The Draft "Expert" - 2022 Pre-Bowl Season Mock Draft

Welcome one and all to another Draft "Expert" mock draft! This one comes right before the start of bowl season, which is always the perfect time to release mock drafts, right? Though it may be way too early to drop one of these things, they're still really fun to do and I hope that you find what I've written informative in some way, shape, or form.

This one, much like the last one we released back in October, will have no trades. That being said, unlike the one we released in October, we will be diving in to the second round of the NFL Draft! Though it's just the picks with no reasoning, I hope you still find that a little bit informative as well. I also hope the second round picks help explain some of the first round picks in some capacity.

In this draft you will see one quarterback taken in the top 10 with three others following shortly after! You will see six wide receivers taken as well as at least five or six edge rushers! We even have some history being made! You may also see some sliders and/or some reaches in this draft, depending on your definition of those terms.

So, without further ado, I give you the Pre-Bowl Season "Draft Exert" Mock Draft! I do hope you actually read the full 55 minute long article, it's a good one!

Podcast (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-logan-blackman-show/id1514011056

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Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan; Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt; Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

1. Detroit Lions - Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

• As of right now the Detroit Lions possess the first overall pick in the draft. Even after their first win of the season against the Minnesota Vikings back on the fifth of December, they're stilling holding on to the first pick. You could call this somewhat of a conflict of interests, as I'm sure the front office would love to have their choice of edge rusher and not let it play out to pick two or three, but Dan Campbell and the team are wanting to stack as many wins as possible. This season, the Lions have played tough, inspired football, but have just come out on the wrong side of games to their real lack in talent on the roster. But after getting their aforementioned first win, they now know they can win, and it could spark confidence amongst the team and help them finish with more than one win. Now, that's all fine and dandy, but for now, again, the Lions still hold the first pick, and it's really only between two players. Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson has been one of the most dominant defenders this season, registering 14 sacks (ranking second nationally in total pressures) and two forced fumbles to go along with 58 total tackles, three passes defended, and a trip to New York City as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy (finishing second). The other player in question is Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has seemingly been penciled in as the number one pick since even before last season. Though he may not have the numbers Hutchinson has, mostly due to an ankle injury, Thibs is still an insane threat off the edge. Registering seven sacks with two forced fumbles along with 49 total tackles and one pass defended. Though Thibs is arguably the more versatile of the pair, with him having the ability to play both as an 4-3 d-end or a 3-4 outside linebacker, I think Hutchinson should be the number one pick. If we're look for "marquee games" this season, Hutchinson's came against Ohio State. Getting to fellow Heisman finalist CJ Stroud three times. In The Game, Hutchinson also registering seven total tackles and helped possibly tank first round hopeful tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere's stock, blowing him up on a few occasions on that Saturday afternoon. Hutchinson's combination of power and athleticism make him a real hard player to stop. Not only is he insane off the edge, but he's from Plymouth, Michigan, which is just over a half hour outside of Detroit. Not only would the Lions be bringing in a possibly franchise saving edge rusher, but they'd be bringing in a home town kid. This just makes too much sense not to happen, and I think the Lions should totally look to add Hutchinson with their first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. (though Hutchinson grew up a Patriots fan, it would be cool to see him return home)

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

• The Jaguars are not a good football team. I don't know how they managed to do it, but they did beat two AFC East teams in the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins, two teams possible playoff teams, and yet, the Jags sit here at 2-9. I think a very solid argument could be made for them being a worse football team than the Detroit Lions. Alas, arguments about who is really better or worse doesn't matter in the NFL Draft, just wins and loses, and right now, the Lions have less wins, so they sit with the number one overall pick. Either way, I think the Jaguars will be fine with the selection of players they have with the second overall pick. To me, the only two players in consideration for this pick are Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal. Though Kayvon Thibodeaux may be the best player in the draft overall, I think that the Jaguars should go after Alabama tackle Evan Neal to keep the former first overall selection upright. Now, for how bad the Jaguars are as a team, their offensive line really isn't all that terrible. So far this season Trevor Lawrence has only been sacked 22 times, which is on par with the likes of Carson Wentz, Aaron Rodgers, and Patrick Mahomes. That being said, Cam Robinson, the Jaguars starting left tackle, will be entering free agency in 2022, and rather signing him to a new deal, the Jaguars should look towards Neal to seal up the offense line. The thing that makes Neal special is his rare combination of size, athleticism, and versatility. While at Alabama, Neal has played all across the offensive line. Lining up at left guard, right tackle, and then, finally, left tackle this season. For being as big as he is, 6'7" 350 lbs., you have to be an insane athlete to be able to move and play every line position at a high level, and Neal is just that. So wherever the Jags need Neal to line up, he should be able to do so no problem. Like I said above, Neal is a special talent on the offensive line and will hopefully keep Trevor Lawrence upright for years to come.

3. Houston Texans - Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

• Every time I think about who the Texans should take I'm stuck between two positions, quarterback and edge rusher. Though the need at quarterback is pretty large, I think it's a little too early to go in on a quarterback, especially since the Texans hold the second pick in the second round. With that being said, I just don't think the Texans would be able to pass up Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux here with the third overall pick. Up until recently, Kayvon Thibodeaux was the clear cut number overall pick in the draft. Though that could still be the case for some, Aidan Hutchinson's late season dominance has caused some people to change their opinions on the top pick in the draft, especially with Hutchinson's home town team currently possessing the number one overall pick. Even though Hutchinson may be the new number one pick in the draft, that doesn't change the fact that Kayvon Thibodeaux is an absolute athletic force coming off the edge. There's not really a whole lot to say here about Thibodeaux that I didn't say already, but the dude is an absolute beast. Like we said before, his numbers may not equal Hutchinson's (mostly due to injury) and he may not have had a "Heisman moment" like Hutchinson had against Ohio State, but that shouldn't take away from Thibs' talent. In games against the likes of UCLA and Washington State, Thibs showed off his abilities to get after the passer. Registering four sacks in those two games while also getting a season high nine total tackles (eight solo) and forcing a fumble against the Bruins back in October. Like we said before, the Texans need to figure out who their quarterback of the future is going to be. As of right now, I really doubt it'd be Davis Mills, but who knows? Maybe they truly believe in him to be the guy. If they don't though, conversations will be had in Houston about drafting a quarterback, but with Thibodeaux somehow available, I don't think those conversations will last very long. Wait til the second round Houston, take Thibs here and try to restructure your defense.

4. New York Jets - Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

• With the top tackle prospect off the board in the form of Evan Neal, I think it'd be smart to look on the defensive side of the ball with their first pick in the draft. During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Jets used their first four picks on the offensive side of the ball, taking a quarterback, guard, wide receiver, and running back. With Saleh now entering his second year as the Jets head coach, I fully expect them to address some needs on the other side of the ball, especially with him being a former defensive coordinator. Now, I think the Jets could look a couple directions here, with their two biggest needs arguably being on the. d-line, most notably the edge, and in the secondary, most notably at corner. Though the need at edge rusher is big, the Jets secondary has only registered two interceptions all season and as a team, the Jets rank dead last in the NFL with only four interceptions, with their first one coming against the Bengals in week seven. To make matters worse, that interception wasn't even by a safety or a corner, it was d-end Shaq Lawson. Ridiculous. Not only have they only registered four interceptions (two as a secondary unit), but they have allowed 21 touchdowns and have allowed quarterbacks to complete 70.5% of their passes against them. Let's just put it like this, the Jets need to get a lock down corner in this draft and thankfully for Jets fans, their are some pretty talented corners in this draft, but none arguably more talented than LSU's Derek Stingley. Though Stingley is an insane corner prospect, maybe the best ever(?), he hasn't really played that much football since his breakout freshman season due to injury. During that season, Stingley intercepted the ball six times and defended 15 passes enroute to a National Championship, which also saw Stingley be named a Conscious All-American and First Team All-SEC recipient (an honor he got in 2020 as well). Standing at 6'1" and weighing in at 195 lbs., Stingley has the ideal size at being a true shut down corner in the NFL. He's fast, twitchy, and is very instinctive on where the ball is going to be, reading the game extremely well. If the Jets was to somewhat compete with a very competitive AFC East, their going to have to improve their defense, mainly the secondary. In a division with Josh Allen, Mac Jones, and an improving Tua Tagovailoa, the Jets can't afford to get caught lacking in the secondary any more. If Stingley stays healthy, they've got themselves a true lockdown corner.

