Jaguars — Aidan Hutchison, EDGE, Michigan
For the second straight draft, the Jaguars find themselves picking first. With last year’s selection of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the choice comes down to a top pass rusher or a top offensive tackle. Aidan Hutchinson is a safe prospect and a safe bet to be the first player off the board.

2 | Detroit Lions — Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
The Lions could press for a quarterback here, but they would be better served taking the best defender on their board. If it’s not Hutchinson, it could be Travon Walker, whose rise has been one of the most interesting storylines to watch this draft season. If he lives up to his pro projection, he could be a dominant force for Detroit for many years to come.

3 | Houston Texans — Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
After effectively hitting the reset button each of the past two offseasons, the Texans finally have premium draft capital again and expect to build around quarterback Davis Mills, who showed promise in his rookie campaign. With that in mind, it would be no surprise if offensive tackle Evan Neal was on short list of options and ultimately the selection here.

4 | New York Jets — Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
Once projected to be the headliner of this draft class before he was even eligible to declare, Kayvon Thibodeaux has seen his stock cool to a degree throughout the process. But, there’s no denying the talent and potential to be an impact pass rusher from day one. The Jets would be hard-pressed to pass if he were to be available when they go on the clock at #4.

5 | New York Giants — Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Giants’ offense has been a disaster the past couple of seasons, with poor offensive line play contributing to the disappointment. Despite their veteran signings in free agency, a forward-thinking solution is needed to fortify the offense front. Charles Cross has been less heralded than the other edge blockers throughout the process, but would be an instant starter at right tackle.

6 | Carolina Panthers — Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
The Sam Darnold experiment hasn’t been declared ‘over’ by the Panthers, but it would appear to be trending in that direction with the attention they’ve been giving to the top quarterback prospects in this draft. Malik Willis has arguably been the most impressive and expects to be the first signal caller to hear his name called on draft night.

7 | New York Giants (via CHI) — Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
Back on the clock, the Giants turn their attention to defense with cornerback James Bradberry rumored to be on his way out. Should that turn out to be the case, Sauce Gardner heads to New York as the new CB1 and becomes the centerpiece of the secondary under new defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale.

8 | Atlanta Falcons — Drake London, WR, USC
With glaring holes at receiver and pass rusher, the Falcons are one of the most ill-equipped teams at the moment on either side of the passing game. In this case, the need for another playmaker to help new quarterback Marcus Mariota wins out, as Atlanta selects tall target Drake London to pair with Kyle Pitts.

9 | Seattle Seahawks (via DEN) — Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
This would be a surprise slide for Ikem Ekwonu, who expects to be in contention for the first overall pick, but the board doesn’t always fall the way it’s supposed to on draft night. That being said, the Seahawks’ representative should be sprinting to turn in the card if this scenario should play out given their longstanding offensive line woes.

10 | New York Jets (via SEA) — Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
With their second Top-10 selection, the Jets could look at a pass catcher or potentially a corner, but strong consideration would expect to be given to drafting unicorn safety Kyle Hamilton. Considered by many to be the top overall prospect in this draft class, there’s a chance he’s the best player remaining on New York’s board at this juncture.

11 | Washington Commanders — Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The newly-christened Commanders were thought to be a contender to draft a quarterback, but the trade for Carson Wentz makes the possibility less likely. However, they could have interest in Devin Lloyd as their defensive signal caller after trotting out a string of stop-gap veterans recently. Drafting a first-round linebacker two years in a row probably isn’t ideal resource allocation, but Washington has shown that they will double down on defensive talent in consecutive drafts.

12 | Minnesota Vikings — Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
Derek Stingley Jr. exploded onto the scene with his stellar play as a freshman and was projected to be one of the highest-drafted cornerbacks in recent memory once he was eligible. But, it’s been a long, winding road over the past two years that expects to come to an end later in the first round than initially anticipated. With vacancies in the secondary, the Vikings are among the potential investors who could bank on him returning to form.

13 | Houston Texans (via CLE) — Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
With the AFC expecting to be more competitive than ever in the coming years, the Texans’ path back to contention will need to run through their division — which means defending against two of the most potent rushing offenses in the NFL in the Titans and the Colts. Adding the one-of-a-kind Jordan Davis could help tip the scales in the Texans’ favor.

14 | Baltimore Ravens — Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State
With their effort to land free agent and former Raven Za’Darius Smith falling through, the Ravens expect to take another stab at improving their pass rush. Provided they don’t add another name veteran ahead of the draft, Jermaine Johnson II would be an excellent fit on the edge opposite Odafe Oweh.

15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) — Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Eagles haven’t had the best of luck drafting wide receivers in recent years, with only last year’s first-rounder DeVonta Smith emerging as a viable offensive weapon from among their high picks. They’ll hope to have similar luck with the selection of Ohio State stud Garrett Wilson.

16 | Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) — George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
Staying on the clock with the second of their three first-round selections, adding the relentless George Karlaftis to their stable of edge rushers would give the Eagles an immediate contributor and building block for the future of their defensive front.

17 | Los Angeles Chargers — Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College
The Chargers appear to be on the verge of contending in the AFC and certainly made the investments in their defense this offseason to do so. However, one area where they’re coming into the draft reasonably thin is the offensive line. Zion Johnson could be a name to watch as they look to put complementary players into position alongside left tackle Rashawn Slater and center Corey Linsley.

