Sam Teets 2022 NFL Mock Draft 7.0
Sam Teets 2022 NFL Mock Draft 7.0
Six edge rushers and seven corners hear their names called
We’re coming up on a month since my last mock draft was released. With so much time having passed since the last edition, my mock 7.0 has plenty of risers, fallers, and unique selections I haven’t mocked until now. We can finally begin accurately evaluating and placing prospects now that the college football regular season is over. Let’s see where everyone lands in my most controversial mock draft this year.
Please remember the rankings and draft order change frequently. Teams can jump or fall ten spots at a time, depending on what happens in a given weekend. If you don’t like where your team is positioned, too bad. The draft order in this article is the official order after Week 12.
All height, weight, and sack data come from ESPN.
Feel free to yell at me on Twitter @Sam_Teets33 or in the comment section at the bottom of this post if you disagree with the player(s) I gave your team.
1. Detroit Lions- Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE Michigan
It’s fair to say we’ve all been caught up in the moment as far as elevating Hutchinson to the top spot on draft boards and mock drafts. He’s gained an incredible amount of momentum after terrorizing a loaded Ohio State offensive line to the tune of 15 pressures and three sacks.
We might forget about all that in a few weeks and go back to viewing Kayvon Thibodeaux as the draft’s top prospect. Or this could finally be the game that permanently elevates Hutchinson over his Oregon counterpart, a move some people flirted with earlier this year when Thibodeaux missed several games.
Detroit needs as many good players as it can get, and Hutchinson is far too valuable to pass up on for another position. Some NFL teams might still view Thibodeaux as the better player. Either way, the Lions are getting a defensive end.
2. Houston Texans- Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE Oregon
Thibodeaux has three games with eight or more pressures this season. He’s applied pressure on about 14.4% of his career pass rushing snaps at Oregon, and that number is up to roughly 17.2% for his third season. Injuries and the COVID season prevented us from seeing a full year of dominant play from Thibodeaux, but almost every analyst in the game expects big things from him.
Houston has more important needs than edge rusher, but the team won’t find suitable answers to those problems at second overall. Thibodeaux offers the best bang for Houston’s buck and gifts the franchise its best defensive end since J.J. Watt.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars- Evan Neal, OT Alabama
Neal began his college career at left guard before playing right tackle in 2020 and moving into Alex Leatherwood’s old spot at left tackle this season. The towering 6'7", 350 lb. Florida native has allowed 13 pressures and only one sack this year. In his entire collegiate career (2,348 total snaps and 1,349 pass blocking snaps), Neal has only allowed 34 pressures and four sacks.
Cam Robinson is a pending free agent, and Jawaan Taylor is a year away from hitting the open market. The Jaguars drafted Stanford’s Walker Little with the 45th pick this past year, but that selection shouldn’t exclude Jacksonville from targeting a player of Neal’s caliber.
4. New York Jets (Via Seahawks)- Derek Stingley Jr., CB LSU
Stingley had one of the best seasons by a freshman cornerback in college football history, but he failed to follow up that 2019 campaign with further elite performances. Even now, I’m not entirely sure he belongs in the conversation with cornerbacks like Patrick Peterson and Jalen Ramsey. However, he’s firmly earned the top cornerback spot in this class.
Stingley only appeared in three games this season. His tackling was awful during those outings, and he seemed disinterested. That doesn’t erase that he only allowed 53 receptions on 129 targets in nearly 900 coverage snaps during his LSU career. Stingley’s physical traits should help him mirror routes in the NFL and stick with speedy receivers.
The Jets have half of their starting cornerbacks figured out. Bryce Hall looks like a long-term answer for New York, but the rest of the depth chart isn’t exactly inspiring.
5. New York Jets- Ikem Ekwonu, OT/IOL N.C. St.
Many analysts went into 2021 projecting Ekwonu as a guard. He’s since lept up draft boards as a tackle to the point that some people are speculating about him taking the top spot from Evan Neal. I’m not ready to make that leap of faith, but it’s easy to see why Ekwonu deserves a shot at playing tackle in the NFL.