5. New York Giants (via Chicago) - Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

• Much like their New Jersey brothers, the Giants also posses two picks early in the 2022 NFL Draft. Though they're not in the top five, I don't think the Giants will do too much complaining, as their first two picks are right after the Jets first pick, coming in at fifth and sixth overall. Much like every pick in this draft, that is subject to change, but for now, the Giants first pick comes at the fifth spot. Now, the Giants defense is pretty bad. Not as bad as the Jets, but it's pretty bad. Easily ranking in the bottom half of the league in yards allowed this season. On this below average defense, the Giants could/should really focus on three spots, edge rusher, linebacker, and safety. Now, though I really like Utah's Devin Lloyd, I feel this may be a little too early to take one of the linebackers. Same kind of goes for edge rushers, at least ones that'd be more comfortable rushing from an outside linebacker position in the Giants 3-4 defense. To me, with there being a lack of depth at the safety position in this draft, and the fact that one of their starting safeties, Jabrill Peppers is an upcoming free agent. Though he may not be a "do everything linebacker" like Devin Lloyd or Dallas' Micah Parsons, Notre Dame's Kyle Hamilton is just a "do everything football player." Compared to the other safeties in this draft, Hamilton is on another world. At 6'4" 220 lbs., Hamilton is a jack of all trades type of safety. He is the best center fielder out of the safeties and possesses elite football IQ, putting himself in the exact right position to make a play on the ball. Not only that, but he is great at playing up at the line of scrimmage and can make plays in either the run game by stop backs right in their tracks or can break past blockers and get after the quarterback. Normally, safeties don't get drafted in the first round, unless they've got an elite skill set, and Kyle Hamilton is not just an elite safety, but an elite football player. Though he's coming off a knee injury which he sustained in Notre Dame's win against USC on October 23rd, Hamilton should still easily be a top ten pick, let alone a first round draft pick. Wherever a play needs to be made on the field, Hamilton is right there. The Giants have a lot of needs/holes on their roster, but I have no doubt Hamilton could help fill some, or all, of those holes. If he stays healthy, Hamilton will be a problem in the NFL.

6. New York Giants - Ikem Ekwonu, iOL/OT, NC State

• Out of all the issues the Giants have, their biggest one may come on the offensive line. This problem is only amplified by the fact that former fourth overall pick Andrew Thomas has not really panned out, former third round draft pick Matt Peart got benched, starting right guard Will Hernandez and starting right tackle Nate Solder (33) will be entering free agency next offseason, and, finally, starting center Billy Price and staring left guard Matt Skura are just nothing special whatsoever. So basically, the o-line just sucks major ass and may be the worst unit in the entire NFL. Though th best o-linemen in the draft, Evan Neal, is off the board, the Giants can still get a potentially franchise saving left tackle with the fifth or sixth pick. To me, the next best tackles are Mississippi State's Charles Cross and NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. With the Giants having needs all across the board on the o-line, I think they'd be best served to take Ekwonu with the sixth pick. Compared to current Jets tackle Mekhi Becton, Ekwonu is an absolute bully from either the tackle or guard position. Ekwonu straight up bullies opposing defensive linemen and edge rushers into submission, allowing only 13 pressures all season and has led the nation in big time blocks, according to PFF. In the run game though is where he truly excels, seeing him beat up smaller defenders while also being able to get to the next level and shed off of opposing players. Though Ekwonu may not have the prototypical size for a franchise left tackle, I have no real doubts that he'll be a beast at the next level. For the Giants, who want to keep Danny Dimes upright while also establishing the run game with Saquon Barkley, Ekwonu will help in both areas. Whether he plays inside at guard or outside at tackle Ekwonu will make a positive impact on the Giants offensive line. Though he may not be the GM much longer, when you think of Dave Gettleman, you think of the term "hog mollies." I bet if you looked up hog molly in the dictionary Ekwonu would pop up. The Giants left the first round with two uber versatile players. Giants fans should be rejoicing if this is how their draft ends up.

7. New York Jets (via Seattle) - Tyler Linderbaum, iOL, Iowa

• Thanks to Jamal Adams wanting to go and, quote, "play for a winner," the Jets now posses two picks in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft. Though it's subject to chance, as of right now, the Jets have the fourth and seventh overall picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. With their first pick, the Jets took corner Derek Stingley to hopefully rectify their secondary. Now, with their second pick, the Jets should look to add someone to keep Zach Wilson upright. The former second overall pick has basically been put to the sword this season, with the Jets already suspect o-line losing Mekhi Becton at the start of the season, Zach Wilson has really been running for his life. Yes, they drafted USC guard/tackle hybrid Alijah Vera-Tucker last year and though he's played well, he's still young, and for the Jets sake, hopefully hasn't reached his peak yet. The Jets have an exciting (yet erratic) young quarterback, a good young running back in Michael Carter, and talented weapons on the outside in the form of Corey Davis and Elijah Moore, they really need to figure out their o-line. To me, the perfect player to hopefully remedy their needs is either Iowa's Tyler Linderbaum or NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. With Ekwonu already off the board, the next logical step is to go for the aforementioned Tyler Linderbaum. Now, though the center position isn't usually seen as a "crucial" when it comes to the draft, but Tyler Linderbaum is no average center. Whatever you need Lindy to do, he'll do it and dominate in doing it. A former d-tackle, Linderbaum flashes his athleticism while pulling when run blocking, where he opposes his will on the opposing team. Not only does he dominate in the run game, but he is a more than capable pass blocker. Since becoming Iowa's starter, he has allowed just three sacks. Combined, in 2019 and 2020, Linderbaum allowed just one sack and has allowed two during the 2021 season. This pick is perfect in every way you look at it, with head coach Robert Saleh wanting to establish the run while also keeping Wilson upright. Linderbaum was the best center in college football and may be the best center prospect maybe ever. When I say, maybe ever, I don't think that's necessarily a hot take. Since 1970, only one center has ever been taken in the top 10 of the NFL draft, coming in the form of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, who was drafted ninth by the Houston Oilers in 1983. Linderbaum has a chance to be great and could push current center Conor McGovern back to his natural guard position. If the Jets come away from the first round with Derek Stingley and Tyler Linderbaum, Jets fans should rejoice. Not only did you get a shut down corner, but you added another young exciting piece to the o-line. For Jets fans sake, I really hope Linderbaum finds his way to New Jersey. Though I'm a Bills fan, I like Zach Wilson and I want to see him do well (except for when he plays the Bills), and giving him a guy like Linderbaum will not only make him happy, but make running back Michael Carter happy too.

8. Carolina Panthers - Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

• The Carolina Panthers are an interesting football team. Going into the season, you would've thought this is where the Panthers would be at this point, pretty standard 5-7 record given the fact that they are very young. But, after a 3-0 start against the leagues powerhouses the Panthers though they were something special, the sad truth is that outside of McCaffrey, they are nothing on offense. This past offseason, Carolina brought in former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold to hopefully solve their quarterback dilemma. Long story short, Darnold just hasn't really worked out and has looked more like Rick Mirer than Jim Plunkett, which is not what I was hoping for. I think if the Panthers could go back in time they wouldn't have traded for the former third overall pick. So, even though they've got to worry about Arnold's contract, I would look to add your quarterback of the future, in the form of Pitt's Kenny Pickett. To me, this is a match made in heaven. Back when Kenny Pickett was a junior in high school, Pickett was committed to play for the Temple Owls, then coached by current Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Though Pickett ended up at Pitt after Rhule took the Baylor job, Rhule has always seemed to keep connections with his former players. If you look at some of the players he has brought in to Carolina, they have had some sort of past connection with Rhule. Players like quarterback PJ Walker, wide receiver Robbie Anderson, and linebacker Haason Reddick, all brought in as free agents, all played under Rhule at Temple. I'm not saying this guarantees Pickett a spot in Carolina, but if he's available, I would kind of expect him to go. This does though go beyond the connection between Pickett and Rhule because dude had himself a season for the ages. Throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 touchdowns, which ranked fifth and third in the nation respectfully. Prior to this season, Pickett had never thrown for more than 3,100 yards and if you combined every touchdown he threw in his career prior to this season, it's less than what he did this time around. Through his first four seasons, combined, Pickett threw 39 touchdowns which, for those who can't do math good or just don't know numbers, is three less than what he threw in one season, which is pretty ridiculous. Not only are the numbers themselves impressive, they're also record breakers. In the game against Syracuse back on November 27th, Pickett broke Dan Marino's 40-year-old record for passing touchdowns in a season, setting the new record at 40 before breaking another Marino record, this time for Pitt's all time leader in passing touchdowns, throwing two against Wake Forest to bring his grand total to 80, passing Marino by a singular touchdown. Also in that game against Wake Forest, Pickett led the Panthers to their first ever ACC title and first conference title in general since 2010 while also securing a plane ticket to New York City, becoming Pitt's first Heisman finalist since Larry Fitzgerald in 2003, where he finished second to Oklahoma's Jason White. Like I said before, I'm not saying it's a slam dunk guarentee that Pickett ends up in Carolina, but don't be surprised if it does happen. This could be a match made in football heaven. (the Panthers have to take on Sam Darnold's fifth year option, so rather than trading for a quarterback who'd be on a bigger contract, take a younger quarterback the draft)