18 | New Orleans Saints — Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Saints expect to be in the market to draft a quarterback, but at this stage it’s still difficult to tell if they prefer any one prospect over the others. But, what is clear is that the departure of Terron Armstead leaves a sizeable void at left tackle. Trevor Penning has performed his way into first-round consideration and would bring aggression and attitude to the Big Easy.

19 | Philadelphia Eagles — Daxton Hill, DB, Michigan
Linebacker might be the most pressing need remaining — but Philadelphia simply doesn’t draft the position in the first round. Alternatively, the Eagles aren’t locked into any safety for the long-term, which could see them look at the position early. Daxton Hill, who might be the most versatile secondary prospect in this class, could be a potential target.

20 | Pittsburgh Steelers — Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
Like Carolina, the Steelers have had their eyes on all of the top quarterbacks in this class, even after bringing free agent Mitch Trubisky into the fold. Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett have both been connected to the Steelers early and often, and seem to be the two most likely choices. With Willis off the board here, it’s almost poetic that Pickett gets the nod and gets to remain in Pittsburgh.

21 | New England Patriots — Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
The Patriots released Stephon Gilmore during the season and allowed J.C. Jackson to leave in free agency. Their recourse thus far has been limited to luring Malcolm Butler out of retirement. Drafting a cornerback early would seem to be on the table, with the ultra-competitive Trent McDuffie being a prime candidate to assume CB1 duties in Foxboro.

22 | Green Bay Packers (via LV) — Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
For years, the Packers’ passing game has leaned on Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams and a cast of late-round characters. Now that Adams has been traded away to the Raiders, the Packers’ need to reload the receiving corps is even more painfully obvious. An early selection of — or perhaps a double-dip starting with — Chris Olave would be a big step in the right direction.

23 | Arizona Cardinals — Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
With Chandler Jones charting a path northwest to Las Vegas, edge rusher is likely the more urgent front-seven need and certainly the case can be made for offensive line help as well. But, the Cardinals could also look at adding an active interior disruptor in Devonte Wyatt to replace the released Jordan Phillips.

24 | Dallas Cowboys — Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
This offseason, the Cowboys effectively created more holes for themselves to address coming into the draft, but one that has been lingering since before season’s end has been a long-term answer at left guard. To that end, the Cowboys have been and are reported to continue doing their due diligence on Kenyon Green, who is an NFL-ready interior blocker and would be a step-in starter for Dallas.

25 | Buffalo Bills — Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
The Bills appear to be on the cusp of joining the NFL’s elite and a strong roster is certainly an indication of that. After bringing in front-seven reinforcements in free agency, their draft focus could be on the defensive backfield, putting a well-rounded, physical cornerback like Andrew Booth Jr. in play.

26 | Tennessee Titans — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Titans are a team that I think could be a dark horse candidate to draft a first-round quarterback. That said, with a firm grasp on the AFC South, their early approach is more likely to involve adding more firepower to compete now. Treylon Burks is a big, athletic target who could be deployed in a variety of ways by Tennessee.

27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Travis Jones, DT, Connecticut
Tom Brady had a cup of coffee with retirement, but is now back to captain the ship in Tampa. And with his return, much of the uncertainty with the Bucs’ offensive personnel was washed away. The defensive line, though, is a different story. Travis Jones has been a riser at every stage of the draft process and could be a strong consideration here late in the first round.

28 | Green Bay Packers — Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
I wouldn’t rule out the Packers drafting an offensive lineman with their second first-round selection, but perhaps they throw caution to the wind and, like wide receiver, draft another position early that they historically don’t. With the exception of his size, Nakobe Dean has everything you look for in a linebacker and would be a premium value selection here for Green Bay.

29 | Kansas City Chiefs (via SF thru MIA) — Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
With back-to-back selections in the first round now, I expect the Chiefs to leverage one to trade up or to draft an injured top prospect at a bargain — with Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams and Michigan edge David Ojabo being the obvious candidates. Seeing that Tyreek Hill was traded away, Williams makes sense as the new high-speed target for Andy Reid’s offense once he’s back to 100%.

30 | Kansas City Chiefs — Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
The Chiefs have taken different approaches to bring consistency to their pass rush, but are a few years removed from their last attempt to address the edge with a first-round prospect. Boye Mafe has impressed throughout the process and could be in the mix as as night one of the draft comes to a close.

31 | Cincinnati Bengals — Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
The Bengals came up just short of completing an incredible two-year turnaround with a Lombardi Trophy. Heading into the offseason, they knew they would need to drastically improve the offensive line to earn another opportunity at a Super Bowl and have done an admirable job shoring up their front in free agency. They could view stud center Tyler Linderbaum as the last piece of that puzzle.

32 | Detroit Lions — Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
As noted earlier, the Lions could go quarterback at #2, but #32 and #34 overall might be more likely, with the final pick in the first round being the more favored draft position thanks to the prized fifth-year option. In this scenario, the Lions have Matt Corral, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell still on the board. I’ll pencil in Ridder, a proven leader from a blue-collar program, which could appeal to the Detroit front office.

Jason Pruett
DRAFTPLEX