Ekwonu is 6'4" and weighs 320 lbs. During his three years with the Wolfpack, he’s allowed 54 pressures and ten sacks. However, only 13 of those pressures and three of those sacks came during Ekwonu’s 500 pass blocking snaps this season. He’s still vastly more impactful in the running game, where he can pull and destroy defenders, but Ekwonu’s jump to being passable in pass protection makes him worth at least a top 15 pick.
New York’s Mekhi Becton had a promising rookie year before suffering a knee injury that required surgery in Week 1 of the 2021 season. Assuming the Louisville product makes a full recovery, the Jets need a long-term answer to pair with him. Adding Ekwonu gives New York two of the most powerful tackles in the league.
6. New York Giants- George Karlaftis, EDGE Purdue
Karlaftis isn’t on the same freakish athletic level as Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, but it’s impossible to argue with the results he’s produced while at Purdue. If we ignore the COVID shortened season where he played under 150 snaps, Karlaftis has 109 pressures on 764 pass rushing snaps (about a 14.3% pressure rate).
Karlaftis took the Big Ten by storm as a freshman, amassing 55 pressures and 7.5 sacks. He’s on pace to top that pressure mark this season if he plays in Purdue’s bowl game. The 6'4", 275 lb. defensive end has a relentless motor and should offer a strong anchor against the run.
The Giants haven’t had a consistent edge rusher since Jason Pierre-Paul put together a decent run in the early 2010s. Karlaftis wouldn’t be an ideal fit for the team’s current defensive formation, but I’m predicting some significant changes on the coaching staff and in the front office.
7. New York Giants (Via Bears)- Charles Cross, OT Mississippi St.
Cross plays in an offense that pushes the ball downfield at a rate no NFL team reaches. While this sometimes means his pass snaps aren’t NFL-caliber, he’s played 1,293 pass blocking snaps over the past two years. Cross allowed 33 pressures in 2020 but made a massive leap in 2021. He only allowed 14 pressures and two sacks in 719 pass blocking reps.
At 6'5", 310 lbs., Cross has the frame to step in and play left tackle from his first day in the pros. There are never enough quality tackles in the league, which makes Cross’ draft stock spike even more.
This year, Andrew Thomas made some positive strides at left tackle for the Giants. They need to replace Nate Solder at right tackle as soon as possible. He was a quality starter in New England, but it’s time for the veteran to pack his bags and enter free agency. Adding another highly gifted lineman will hopefully finally help the Giants stabilize up front.
8. Philadelphia Eagles- Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame
Hamilton missed the end of his junior season because of a knee injury, but the Georgia native firmly established himself as a blue-chip prospect. Hamilton is 6'4" and weighs 220 lbs., which makes him the most physically unique player for his position in the draft. Teams are always looking for players with tweener builds, and Hamilton looks like the best prospect from that mold yet.
Hamilton played more snaps in the slot than the box over the past three years. He can cover at a high level. The superstar allowed 39 receptions on 82 targets for 9.9 yards per reception and one touchdown during his collegiate career. He amassed eight interceptions and 17 passes defensed during that time.
The Eagles have enough draft capital to use their top pick on a low-value position like safety. Philadelphia already has some options at safety, but no one on the roster stands out as a potential Pro Bowler. Anthony Harris is also a free agent in 2022, which could thin out an already questionable position group.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Dolphins)- Andrew Booth Jr., CB Clemson
Darius Slay is having a massive rebound year with Philadelphia that could lead to an All-Pro selection. However, the Eagles still don’t have a young outside cornerback prepared to replace Steven Nelson when the current starter hits free agency in 2022. Cornerback is one of the league’s premier positions, so the Eagles can’t pass on making it a priority.
Booth has the athleticism and fluidity to mirror routes while possessing a knack for coming downhill and laying the boom. He’s blown up several wide receiver screens and outside runs this year. Sometimes this reckless style can lead to missed tackles, but Booth isn’t afraid to get dirty when the ball comes his way.