9. Atlanta Falcons - David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

• The Atlanta Falcons are kind of a mess, aren't they? I'm not just meaning this year, I'm talking about the entire 21st century (we could go back further but who has that kind of time). Throughout this century, the Falcons have always seemed to have talent on offense. From Michael Vick and Matt Ryan at quarterback, to receivers such as Julio Jones, Roddy White, Calvin Ridley, to tight ends like Tony Gonzalez and, now Kyle Pitts, and even some decent running backs in the form of Michael Turner, Devonta Freeman, Teven Coleman, and Warrick Dunn (Cordarrelle Patteron, I guess? Is he a running back?). Hell, their offensive line is made up of three/fifths first rounders, you wouldn't know it, but it is. Defensively is where they always seem to have a problem. No matter how much talent they've had on offense their defense has seemingly always let them down. That's really no different this year as the Falcons defense gives up 364.5 yards per game, which ranks in the bottom 10, and rank near the bottom in points allowed, giving up 27.2 points per game. Apart from AJ Terrell, the Falcons are kind of a mess on defense. An area that has been a concern for most Falcons fans for about a decade has been their pass rush, or lack there of. This season, the Falcons rank dead last in total sacks, getting to the quarterback just 16 times this season. If there was one area of concern that needed addressing in this draft is the pass rush, especially with leading sack getter Dante Fowler (4.5) entering free agency in 2022. Though this may seem like somewhat of a reach right now, I feel, in time, that this would be an excellent pick for Atlanta. To me, the Falcons could really use someone like Michigan's David Ojabo. After watching Ojabo this season, you probably wouldn't assume that this is only his fifth year of playing American football, would you? Dude has been dominant this season and, along with Aidan Hutchinson, has formed one of the most feared edge rushing duos in all of college football. Though Hutchinson gets most of the plaudits, Ojabo ain't no slouch, registering 11 sacks (10th nationally) to go along with 35 total tackles (24 solo), three passes defended, and five forced fumbles. His speed is what really sets him apart from some of the other edge rushers, with him being able to blow the doors off opposing offensive linemen while also showing off some very nice pass rush moves in the process. For not being as big as Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, and Karlaftis, Ojabo still always gets the job done, and it doesn't matter if you have him playing as a standup 3-4 outside linebacker or a 4-3 defensive end. The Falcons have usually lineup with a 3-4 defense, which I feel would be perfect for Ojabo's skillset. That being said, whatever defense the Falcons want to run, Ojabo will cause problems for the opposing teams.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami) - George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

• The Philadelphia Eagles, much like the aforementioned Jets and Giants, have multiple first round picks. Unlike the New Jersey teams, the Eagles possess three first round selections thanks in no small part to the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts. Though they don't have any in the top 10 at this point in time, the Eagles could still come away with some really nice prospects. With their first pick, which is their own, the Eagles should just take the number one defensive player on their board. To me, that is Purdue's George Karlaftis. Now, not only should Karlaftis be the number one defensive player on the Eagles board, but he does fill a position of need. This upcoming offseason, longtime defensive end Brandon Graham (turning 34 in April) and 2017 first round pick Derek Barnett will be entering free agency, and I could really see the Eagles not resigning either of them, so, the birds should look toward Karlaftis, who is the next best edge rusher after Hutchinson and Thibodeaux. Compared to the two edge rushers taken before him, though he may not have the numbers, Karlaftis has the size (6'4" 275 lbs.) and the ability to get after the quarterback or stop the run from either the inside or the outside. This season, Karlaftis has only registered four and a half sacks, but does have two forced fumbles and two passes defended to his name this year as well. With Purdue not having a lot of other "threats" to deal with on the defensive side of things, Karlaftis gets double teamed almost every single time he goes after the quarterback, yet still has registered some nice pressure numbers, coming in at 13.7%, per ESPN. Karlaftis would be perfect for the Vikings 4-3 defense, with his size and power causing real problems for opposing offensive linemen, again, whether that's outside as a d-end or inside as a d-tackle. I think if the Eagles want to get back to the top of the NFC East they've got to re-strengthen their defensive line and Karlaftis could be the perfect candidate for the Eagles new look d-line.

11. Philadelphia Eagles - Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

• Like we said with the pick prior, the Eagles have three picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. With that first pick, the Eagles went out and got a stud d-linemen in the form of George Karlaftis. I think the Eagles should stick on the defensive side of things with their second pick as well, and take a "do everything" linebacker in the form of Utah's Devin Lloyd. Now, this would be pretty historic pick because apart from taking Marcus Smith in 2014, the Eagles have not taken a linebacker in the first round since 1979, where they took Jerry Robinson from UCLA. Though they never seem to do it, I think Devin Lloyd is just too good to pass up here for the Eagles at 11. When I say the phrase, "do everything linebacker," I truly mean that when talking about Devin Lloyd. At 6'3" 235 lbs., Lloyd has the perfect frame for being a stud linebacker at the next level. That being said, it's not all about size, and Lloyd has showed why he should be the number one linebacker with his play this season. For the PAC-12 Champions, Lloyd totaled a career high 107 tackles, with 63 of those being solo tackles. Not only that, Lloyd has showed off his prowess as a pass rusher, totaling seven sacks (which as much as Kayvon Thibodeaux), one forced fumble/fumble recovery, four interceptions, six passes defended, with two of those pics being returned for touchdowns. Dude has insane speed to combine with his size, which makes him such a match-up nightmare for opposing offenses. Every Utah game you tune in to, Lloyd makes his presence known. He's a special player and for the Eagles, who could use some help at linebacker, he'd be a great force added to their defense. Though I have Lloyd just outside the top 10 at 11, I guarantee that if Lloyd goes off at the combine, he'll be a top 10 pick, for sure. Either way, Lloyd would definitely help improve the Eagles defense.

12. Minnesota Vikings - Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

• The Vikings are one of the more interesting teams in the NFL, and not in the good way. So far this season, apart from the Lions game, the Vikings have led by seven or more points in every game this season, yet, they sit at 5-7. I may be wrong, but I think it's pretty safe to say that current head coach Mike Zimmer will be the former head coach by the time the 2022 NFL Draft comes around. Whether it be the misuse of talent on offense or the utter downward spiral of the defense, the Vikings are somewhat of a mess. That being said, if they get this right, it could solve a lot of issues. For me, when I watch the Vikings, the biggest area of concern for me is in the secondary and the somewhat of a lack of depth on the d-line. Looking forward to the next offseason, the Vikings are set to lose corners Patrick Peterson and Bashaud Breeland and d-linemen Sheldon Richardson and Everson Griffen (who's already out of the team due to health/personal reasons). Either way, the defensive side of the ball will need to be addressed with this pick. Out of the two positions groups, I feel the Vikings secondary concerns me the most. I also refuse to believe the Vikings would go in to next season with Cameron Dantzler and Mackensie Alexander as the number one and two corners, that just can't happen. So, for the Vikings I'm going to give them my favorite corner in the draft, Cincinnati's Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner. I think my favorite thing about Gardner is that he's got that dawg mentality, unwilling to back down from any receiver, or even running back, that comes his way. At 6'3" 200 lbs., Gardner is literally as big as some of the receivers he guarding, making him almost impossible for opposing quarterbacks to try giving their receivers a jump ball. Being that big, Gardner is unsurprisingly stout in the run game, coming up to greet running backs without a moments hesitation. This season, Gardner has totaled a career high 35 total tackles with 26 of those being solo efforts, and three sacks. In the pass game though is where Gardner thrives. Though he may play in a smaller conference, he doesn't give an inch, allowing just eight completions on 29 targets for a grand total of 60 yards. He has also totaled three interceptions this season along with four passes defended and one forced fumble. Throughout his three year Cincinnati career, Gardner has nine interceptions to his name, with two getting returned for touchdowns. As I've said throughout, Gardner is a dawg, but with Cincinnati taking on Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, Gardner is more than likely going to be following around another dawg in the form of Jameson Williams, easily the best deep threat in the country. That will be a match-up for the ages and if Gardner holds his own, he could see his name get called sooner than 12th.

