2022 NFL Draft 21-32
The NFL Draft is just days away and as mentioned in the previous posts the draft is constantly switching around picks, and players for picks. That’s what makes the draft so fun and exciting!
This order of picks can change all the way up to the very last second these teams are on the clock, as teams can trade away their pick at any moment. It is quite possible that we can see multiple teams make trades on draft night as you’ve seen some teams have multiple first round picks which are heavily sought after. So, like I’ve mentioned before, this order is by no means the final order in which teams are picking.
Let’s get into it, the New England Patriots are on the clock!
21. New England Patriots (10-7)
The Patriots seems to have found their heir to Tom Brady, with last year’s 15th overall pick Mac Jones. Mac was able to bring the Patriots back to the playoffs after they missed them in 2020, where they lost to their divisional foes, the Bills. They were absolutely demolished in that game with a final score of 47-17. That was in part due to their in ability to stop Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. They also lost their top corner, JC Jackson, to free agency. It’s safe to say the Pats will likely choose a top CB here. So, with the 21st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots select: Trent McDuffie, Cornerback, Washington.
22. Green Bay Packers (13-4)
This isn’t the Packers original picking spot, this pick is supposed to belong to the 10-7 Raiders. However, this past offseason, the Raiders sent over this pick, along with several others, and got Wide Receiver Davante Adams in return. The Packers may have lost Adams but they were able to sign QB Aaron Rodgers to an extension worth a lot of guaranteed money. Even amidst him possibly retiring or being traded, he returned to the team that drafted him back in 2005. They need to replace Adams and help on the Defensive end side as well. With this pick I think the Packers do something they haven’t done in 20 years, draft a receiver in the first round. So, with the 22nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select: Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State.
23. Arizona Cardinals (11-6)
The Cardinals, after an 8-0 start, finished the season 3-6. This marks another year where they floundered out late in the season. They still made the playoffs as the 5th seed but lost in embarrassing fashion to the eventual Super Bowl Champions, the Rams. Since then, Kyler Murray has made it clear that he wants a big contract extension and has gone as far as scrubbing his social media of a lot of Cardinal content. Drama aside, the Cardinals will likely get a deal done with Kyler if they were smart. Let’s say they do get a deal done and Murray and the Cards are happy to move forward. What do they need to do in the draft to finish the season strong? Their biggest needs are Defensive End and Wide Receiver, after losing both Chandler Jones and Christian Kirk. But they also need help in their secondary as well. So, with the 23rd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select: Andrew Booth, Cornerback, Clemson.
24. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
The Cowboys were heavy favorites to win this year’s Super Bowl, but ultimately suffered a first round exit thanks to the 49ers, Deebo Samuel, and poor clock management. They also suffered losing their left tackle La’el Collins, and their guard Connor Williams, to free agency. So I think the Cowboys will go offensive line here to try and rebuild their line to further protect their backfield of Dak Prescott, and Zeke Elliott. They could go receiver, due to the loss of Amari Cooper, but all the receivers that are worthy of a first round pick have been selected. So, with the 24th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys select: Ickey Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle, N.C. State.
25. Buffalo Bills (11-6)
The last time we saw the Bills was in the overtime thriller against Kansas City in the Divisional round of the playoffs. A game that resulted in new overtime rules in the playoffs. In this game, Buffalo’s run game and defense seemed to be irrelevant, which is exactly why they should select a running back or a cornerback. If they select a running back, which I think they’ll do, it will greatly help out their run game and they won’t have to rely on their Quarterback to do a majority of the running. If they select a corner, they’ll have a great secondary tandem as they are counting on the return of probowler Tre’Davious White, but like I said I think they go running back here. So, with the 25th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select: Breece Hall, Running Back, Iowa State.
26. Tennessee Titans (12-5)
The Titans still found a way to win games without running back Derrick Henry for a majority of the season. This is surprising considering how Henry was pretty much running away with the MVP award as it took weeks before any other rusher could catch up to the amount of yards he had before he was injured. The Titans did get the first round bye for the AFC and Henry was able to return for the game, but that’s all the Titans played, one game. In order to improve, I think the Titans get depth at either OLine, or RB. It’s possible, depending on what happens with WR AJ Brown’s contract extension, that the Titans draft a receiver too. So, with the 26th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select: Zion Johnson, Offensive Guard, Boston College.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)
The Bucs were on the market for a QB this year, shortly after their season ended, as Tom Brady announced his retirement after 22 years. However, about a month later Tom Brady announced that he will NOT be retiring and is in fact returning for a 23rd season. So what do the Bucs do? They have needs at Guard Defensive Line and Tight End, but seeing how there aren’t many players with first round talent at these positions left I think they select the best player available to them. So, with the 27th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select: Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame.
28. Green Bay Packers (13-4)
This is the Packers original picking spot before the Davante Adams trade. The Packers, like the Titans, secured the first round bye but for the NFC and ultimately lost in the divisional round too. It’s very possible the Packers use this to trade for other players or picks here as they already selected in the first round. As I’ve mentioned before though, in my mock drafts I don’t do trades and just make the selection. Seeing how I’ve already broken down the Packers needs somewhat, let’s get into the pick. So, with the 28th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select: George Karlaftis, Defensive End, Purdue University.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
This pick would have belonged to the 49ers but last year’s trade, in which the 49ers moved up from 12 to 3 , they sent this pick to the Dolphins. So, why aren’t the Dolphins picking here? Well they gave this pick to the Chiefs to acquire their star Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill. So the Chiefs are officially on the clock via the Dolphins, via the 49ers. They can choose to replace Hill here or get help on the defensive line or defensive back field. I think they go for either of the latter and choose defense seeing how there’s much more talent worthy of a first round pick still left on the board for defense than offense. So, with the 29th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select: Kyler Gordon, Cornerback, Washington.
30. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)
No this isn’t a typo, the Chiefs have back to back picks, as this is their original picking spot. Like I mentioned above I think the Chiefs pick another defensive position player here. So, with the 30th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs select: Devonte Wyatt, Defensive Tackle, Georgia.
31. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)
The Bengals were a couple offensive line men short of their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history, as the Rams defense proved to be too much for them. They did a lot in free agency to make sure that doesn’t happen again this year if they do go on another run, by adding multiple linemen. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they did pick up another lineman here, if they absolutely love a guy. I think they need more help on defense particularly in the defensive backfield so they go with a guy that can play in a lot of places in the defensive backfield. So, with the 31st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select: Daxton Hill, Defensive Back, Michigan.
32. Detroit Lions (3-13-1)
No, the Lions were not the Superbowl Champions, we’re not in the twilight zone. This pick belongs to the Lions because the actual Super Bowl Champions, the Rams, sent this pick and a few more, over to them and got Quarterback Matthew Stafford and a ring in return. I’ve already broken down what the Lions could do when they picked back at two. We’re going to give them their other option with this pick. So, with the 32nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select: Matt Corral, Quarterback, Mississippi.
This concludes my 2022 NFL mock draft. There are so many things that can happen on draft night, like trades, a prospect falling because of off-the-field issues, and much much more so. While these picks are informative, they might not all become true come Thursday. There are also SIX more rounds that each team goes through and hundreds of prospects to choose from, but that would take way too much time to complete before draft night, so that’s all for me.
Thank you for reading!
Joey Cobb, known on-air as DJ BeeKay is the host of Hoppin’ and Poppin’ Hour, a music and sports radio show that airs on KSSU (every Friday at 7PM).