This season was a mixed bag for Booth in coverage. He tallied three interceptions and five passes defensed but had awful games against Georgia Tech and North Carolina State. The junior allowed his only two touchdowns of the season against the Wolfpack, and evaluators won’t forget that tape anytime soon.
On the bright side, Booth only allowed three receptions for one yard against Georgia, and the Bulldogs went out of their way to avoid the Clemson star.
10. Carolina Panthers- Matt Corral, QB Ole Miss
Carolina is the first team to take a bite out of the quarterback market, and they make the safest selection by taking Corral. The Ole Miss quarterback hasn’t had many superstar performances this year, but he’s avoided making the mistakes that cost him dearly in 2020. Corral’s overall profile illustrates a quarterback capable of completing passes at all levels while keeping the ball out of harm’s way.
Corral is also capable of damaging teams with his legs. He’s run for 597 yards and 11 touchdowns this year.
The Panthers can’t roll into 2022 with Sam Darnold, Cam Newton, and P.J. Walker as their answers at quarterback. Darnold’s time as a starter should be over. Walker is a career backup, and Newton showed in Week 12 why he was sitting at home for over half the 2021 season. At least Corral offers hope for the future, even if he isn’t starting right away.
11. Atlanta Falcons- Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio St.
Ohio State spreads the ball around between its three future first-round wide receivers, but Wilson is the most well-rounded among the duo eligible in 2022. He has 70 receptions for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, including big performances against ranked opponents like Michigan, Michigan State, Oregon, and Purdue.
Wilson blends a combination of speed, route running, fluidity, and surprisingly good high-point abilities in contested catch situations for a 6'0", 188 lb. receiver.
Matt Ryan is on the down side of his career, but losing Calvin Ridley this year only escalated his decline. Ryan dearly misses Julio Jones and Ridley. Even if the younger receiver returns in 2022, adding Wilson gives Atlanta insurance. Drafting the Ohio State star also forms a dynamic trio of pass catchers (Kyle Pitts, Ridley, and Wilson) to revive Atlanta’s offense.
12. Minnesota Vikings- Kaiir Elam, CB Florida
Minnesota kicked the tires on Bashaud Breeland and Patrick Peterson this season. Neither of those signings has worked out in Minnesota’s favor. Breeland is playing like the veteran journeyman he is, and Peterson just can’t cut it at this point in his career. The Vikings need some new life in their secondary.
At 6'2", 196 lbs., Elam has ideal size for a cornerback. The junior hasn’t matched his breakout 2020 campaign this season, but he’s still held up well against some elite SEC wide receivers. Elam held Alabama’s pass catchers to two receptions for 36 yards on seven targets and 41 coverage snaps.
13. New Orleans Saints- Sam Howell, QB North Carolina
Howell endured significant turnover on his offense this year, which forced North Carolina to change its play calling. Howell went from rushing for 181 yards in his first two seasons to running 170 times for 815 yards (4.8 yards per attempt) and 11 touchdowns in 2021. He’s shown adaptability and still knows how to connect on deep throws with his cannon of an arm.
Jameis Winston and Trevor Siemian are free agents in 2022, and neither showed anything this year to prove they’ve significantly improved from past seasons. Taysom Hill isn’t an answer at quarterback. Adding Howell gives Sean Payton a strong-arm quarterback willing to use his compact frame (6'1", 220 lb.) in the running game.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (Via Colts)- Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE South Carolina
Enagbare is one of the most underrated prospects in the 2022 class. The senior needs to clean up his tackling form and become a stouter presence against the run, but he will become an above-average NFL pass rusher. Enagbare has produced pressure on 12.9% of his pass rushing snaps during his career at South Carolina. That’s risen to about 15.9% over the past two years.
The Eagles are committed to Josh Sweat moving forward, but they’ll need a replacement for Brandon Graham as the veteran reaches the end of his contract. The team must also replace Derek Barnett, who is a free agent in 2022. At 6'4", 265 lbs., Enagbare weighs about the same as Graham.