13. New Orleans Saints - Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

• The Saints have been one of the most injury riddled teams in the NFL this season, and it's not just their role players, but their stars. Key players such as Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara, Ryan Ramczyk, Terron Armstead, and Michael Thomas have either spent time on the sidelines or is currently putting down a mortgage. For this one, I'd like to focus on Michael Thomas. Without him out wide the Saints really lack any real threat out wide with their leading receiver being Deonte Harris. Though he's their leading receiver, Harris is due to miss the Saints next three games due to a DWI arrest he got back in July. Outside of him the Saints have Marquez Calloway and Tre'Quan Smith, neither one of them strike any fear into the heart of the opposing defense. To hopefully rectify the Saints lack of weapons (outside of Kamara), I think they should take Alabama's Jameson Williams. As the late great Al Davis used to say, "speed kills," and by golly Jameson Williams has it in bunches. Easily the best deep threat in all of college football, Williams averaged an astonishing 21.5 yards per reception. Though only good for fifth nationally, given how many more catches he has than the top five makes this stat seem a little more crazy (23 more catches than the next closest guy). Williams also ranked fifth in the nation in receiving yards with 1,445 yards to go along with 15 touchdowns, which ranks second nationally behind Pitt's Jordan Addison. I think another thing that separates Williams from other receivers is that not only is he the best deep threat in the draft, but he can more than hold his own in the run game and has shown he can make plays as a gunner on special teams. With Williams speed you would think it'd be safe to assume he's a smaller receiver, someone like Tyreek Hill who's 5'10" 185 lbs., but Williams is 6'2" and weighs in at 189 lbs. With his combination of athleticism and size he won't last in the draft very long. I think the Saints could do with a quarterback here, but with their being no real options out wide on the roster I think Sean Payton and co. go after one of the top receivers in the class. Williams would add another element to this offense, taking the pressure off the quarterback and off of Alvin Kamara. (again, I know the Saints could probably use a quarterback, but it feels like they've been linked with a first round quarterback the past few drafts and haven't taken one, i.e. Paxton Lynch (2016), Lamar Jackson (2018), and Jordan Love (2020) just to name a few. In fact, the last time the Saints drafted a quarterback in the first round was back in 1971, taking Archie Manning second overall. I think the Saints will wait until day 2 to take their guy. Carson Strong or Bailey Zappe seem like viable candidates to me)

14. Las Vegas Raiders - DeMarvin Leal, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M

• The Raiders first round draft strategy over the past few years has seemingly been draft players from big time universities only. Now, obviously they were good college players, but most of their picks have been seen as reaches by most. Players like Clelin Ferrell in 2019, Damon Arnette in 2020, and most recently, Alex Leatherwood in 2021. All of those players were seen as either late first round draft picks or, more likely, second round picks. Out of the trio, only Clelin Ferrell was seen as a first round pick, but no where near the fourth overall pick, which is where he was drafted. Now, though that's been their draft strategy recently, former Texas A&M d-lineman DeMarvin Leal should not be seen as a reach if the Raiders drafted him at 14th overall. Looking at the Raiders as a team, their biggest needs seem to lie in the trenches or out at wide receiver. I think though with how many points the Raiders have been giving up recently that they look for someone on defense. Maxx Crosby is their best player defensively and Yannick Ngakoue has been playing very good as well (apart from getting the Raiders to stand on the Chiefs logo, that was pretty bad), they just need some more bodies on the defensive line to complement them. Especially with Quinton Jefferson, Jonathan Hankins, and Solomon Thomas all impending free agents (and just not very good). As of right now, the Raiders have the seventh worst rushing defense in the NFL, giving up 125.3 ypg (while also giving up 14 touchdowns). I think adding a player like DeMarvin Leal would instantly improve the Raiders d-line. Leal is a special football player, arguably the most versatile player in all of college football with his abilities to easily play inside as a defensive tackle or outside as a defensive end/outside linebacker, and that's while weighing 290 lbs. This season, Leal has put forth a very nice season. Registering eight and a half sacks with 58 total tackles (15 being for loss), one forced fumble, and two passes defended. Those sack and total tackle numbers crap on his previous bests of two and a half sacks in 2020 and 38 total tackles in 2019. The only real thing that you could "complain" about with Leal is his consistency, but I think that more comes down to him just rotating positions seemingly every single play rather than his work rate, because he seems to be playing full boar almost every single snap and regardless of who A&M are playing. Again, at 6'5" 290 lbs., most people are expecting Leal to stay inside as a d-tackle, and in the Raiders base 4-3 defense he could slot in there pretty perfectly. Leal would be an excellent compliment to Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue. (If Jameson Williams is available, the Raiders won't even have to think twice. Again, if he's available, Williams will be a Raider, mark my words)

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

• Recently, it was announced that Ben Roethlisberger would not be returning as the Steelers starter in 2022, which really should be a surprise to absolutely no one. The dude honestly should've retired this past offseason. I know that's easier said than done but still, the Steelers need some fresh blood in the quarterback room, whether Big Ben was returning next year or not, they needed to draft a quarterback. Hypothetically, let's just say the Steelers don't draft a quarterback here, that'd mean they'd have a QB room with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. Sorry, as a neutral, I'd like to see them go after someone in the draft. Before you start, yes, I am aware they can draft a quarterback later, and there is a pretty big need on the o-line, but with one of the top quarterbacks still available, the Steelers have to take them, right? If I were the Steelers, I'd be rushing to the podium to take Ole Miss' Matt Corral. Playing in the toughest conference in college football, Corral threw for 3,300+ yards with 20 touchdowns to go along with almost 600 rush yards and 11 further touchdowns. He also cut down on the mental mistakes, which saw him throw 11 interceptions through just two games the season prior, throwing only four pics this season. Though his stats are nice, I think my favorite thing about Corral is his toughness and leadership. Throughout the entire season, Corral played hurt, and it didn't seem to really effect him. Against Tennessee, Corral registered 30 carries and totaled 195 yards on the ground while also getting sacked a season high five times. Dude just got beat up, but kept getting up. If Corral falls this far in the draft, the Steelers will be jumping for joy. Corral would fit in perfectly in Pittsburgh and be the perfect replacement for Ben Roethlisberger. (I think the Steelers could possibly look at addressing the offensive line here. A unit that was decimated by players leaving in free agency or retiring, the Steelers ignored their issues until the third round of this past years draft which has resulted in Big Ben being one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL. Now, I am aware that it also comes down to him not being able to move, but the o-line still could use an upgrade, especially with starting right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor schedule to hit free agency in 2022 and starting left tackle Dan Moore doing nothing to move the needle on the other side. But if Corral is available, they should take him.)

16. Denver Broncos - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

• The Denver Broncos are weirdly very close to having something very nice. Over the past few years they have added some really nice pieces on both sides of the ball through free agency and through the draft. Defensively they've built a very nice secondary by adding the likes of Bryce Callahan, Kareem Jackson, and Kyle Fuller through free agency and Patrick Surtain II through the draft to go along with All Pro safety Justin Simmons. Offensively they've got a very nice group of weapons, adding Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler out wide to go along with Courtland Sutton and have a very underrated backfield with Melvin Gordon and Javonte Williams toting the rock. Like, even their offensive line is pretty good. Again, the Broncos may actually be close to building something, the only thing they really need is a quarterback. After they a whole offseason trying to trade for the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz, and Deshaun Watson, they settled for one of George Paton's old pals from Minnesota, Teddy Bridgewater. Though Teddy is a likable guy, he ain't it in Denver, and Paton knows this. Back in early November, Paton and (a pretty unprecedented) five scouts went to watch Ole Miss take on Liberty down in Oxford. Ole Miss came out 27-14 victors in that game, and though Matt Corral came out on top, I think the Broncos should look to take the guy who lost, Liberty's Malik Wills. Now, if you've listened to my show long enough or have read up on my weekly quarterback prospect rankings posts, you'd know my fondness for Willis. Yes, he's had some off games this season, mainly against Louisiana and Army, but I think that comes down to him trying to do too much with the ball in his hands, and as everyone should know, hero ball rarely works, especially in the NFL. Even then, just look what he can do. I'm not sure if there's a quarterback with a stronger arm in this class than Malik Willis, and no one is even coming close to touching him in regards to athleticism and speed from the quarterback position. This season, statistically, Willis threw for 2,626 yards with 24 touchdowns but with 12 interceptions. He also totaled 820 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground on 189 carries. Though he may not have elite size, he possesses elite tools that could take him far at the next level. The fact of the matter is Willis is better than what his stats show. If you're looking for a quarterback with elite arm talent, elite athleticism, and elite leadership qualities with a will to win, Willis is your guy. I think Willis is a great quarterback and an insane athlete. Given the right environment Willis could become a stud at the next level. If the Broncos add Malik Willis, they could actually try and challenge the Chargers for second best in the division. (I mean come on, you didn't really think I'd say they'd best the Chiefs, right?)

