Bold Draft Predictions: Josh Frey’s Official 2022 First-Round Mock Draft
Josh Frey
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Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here. After countless hours and written words of pure speculation, we’ve finally arrived at the first day of the 2022 NFL Draft. Going back to my college roots, this means I’ve gone right up to the deadline for putting out my official first-round mock draft. So, excuse me as I sip my sixth cup of coffee in the past 24 hours, but here we go. The official predictions for the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft start now.
1) Jacksonville Jaguars- EDGE Travon Walker (Georgia)
The hype for this to be the pick is absolutely everywhere, and now Georgia EDGE rusher Travon Walker is listed as the favorite to be the first overall pick in tonight’s draft. The Jaguars certainly need help in the trenches, and they go with an athletic freak to give them that pass-rushing presence.
2) Detroit Lions- EDGE Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
With Travon Walker’s rise through the ranks in recent weeks, the hometown kid falls straight into Detroit’s lap. Dan Campbell has wanted to lead some knee-biters, and they get their fearsome EDGE here.
3) Houston Texans- OT Ikem Ekwonu (NC State)
Houston needs help all over the field, but if they really want to give Davis Mills a fair shot at QB, they should find a way to protect him. Ikem Ekwonu is the most versatile of the top offensive linemen, and the Texans are happy to see him here at No. 3.
4) New York Jets- CB Sauce Gardner (Cincinnati)
Regardless of what happens in the top three, this is where I feel the Jets are trending towards at four. Sauce is perhaps the most NFL-ready prospect in this entire draft, and the Jets need to find a lockdown corner.
5) New York Giants- OT Evan Neal (Alabama)
There are a number of questions regarding Evan Neal’s medicals, but one of the teams that cleared him was the New York Giants. They need another tackle opposite of Andrew Thomas, and as Neal was at one time a dark horse for the first overall pick, New York would be thrilled to see him available here.
6) Carolina Panthers- QB Malik Willis (Liberty)
Assuming Tom Brady retires at some point in the next couple years, the NFC South looks extremely wide open in the near future. The Panthers may not have won the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, but by attempting to find their QB of the future here, they may still get a leg-up on their divisional rivals.
7) New York Giants- EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
Once again, the Giants find themselves in the fortunate situation where a potential first overall pick tumbles down the board to them. The defense desperately needs a larger presence in the pass-rush, and Thibodeaux will give that to them.
8) Atlanta Falcons- OT Charles Cross (Mississippi State)
The Atlanta Falcons are finally hitting the reset button after trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. In preparation for what looks like a terrific QB class in 2023, they will take one of the best pure pass-protectors in this draft.
9) Seattle Seahawks- OT Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)
The Seattle Seahawks have absolutely no one to play either tackle spot for them right now, so with the top players flying off the board, they take a shot on Penning here at No. 9.
10) New York Jets- EDGE George Karlaftis (Purdue)
Using their second pick inside of the top-10, the New York Jets grab one of the more polished EDGE rushers in this class. The defense looks much better heading into 2022.
11) Washington Commanders- WR Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Having just traded for QB Carson Wentz, the Washington Commanders will look to surround their new QB with more weapons outside of Terry McLaurin. What better way to do that than with the top WR prospect in this draft?
12) Minnesota Vikings- CB Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU)
The Vikings need another corner in 2022. Given this need and the deep LSU roots within this franchise, Derek Stingley Jr. is a no-brainer here.
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13) Houston Texans- S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)
Houston needs to take chances on guys with high upside, and Kyle Hamilton is certainly that here at 13. Despite some questions with speed, the Notre Dame prospect has the potential to come into the Texans organization and help change the culture.
14) Baltimore Ravens- DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)
Jordan Davis is the most freakish athlete in this entire draft, and he enters a defensive front in Baltimore that is full of stars. Calais Campbell and Michael Pierce can help him reach his full potential.