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

• This years draft strategy for the Bengals is fairly simple, get Joe Burrow some protection. This was the same draft strategy that everyone was screaming about during the 2021 NFL Draft, but Cincy decided to give Joe Burrow his favorite weapon, Ja'Marr Chase, taking him over Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, who went two picks later to Detroit. At this point, you can't really say the Bengals made the wrong decision. Though Sewell has been playing very good in Detroit, Chase is currently fifth in the league in receiving yards, with 1,035 yards, on just 60 catches, which is 15 less than the next closest receiver in the top five. The Bengals have been one of the surprising teams in the NFL this year and will hope to continue to build on this successful season into the future. You gave Burrow the weapons, now give him the protection. As of right now, Joe Burrow has been sacked 41 times, good for top spot in the NFL. Again, the strategy is simple, get Burrow some protection. At this point in the draft, protection doesn't come much better than from Mississippi State's Charles Cross. I'd say Cross is an elite pass blocker. This season, Cross has played 719 pass blocking snaps and has only allowed 16 pressures. Let me repeat that, just 16 pressures allowed in 719 pass blocking snaps, that's just stupid. Not to mention that he's a great athlete for the tackle position (6'5" 310 lbs.) and has great use of hands, being able to brush off edge rush moves from opposing d-ends and linebackers. Now, I can hear you asking, "Logan, how the hell did Charles Cross fall all the way to 17?" Well it's like this, though Cross is an excellent pass blocker, he is no where as experienced in the run game, which could actually cause him to slide down the draft a little bit. Think of Andre Dillard in 2019. Like Cross, Dillard was the seen as the best pass blocking tackle in the draft. Even though that was the case, Dillard dropped to the 20s, getting picked up 22nd overall by Philadelphia. I'm not saying Charles Cross is Andre Dillard, but they both came from Mike Leach led offenses (Dillard from Washington State Cross from Mississippi State) where they specialized in the pass much more than the run. Though he may not be as adept in the run game as he is in the pass game, given time, Cross could develop into one of the best tackles in the NFL. His size and athleticism will make him a very interesting prospect coming into the 2022 NFL Draft. Again, Joe Burrow has been sacked a league high 41 times. With Riley Reiff becoming a free agent in 2022 and just turning 33, I think the Bengals could use some more youthfulness on the o-line. If Cross develops properly, he could become an elite tackle in the NFL and would work perfectly in the Bengals pass first offense. (for reference, Mississippi State is the worst rushing team in the nation, averaging a measly 63.9 yards per game, equaling 767 total yards on the ground this season)

18. Cleveland Browns - Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

• Could we classify the Browns as being the NFL's biggest disappointment this season? I mean, yeah, they were supposed to be one of the best teams in the league this year but have just been riddled with injuries throughout the roster, so it is kind of hard to judge them like that. Regardless of what we the public feel about them, I'm sure the Browns think they should be better than this. With one of the best o-lines and best run games in football, the Browns can beat opposing teams up on the inside. Though they were seen as a complete team prior to the season starting, there were a couple of things they could've improved on, namely finding another wide receiver and strengthening the interior d-line. With Odell Beckham Jr. getting traded to LA and Jarvis Landry rarely staying healthy, I think it'd be wise to get Baker Mayfield another weapon on the outside. To me, Treylon Burks is someone that I could see the Browns looking at here with the 18th pick. He's perfect for what the Browns are wanting to do. Out of every receiver in this draft, I don't think a single one can match Burks' combination a size, speed, and power from the position. At 6'3" 225 lbs., Burks totaled 1,104 yards with 11 touchdowns on 66 receptions, averaging 16.7 yards per reception, while also totaling 112 yards on the ground with one touchdown to boot. Pretty much, Burks was Arkansas' entire offense, doing a little bit of everything while clearly (and smarty) being quarterback KJ Jefferson's favorite receiver. Another thing that I think would work with Burks in Detroit is his abilities as a run blocker. With Arkansas being a predominantly run first team, Burks has had to use his size and strength to straight up bully corners and safeties, and with the Browns dedicating most of their offense to the run game, Burks would not only open up the passing game, but give the Browns another stud blocker in the run game. Burks can outmuscle, out jump, and nearly out run every single defensive back in college, could that change it the pros? Probably, but if Burks keeps getting better and keeps refining his craft, the Browns may have one of the best up and coming wide outs in the league. (the Browns' 59.0% completion percentage when targeting wide receivers is 28th in the NFL, per ESPN)

19. Washington Football Team - Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

• Out of all the teams in the 2022 NFL Draft that need a quarterback, I'd almost be willing to bet anything that the Washington Football Team take a quarterback in the first round. Regardless of if it's Liberty's Malik Willis, Nevada's Carson Strong, Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder, or even North Carolina's Sam Howell, the Football Team are taking a quarterback. Though Taylor Heinicke has been fine during his time as Washington's starter, he's not the franchise guy, at least that's what it seems like right now. Though his teammates clearly love and back him, I just don't think Washington will continue to go with him as their unquestioned starter into next season. I could be wrong, but I just don't see it. For me, who fits Ron Rivera the best in this draft is Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder. This 2021 season has been something special for Ridder and the Bearcats, not only finishing undefeated and winning their conference championship, but became the first non-power five school to break in to the College Football Playoff. A big reason for Cincinnati's success came from the quarterback position, with Ridder developing into a very nice passer of the football. Coming in to this season, one of the things I wanted from Ridder was to be more consistent throwing the football. I already knew he was a great athlete, but I needed to see him throw the ball better. Like, looking at his completion percentage numbers, he started his career off by completing 62.4% of his passes, then went all the way down to 55.1%, and then it shot up to 66.2%. I know it's not the best way to look at accuracy, but the numbers needed to be a whole lot more stable. Based off that pattern, we should've seen Ridder back down in the 50s right? Wrong. This season Ridder not only completed 65.9% of his passes, but also threw for a career high 3,190 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions. For reference, Ridder had never thrown for more than 2,500 yards in a season and never had more than 20 touchdowns. As a passer, Ridder improved mightily. Like we said before, Ridder is also a great athlete. Though this wasn't his most prolific year running the ball, at 6'4" 215 lbs., he still posted 361 yards and six touchdowns, finishing the regular season with three touchdowns in his last four games. In the NFL, I think Ridder could do some special things. His size matched with his improved passing game and running ability will make him a hard player to prepare for at the next level. I'm not saying he is or will ever become him, but he could be Ron Rivera's 2022 version of Cam Newton. Could be fun to watch.

20. Buffalo Bills - Kenyon Green, iOL/OT, Texas A&M

• Ah, the Buffalo Bills, my team. Though they are my team, that doesn't mean I can't/won't rip into them. This season was supposed to be the Buffalo Bills Super Bowl year (potentially). But after only beating one team with a winning record (currently) and losing to the Jaguars the Bills Super Bowl chances are dwindling by the day. In hindsight, I wish I saw this coming. The Bills played with house money and brought back players that they probably shouldn't have brought back while also going too hard in addressing one need to the point of where you completely neglected another (drafting Carlos Basham over Creed Humphrey gives me a headache). They also lack a good amount of depth at very important positions, such as on the d-line (mainly the interior), the secondary (mainly corner), and the offensive line. To me, after watching Josh Allen run for his life this season, the Bills have to draft an offensive lineman. Interior, exterior, it don't matter, just bring someone in to keep Josh Allen upright while also creating lanes in the rushing attack. The player that I think fits all those marks to a 'T' is Texas A&M's Kenyon Green. Much like his Texas A&M teammate DeMarvin Leal, Green is an extremely versatile lineman. Starting 13 games at right guard during his freshman season and then moved to left guard during his sophomore season, where he started nine games and was named to the All-SEC Second Team and was named a Consensus All-American. Finally, during his junior season, though he started off at left tackle, Green played in every single position (apart from center). In all, Green logged snaps at four positions, left guard (241), right tackle (142), right guard (106), left tackle (81), per The Athletic. During his junior season, he was also named First Team All-SEC and named a First Team All-American. Green doesn't have that prototypical size for a tackle, at 6'4" 325 lbs., Green has the perfect body to line up inside and bully defensive tackles. Much like we said with Ekwonu earlier, Green is a monster and a mean s.o.b., which is exactly what the Bills should be looking for. He will easily open up running lanes for the Bills running backs while, most importantly, keep Josh Allen upright. I think Kenyon Green's versatility mixed with his nastiness would make him an excellent pick for the Bills. If he's available, the Bills shouldn't have to think twice about selecting him.

21. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis) - Drake London, WR, USC

• Wide receiver has been somewhat of a problem positions for the Philadelphia Eagles in recent drafts. Apart from drafting DeVonta Smith 10th overall in 2021, the wide receivers the Eagles have drafted have rarely panned out. Making matters worse, they've drafted the above some of the best receivers in the NFL. For example, in 2020 the Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor 21st overall, one pick before All Pro Justin Jefferson. In 2019, the Eagles took Stanford wide out JJ Arcega-Whiteside 57th overall, just for another All Pro in DK Metcalf to go 64th overall. We could even go back to 2015, where the Eagles drafted Nelson Agholor from USC 20th overall. Though no big name receiver were taken right after Agholor (Tyler Lockett was taken in the 3rd round), his legacy in Philly is more about the drops he had rather than anything good he actually did. The aforementioned Jalen Reagor is starting to go down that same route, which is exactly what I said when the Eagles drafted him in 2020. Eagles fans may have thought their team got rid of Agholor, but then the team went out and drafted another speedy receiver with suspect hands. That's not even me making fun of them for the fact they took him over Jefferson, it's just straight facts. Like, I know QBR isn't everything, but on a 100 point scale, when targeting Reagor, Hurts' QBR is 5.8. Comparatively, when targeting anyone else, it's 65.6. If the Eagles truly believe Jalen Hurts is their guy, they need to get him some more weapons outside because Reagor and Arcega-Whiteside (apart from blocking) just don't cut it anymore. I think they should take USC's Drake London could be the guy for them. London is a really special talent out wide. At 6'5" 210 lbs., London is a physically imposing wide receiver who can out jump and out muscle every defender that tries to take him on. This season, London registered 1,084 yards on 88 catches with seven touchdowns, being USC's only real option on the offensive side of the ball. Multiple times this season, London had to bail out quarterback Kedon Slovis by making a miraculous catch, either for a touchdown or just a big gain. A former basketball player, London has an insane catch radius and can out jump almost anyone. Though London will be recovering from a fractured ankle that he suffered back in October against Arizona, London should be considered one of the top wide receivers in the draft. London's ability to high point the ball is really special, and would be an excellent addition to the Eagles offense, hopefully helping fans forget they passed on Jefferson for Reagor in 2020. London could become a beast at the next level, the Eagles should make sure he's their beast. (hopefully he fully recovers from his ankle injury)

22. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco) - Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

• After starting the season off with a dub against the New England Patriots, the Dolphins went on to lose seven straight, including giving the Jaguars their first win of the season across the pond in London. After that seven game stretch, the Dolphins were 1-7. Since then though, they have rattled off five straight wins, including a shocking beatdown of the Baltimore Ravens, to now sit at 6-7. I know this isn't technically the Dolphins pick, it still shows that they are a very weird team. In that five game stretch though, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has looked fairly nice, pretty much ending the "Deshaun Watson to Miami" trade talks. Now, with Tua playing better, the Dolphins should really look at either upgrading the offensive line, or get Tua another weapon outside (especially with Will Fuller becoming a free agent in 2022 and Devante Parker rarely being healthy). Though I think a receiver could work well for Miami, offensive line should be the first area they look to improve. In 2020, the Dolphins draft Austin Jackson from USC 18th and Robert Hunt from Louisiana 39th. Since they've been drafted they haven't really impressed, with both getting kicked inside to guard this season. Though Hunt scored that non-touchdown against Baltimore, it hasn't been great for the pair. So with that out of the way, I think the Dolphins should move for UNI's Trevor Penning. Though he comes from an FCS program, at 6'7" 321 lbs., Trevor Penning is a menace on the left side of the offensive line. Much like Ekwonu before, Penning is a mean s.o.b. and will maul any defender that tries to get past him. Unsurprisingly, Penning was named First Team All-MVFC while also being named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, the FCS' best offensive player award. Whether it's in the run game or the pass game Penning makes his presence felt. Like I said before, Penning just owns defenders, and could really help open up the run game for the Dolphins (second worst in the league) while also keeping Tua upright. The past two drafts the Dolphins have drafted a o-lineman with a premium first or second round pick, make that three as the 'Phins hope to finally fix their offensive line.

23. Los Angeles Chargers - Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia

• The LA Chargers are a very interesting team. On offense, they've got one of the best young quarterbacks in the league in Justin Herbert with some special talent in the backfield and out wide in the form of Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams (FA 2022). This past offseason for the Chargers, they hired former LA Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is completely bucking the trend of defensive head coaches being conservative, because it feels like the Chargers go for it on every fourth down. A fun offense plus a risky head coach can make for some exciting football, but it can, at times, strain your defense. Obviously, the Chargers don't convert on every fourth down, and sometimes these fourth downs are in their own territory, i.e. against the Steelers. Though the defense has some talented players like Joey Bosa and Derwin James, there's still some problem areas for this Bolts defense. The main areas of concern come from the defensive line and the corner back position, especially since Chris Harris will be turning 33 in June and is an in-pending free agent. That being said, the Chargers did go out and draft former Florida State corner Asante Samuel Jr. in the second round in 2021, so if/when Harris leaves, Samuel will be right there to fill in the gap. The same can't really be said for the defensive line. Nose tackle Linval Joseph is also an impending free agent, and like Harris, is on the wrong side of 30, turning 33 this past October. After Joseph, there is no one at the nose tackle position. Even on the edges of their 3-4 defense, Jerry Tillery hasn't really panned out and Justin Jones isn't anything special. Right now, the Chargers rank second from the bottom in rush defense, allowing 140.7 yards per game, while also allowing 18 touchdowns, good for third from the bottom. To hopefully solve this issue, I think the Chargers should look to add Georgia's Jordan Davis (if he's available). There aren't a lot of players in college football that resemble Jordan Davis. At 6'6" 340 lbs., Davis moves very well, and though he doesn't register a whole lot of sacks, he does take on as many blockers as possible, allowing players such as Dean and Travon Walker to make plays in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage. Davis was a key member of the Bulldogs insane defense, with him being the main cog in their run defense. A run defense that again, allowed just 81.7 yards per game this past season while also allowing only three touchdowns on the ground to boot. There are not a lot of people that want to block him at the college level, I feel even at the next level he'll be a threat, potentially being the Chargers answer to Vita Vea. (Davis could really fall anywhere in the first round, he's a friggin monster but his pass rush ceiling is relatively low, which could cause him to slide)

24. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles) - Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

• I promise, as of right now, this is the last team that has multiple picks in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. First came the Jets at picks four and five, then the Giants at six and seven, then the Eagles at 11, 12, and 18, and now we have the Detroit Lions, who obviously had the first pick of the draft, taking Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson. Now, with their second pick of the first round, I think the Lions will be picking between two positions, quarterback and wide receiver. Quarterback is a very interesting one for me because I don't necessarily think Jared Goff is that bad. I'm not saying he's great or anything I just think he gets a little more hate than what he deserves given the fact he is on a terrible football team with no weapons out wide. Not only do I not think Jared Goff is that bad, the Lions also got to deal with his ridiculous contract. Though I don't want to rule out quarterback completely, I think they'll first look to add weapons on the outside. This not only makes Goff's job easier, but it'll allow Hockenson more room to work, as he is currently the only real weapon the Lions have out wide. To me, the next best wide receiver is Ohio State's Garrett Wilson. Though he may not be the deep threat that Jameson Williams or Chris Olave are, Wilson may be a better all around wide receiver. When you talk about the "complete" wide receivers in the country, Garrett Wilson should be at the top of your list, arguably. He may not be the fastest wide out in this class (he is very fast, just not the fastest), but his versatility really sets him apart when comparing him to the other wide receivers in this class. Before this season, Wilson had done most of his work from the slot, averaging just under 17 yards per catch (16.8) and totaling 723 yards on the season. This year, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba taking the most of the reps form the slot, Wilson has been a real threat from the outside, recently surpassing 1,000 yards on the season with 12 touchdowns, averaging 15.1 yards per reception. In Ohio State's insane three headed monster out wide, Wilson is the dawg, the main man in the wide receiver room at Ohio State. Wherever you line him up, Wilson will make a play, kind of like Justin Jefferson at LSU, where he excelled in the slot but worked wonders out wider as well. Wilson would give the Lions a legit option out wide. Taking th pressure off of Goff (or whoever their QB is) while adding to an improving offense. (I'm not saying they'll be great, but the Lions offense is starting to look kinda nice. D'Andre Swift, TJ Hockenson, Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow, Penei Sewell, and now Garrett Wilson? Not too shabby)