15) Philadelphia Eagles- EDGE Jermaine Johnson (Florida State)
Outside of Walker, Jermaine Johnson remains the most athletically gifted EDGE in this first round. The Eagles recorded just 29 sacks in 2021, and they need to add someone to help improve that number.
16) New Orleans Saints- WR Chris Olave (Ohio State)
New Orleans must add a receiver who can take some pressure off Michael Thomas as he returns from injury in 2022. The Buckeyes/Saints pipeline has been very active over the past decade, and they add to it here.
17) Los Angeles Chargers- CB Trent McDuffie (Washington)
There was a major lack of playmakers in the Chargers secondary during 2021, so they grab a CB in McDuffie who boasts some of the better ball skills in this class.
18) Philadelphia Eagles- WR Drake London (USC)
With their second pick in the first round, Philadelphia grabs a big receiver to complement Devonta Smith. Jalen Hurts gets another target to throw to.
19) New Orleans Saints- OT Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan)
The Saints have a tendency to grab some of the athletic sleepers with early picks, and that trend continues with the selection of Central Michigan’s left tackle.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers- QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)
The fit is too perfect here. Kenny Pickett is a perfect fit in the Steelers offense to replace Big Ben, and it doesn’t hurt that he played his college ball just down the road.
21) New England Patriots- LB Devin Lloyd (Utah)
If New England is going to improve upon one of the more underwhelming run defenses in the NFL, they need to had a hard-nosed linebacker. Devin Lloyd fits that pedigree.
22) Green Bay Packers- WR Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
This has been a very common falling spot for the Razorback star. Green Bay desperately needs wide receivers to replace both Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, so Treylon Burks is a great selection.
23) Arizona Cardinals- WR Jameson Williams (Georgia)
As soon as DeAndre Hopkins got hurt last year, the Cardinals offense stalled out. Now that Christian Kirk has left for a massive contract in Jacksonville, the need to add another receiver is apparent.
24) Dallas Cowboys- IOL Zion Johnson (Boston College)
Zion Johnson has steadily seen his draft stock rise throughout the draft process, and Dallas is a perfect landing spot for him as they try to open up more running lanes for Ezekiel Elliott and try to rebuild their once vaunted offensive line.
25) Buffalo Bills- RB Breece Hall (Iowa State)
Buffalo is breaking all the rules of analytics. We typically see at least one RB break into the first round, and after passing on one last year, the Bills take one of the most impressive prospects in this class.
26) Tennessee Titans- CB Kyler Gordon (Washington)
Kyler Gordon fits a very similar mold to Elijah Molden, the Titan’s third-round selection in 2021, who also played his college ball with the Huskies. Having a need to improve upon the eighth-worst pass defense in the NFL, Tennessee dips back into the Washington CB pool.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers- S Daxton Hill (Michigan)
It’s hard to find a need for a team that has Tom Brady on it, so Tampa Bay goes with one of the prospects with the highest upside. Daxton Hill should be a lockdown safety in the Buccaneers defense.
28) Green Bay Packers- EDGE Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)
Za’Darius Smith is now a Minnesota Viking, so the Packers need to address their EDGE position at some point in this draft. Enter Arnold Ebiketie.
29) Kansas City Chiefs- WR George Pickens (Georgia)
What better way to replace Tyreek Hill than with another fast receiver with great potential? George Pickens has some injury and character question marks, but that shouldn’t deter Kansas City from pairing the receiver with the Georgia star.
30) Kansas City Chiefs- CB Kaiir Elam (Florida)
The Chiefs head back to the SEC with their second consecutive pick as they bolster their secondary with a big CB. Kaiir Elam should improve a defense that had a very lackluster performance in 2021.
31) Cincinatti Bengals- C Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)
Cincinnati has made the offensive line a focus this offseason, and to cap it all off, they take one of the best center prospects in recent memory.
32) Detroit Lions- LB Quay Walker (Georgia)
QB could be an option here, but it will be hard to pass up on Quay Walker here, especially with Jacksonville, who grabbed Travon Walker to start the draft, picking at the top of the second round.