25. Baltimore Ravens - Travon Walker, DL/EDGE, Georgia

• The Baltimore Ravens have been a very weird team this season. They have a ton of talent on the roster, namely in their quarterback Lamar Jackson, but the Ravens have lost to teams they should never really lose to. Like losing to the Raiders in OT week one, getting shit stopped by the Bengals (at home) and Dolphins, and losing in a couple other division games against Pittsburgh and Cleveland. They also struggled mightily against the Lions and the Bears. At 8-5, the Ravens are still holding on to first place in the division. That being said, they are 1-3 in the division, and with the Bengals and Browns sitting one game back and the Steelers a game and a half back the Ravens can't really afford anymore slip ups. On of the problem areas on the Ravens has been their offensive line. After trading Orlando Brown to the Chiefs, the Ravens have struggled keeping pressure off Lamar. The most mobile quarterback in the NFL has been sacked 38 times this season, that's even with him missing one game due to an illness. Though offensive line is easily the biggest need on the roster, it may be too early to take one, especially with UNI's Trevor Penning already off the board. I feel the Ravens could still get a very good tackle in the second round. So, with offensive line off the board (for now), I think the Ravens should look to re-strengthen their defensive line. This offseason, NFL vet Calais Campbell is schedule to hit free agency in 2022, not to mention he just turned 35 years old in September. The Ravens could also lose starting nose tackle Brandon Williams and Justin Houston to free agency as well (both of them are over 30 as well, Williams turns 33 in February and Houston turns 33 in January). One thing the Ravens have always been good at is strengthening their defense, and with someone as skilled and versatile as Travon Walker still on the board, I think the Ravens just have to take him. Though Walker's numbers won't wow you, totaling just four sacks with 32 total tackles in 2021, Walker is as good at playing as a traditional 4-3 d-tackle as he is playing as a 4-3 d-end, which is exactly what the Ravens should be looking for as they run a base 3-4 defense. Walker's ability to play both inside and outside should work wonders for the Ravens defense. This past season at Georgia, Walker came out weight 275 lbs., slimming down from his 290 lbs. frame from the season prior. At 6'5", Walker's body can handle the weight gain, or weight loss, that some coaches will be looking for, whether they want him to play inside or outside. At whatever size, Walker shows off his insane athleticism, making a ton of plays in Georgia's insane defense. Best against the run, Walker's athletic ceiling says that he should turn into a fine pass rusher at the next level. For the Ravens, who may need to replace some beef along the front three, Walker could fill that and then some.

26. Dallas Cowboys - Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State

• The Dallas Cowboys came in to this season off the back of one of the worst defensive seasons in team history. Last season the 'Boys ranked in the bottom 10 in total defense, while being the second worst rush defense in the league and allowing 473 total points (or 29.6 per game) last season. Once the season ended, the Cowboys looked to change their fortunes on defense by hiring former Falcons head coach and Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new DC. They also drafted highly touted linebacker Micah Parsons 12th overall and drafted five further defensive players in a row after that, finishing up the 2021 draft with eight new pieces on defense. Safe to say that's paid off to some extent as the Cowboys are only giving up 22 points per game now, which isn't great, but is better, with Micah Parsons is the runaway favorite for defensive rookie of the year. That being said, though it is slightly better, it's still not very good. If it weren't for Dak and the offense, we might be looking at the Cowboys differently than what we do right now. Like, even with a defensive player of the year candidate in Trevon Diggs, their still in the bottom 10 in passing defense, giving up 250.8 yards per game (though they do lead the league in interceptions with 20). I'm not saying it'll solve everything, but adding another player to get after the quarterback could be the way to go. Apart from rookie sensation Micah Parsons (12) and soon to be free agent Randy Gregory (6), no one else on the Cowboys has more than two sacks. With the possibility of Gregory looking for a payday looming large, and the fact DeMarcus Lawrence has played three games this year and turns 30 in April, I think the Cowboys should look to add someone to help Parsons get after the quarterback. Looking at what's available, you would have to say it's between San Diego State's Cameron Thomas and Georgia's Travon Walker. With this pick, I'm going to go with the former and take Cameron Thomas. Though he played for San Diego State, Thomas put up some excellent numbers coming off the edge. Registering 10.5 sacks and 68 tackles, with 30 of those being solo tackles and 26 of those 30 being tackles for loss. With some calling him the next JJ Watt, Thomas thrives in any defense you throw him in, whether he's playing as a 3-4 defensive end or a 4-3 defensive end, Thomas' impact is never in question. At 6'5" 270 lbs., Thomas' combination of size, athleticism, physicality, work rate, and versatility make the possibility of him being a real threat at the next level very likely. I'm sure the Cowboys and their fans sat at home and watched JJ Watt play wishing he was playing a few more hours north. Though they couldn't get the real thing, why not look for someone that could be just like him?

27. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

• The Kansas City Chiefs are kind of an odd team. Yes, they have the best quarterback in the NFL (when he's on it) in Patrick Mahomes and two of the best weapons on the outside in the NFL in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Weirdly enough though, outside of Hill and Kelce the Chiefs don't really have that much in regards to other options. Former second round pick Mecole Hardman has regressed, other receivers Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle are nothing special, and Josh Gordon just doesn't play. Even in the backfield, if the Chiefs could go back in time, do you think they'd still take Clyde Edwards-Helaire with their first round pick? If they new how good Jonathan Taylor and D'Andre Swift were going to be (which they should have) I bet they wouldn't take the former National Champion. I think the Chiefs will add another wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft, not only to take the pressure off of Mahomes, but to allow more room for the likes of Hill and Kelce. So, the run on receivers continues, with the Chiefs selecting Chris Olave from Ohio State. Though he may not have put up the most insane numbers this season, he is still one of the top deep threats in the entire draft, rivaling Alabama's Jameson Williams for the top spot. In one of the most insane wide receiver trios in college football history, Olave posted 936 yards on 65 catches this season with 13 touchdowns, which is good for fifth in the nation and second among first round wide receivers in this class. Throughout his career, Olave totaled a pretty astonishing 35 touchdowns, which is 12 more than his Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson and 10 more than Penn State wide out Jahan Dotson, with no other receiver in the first round posting over 20 touchdowns throughout their college careers. Safe to say Olave just finds the end zone. That mixed with this speed and aforementioned deep threat ability could make him a perfect fit in Kansas City. Adding Olave would give Mahomes another speed target outside while also taking the pressure off of him and his two favorite targets, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. If he's available, the Chiefs have to take him.

28. Arizona Cardinals - Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

• The Arizona Cardinals are one of the surprise teams this season. At the start of the season I thought the Cardinals would finish above .500 but barely, having them go 9-8. Well let's just say they are doing better than I expected as they already have 10 wins and were the first team to reach that mark this season. The offense hasn't surprised me it's been the defense. Adding JJ Watt this offseason looked more like the Emmitt Smith thing than anything else. Losing other key defensive pieces such as Haason Reddick and Patrick Peterson only made things more murky for me. Shows what the hell I know I guess. Either way the Cardinals are really good and really fun to watch but will still probably need to fill some holes on the defense this offseason. With the Cardinals already cutting ties with 2021 offseason acquisition Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford entering free agency in 2022 I think it'd be wise for the Cardinals to look at a cornerback with their first pick. To me, the next best corner in the draft hails from Clemson in the form of Andrew Booth Jr. At 6'0" 200 lbs., Booth has the ideal size for today's corners in the NFL. A solid tackling corner who is a great athlete, Booth came in the same recruiting class as fourth overall pick Derek Stingley. Booth locks up opposing teams number one receivers and, when he rarely gets beat, he has the speed to catch up and make plays on the ball. In Clemson's last game of the regular season, Booth registered two picks against South Carolina, giving him three for the season and three in his final two games, registering one against Wake Forest. Booth is a shut down corner by every sense of the phrase and would be an instant upgrade for the Cardinals secondary. Even if Alford resigns this offseason they could still use a corner, especially with former second round pick Byron Murphy lining up more as a nickel corner rather than an outside corner. Booth would be an excellent addition to a very good Cardinals team. (Chandler Jones is an impending free agent, though he requested a trade this past offseason I think Jones may stick around and sign a new contract. With how good the Cardinals are doing it'll probably be hard to find a better offer, team wise anyways)

29. Tennessee Titans - Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

• This pick hurts me. Not because of the fact that I have the Titans taking an elite linebacking prospect, but the fact that I have Dean falling this far. The sad part is, not a lot of teams in this draft have linebacker on top of their list of priorities for the draft, at least at this moment in time. That being said, I don't think the Titans will be complaining too much. With Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown scheduled to hit free agency in 2022, the Titans could use some more depth in their linebacking core, even after just signing longtime Texan Zach Cunningham in free agency. Though he may not be as big or as athletically gifted as Utah's Devin Lloyd, but Dean was the quarterback of one of the greatest defenses in college football history. This season, Georgia gave up just 253.9 yards per game (4 yards per play) while being really stout in the run game, giving up just 81.7 yards per game and giving up just 9.5 points per game. For a Titans team who's secondary has been riddled with injuries, Dean would help take some of the pressure off. Even after Bryce Young put on a show in the SEC Championship game, opposing quarterbacks still only managed to post a 117.3 QBR, which was the worst in college football. That loss aside, Georgia's defense was special. Why were they so dominant? One reason is because of Dean's leadership. His leadership really makes him stand out, not just with the other linebackers, but with almost everyone in the draft. This season, Dean post 61 total tackles with five sacks, one forced fumbles, five passes defended, and two interceptions, one of them being returned for a touchdown. Again, Dean may not be the athlete Lloyd is, but Dean works his ass off. Leading vocally and by example, he'll make a play wherever he is needed and will rarely miss a tackle. Next to Zach Cunningham, the Titans could have one of the best linebacking cores in the league, at least when it comes to tackling, as Cunningham led the league in tackles in 2020 and ranked inside the top 10 in 2019, totaling 306 tackles in two seasons. Dean is an absolute dawg, and would be perfect at the heart of the Titans defense next to Cunningham, possibly giving Vrabel his very own version of Roquan Smith.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

• The reigning Super Bowl champs are almost picking in the exact same spot in which they picked in the 2021 NFL Draft. If it weren't for some weird performances against the Washington Football Team and the Trevor Siemian led Saints they may very well have the 32nd pick (well, I guess they would 100% have that pick since they'd be 12-1, but I digress). All in all though, they do not. That being said, though picking here means they didn't go back-to-back, it does mean they can probably get a better player. Now, though they very well may lose some key pieces on offense like Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, Leonard Fournette, Ronald Jones, OJ Howard, and Gronk, I think the Bucs will try to rebuild the thing that killed the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV (55), their defense. This offseason, the Bucs could very well lose Ndamukong Suh, William Gholston, Jason Pierre-Paul, Richard Sherman, and Carlton Davis to free agency. Though the defensive line is what got them the Super Bow, I think the Bucs are in desperate need of some more bodies in the secondary, especially with how riddled with injuries that unit has been this season. To me, the next best corner in this draft is the tough tackling Roger McCreary from Auburn. The thing that separates McCreary from the other corners is his tackling ability, with this past season being his best, totaling 49 tackles, with 41 of those being solo tackles and one sack to go along with it as well. And this isn't just a one year thing for McCreary, dude has totaled 135 total tackles throughout his four year Auburn career, with 111 solo tackles, which is easily the most out of the top corners in the 2022 NFL Draft. He also totaled 14 passes defended and two interceptions with one of those getting returned for a touchdown. At 6'0" 190 lbs., McCreary has the size coaches and scouts are looking for in today's corners. A great athlete with ideal size and tackling ability, McCreary would be an excellent addition for any team looking for a corner in the 2022 Draft. With Sherman turning 34 in March and possibly losing him and Davis to free agency, I think it'd be smart for Tampa to add another corner. McCreary's size and tackling ability will make him hard to pass up for any corner needy team and the Bucs are sure glad he fell to them here. (like I said before, the Bucs could lose both of their starting running backs, some maybe we see Breece Hall's name come off the board in the first round)

31. New England Patriots - Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

• The New England Patriots made a ton of moves this past offseason, bringing in the likes of Matthew Judon and Kyle Van Noy on defense and Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Kendrick Bourne on offense while also drafting players such as Mac Jones, Christian Barmore, and Rhamondre Stevenson. Safe to say, the Patriots were wanting to remind people who they are, that they are not the team that we saw on the field in 2022. For the Patriots to stay atop the AFC East, and AFC in general, they probably should go out and restrengthen their defense. With JC Jackson possibly leaving in free agency and Jalen Mills just not being very good the Patriots should look to add another corner in the draft. With there already being a massive run of corners, the Patriots options may be limited. That being said, I think they'll be fine if they added former Florida defensive back Kaiir Elam. Though Elam may not put up the same sort of numbers this season as someone like "Sauce" or McCreary, Elam is still the type of corner you look for in the draft. At 6'2" 196 lbs., Elam's size mixed with his speed/athleticism make him a match-up nightmare for opposing offenses. His size rarely sees him get out jumped and his speed/athleticism rarely sees him get blown past. For example, against Alabama, who have two of the top five deep threats in all of college football with Jameson Williams and John Metchie, Elam registered a season high three passes defended, which tied his career high dating back to Florida's game against Texas A&M in October of 2020. With six interceptions and 20 passes defended to go along with 76 career tackles over a three year career, Elam's complete game speaks for itself. If the Patriots want to stay atop the AFC, they should look to add another corner. Elam would be an excellent addition for New England, potentially locking up one side of the field while also filling the hole left by former defensive player of the year Stephon Gilmore.

32. Green Bay Packers - Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

• Packers fans everywhere rejoice! After almost 20 years, your team has finally drafted a wide receiver in the first round. What has led to such a revelation you might ask? Well, based on the fact that the Packers have needed to use a premium pick on a wide receiver for about a decade, and that Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Allen Lazard are all going to be free agents in 2022. Even if they resigned all three of those guys, the Packers should still draft a wide receiver since the last two aren't anything special and the only other receivers on the roster are Amari Rodgers and Equanimeous St. Brown. Whether Aaron Rodgers is the quarter next year or not, Packers, please draft him or Jordan Love a wide receiver in the first round, especially with someone like Penn State's Jahan Dotson available for the taking. This past season at Penn State, Dotson posted 1,182 yards on 91 catches with 12 touchdowns, with six coming in his last four games. Thew thing that is very nice about Dotson is that he can kill you from either the slot or out wide, wide his speed/acceleration after the catch and "ball finding" abilities making him almost impossible to defend. Something else Dotson brings to the table is that he does not drop passes, or when he does it's rare. This season, Dotson has just two drops to his name and has never dropped a pass of 20+ yards. For the Packers, as a team, have registered just seven drops, good for joint second least in the NFL. Dotson may not be the biggest receiver, 5'11" 184 lbs., but for what he lacks in size he makes up for in play making ability. Again, whoever the quarterback is in 2022, they would love to have a receiver like Jahan Dotson making plays for the out wide. (based on the Packers recent history I wouldn't be surprised if they instead opted to draft a tackle, someone like Nicholas Petit-Frere. Though that is a need, the Packers have lacked real talent out wide for a while now (apart from Adams), Dotson is just too good to pass up)

Second Round

33. Detroit Lions - Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

34. Houston Texans - Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

35. Jacksonville Jaguars - George Pickens, WR, Georgia

36. New York Jets - Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

37. New York Giants - Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

38. Chicago Bears - David Bell, WR, Purdue

39. New York Jets - Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

40. Seattle Seahawks - Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State

41. Miami Dolphins - Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State

42. Philadelphia Eagles - Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State

43. Minnesota Vikings - Darian Kinnard, iOL/OT, Kentucky

44. New Orleans Saints - Carson Strong, QB, Nevada

45. Las Vegas Raiders - Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

46. Atlanta Falcons - Devonte Wyatt, DL, Georgia

47. Pittsburgh Steelers - Zion Johnson, iOL, Boston College

48. Cincinnati Bengals - Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

49. Cleveland Browns - Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

50. Denver Broncos - Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State

51. Washington Football Team - Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

52. Indianapolis Colts - Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State

53. San Francisco 49ers - Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington

54. Buffalo Bills - Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M

55. Los Angeles Chargers - Drake Jackson, EDGE, USC

56. Denver Broncos - Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE, Penn State

57. Baltimore Ravens - Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

58. Kansas City Chiefs - Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

59. Dallas Cowboys - Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

60. Arizona Cardinals - Logan Hall, DL, Houston

61. Atlanta Falcons - Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

62. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Kenneth Walker III, RB, Michigan State

63. New England Patriots - Phidarian Mathis, DL, Alabama

64. Green Bay Packers - Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan

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