15. Cleveland Browns- Chris Olave, WR Ohio St.
Olave has an excellent blend of speed and route running, and his fluid playing style is extremely quarterback-friendly. The senior won’t win or get shots at many jump balls or turn into a YAC monster, but he’ll consistently provide Baker Mayfield with a reliable target. Olave’s statistical ceiling remains concealed by the historic amount of wide receiver talent at Ohio State.
Odell Beckham Jr. is in Los Angeles, and the Browns could save $12.8 million by releasing Jarvis Landry this offseason. Cleveland could begin rebuilding its wide receiver corps around Donovan Peoples-Jones and Olave while the organization figures out what to do with Mayfield.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers- Kenyon Green, IOL/OT Texas A&M
The Steelers used their top two picks in the 2021 NFL Draft on skill position players instead of addressing the offensive line. They used third and fourth-round picks on linemen who haven’t impressed as rookies. It’s time for Pittsburgh to sink significant draft capital into rebuilding the line for Najee Harris and the next Steelers quarterback.
Green is one of the most versatile linemen in the 2022 class. He’s played over 100 snaps at both guard positions and right tackle this year. The 6'4", 325 lb. junior also played over 80 snaps at left tackle. Green is most experienced as a guard, but I think he should get the chance to play tackle.
Green has allowed 20 pressures and one sack over the past two seasons. He played left tackle the entire game against Alabama this year and didn’t surrender a single pressure.
17. Denver Broncos- Nakobe Dean, LB Georgia
Denver was deep at linebacker entering the season, but injuries to Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson revealed a potential weakness. The two former starters, Micah Kiser, and Kenny Young are free agents in 2022, meaning it’s the perfect time for Denver to pursue new life at linebacker.
Dean’s stature (6'0", 225 lbs.) could turn some teams away, but he’s incredible in space. Many defenses want smaller linebackers capable of playing in coverage while occasionally contributing on blitzes. Dean fits that profile perfectly. He has 20 pressures and five sacks this year.
Dean’s coverage numbers are off the charts. He’s only allowed 14 receptions on 26 targets in 224 coverage snaps for 61 yards (4.4 yards per reception) and no touchdowns. He’s intercepted two attempts and gotten his hand on three other passes.
18. Las Vegas Raiders- Jameson Williams, WR Alabama
Las Vegas’ offense ground to a halt when Henry Ruggs III landed himself in serious off-field trouble that resulted in his release. DeSean Jackson signed with the Raiders and assumed that deep threat role, which led to a win against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Darren Waller is Las Vegas’ best offensive weapon, but the offense needs a receiver capable of taking the top off defenses.
Williams is the best deep threat in this class. He’s having a fantastic season after transferring to Alabama from Ohio State. The Missouri native has 61 receptions for 1,261 yards (20.7 yards per reception) and 13 touchdowns. Williams can learn more nuanced route running, but he should make a more immediate impact in the NFL than Ruggs did in 2020.
19. Washington Football Team- Malik Willis, QB Liberty
Taylor Heinicke isn’t anything special. He’s not good enough to lead an average Washington team on a deep playoff run, and he’ll likely spend the rest of his career bouncing from team to team. On the other hand, Willis possesses elite physical traits that fit well with the trend of modern NFL offenses.
Willis’ mobility is his most prominent trait, separating him from the other top available quarterbacks. Even with sack yardage removed (and there’s a lot of it), Willis has 820 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns this season. He also has an arm strong enough to make any throw.
The most significant concern with Willis is his high number of turnovers against low-level competition. He’s thrown three interceptions in losses to UL Monroe and Ole Miss this season. Willis also threw three interceptions against Middle Tennessee and two interceptions in a loss to the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. That’s indefensible for a top quarterback prospect.
20. Los Angeles Chargers- Drake Jackson, EDGE USC
The Chargers still haven’t found a replacement for Melvin Ingram. Joey Bosa is one of the league’s best pass rushers, which means he draws enough attention to open opportunities for a running mate. Offenses can’t stop an elite edge rusher when he has a competent partner. Jackson has the bend and twitch to become that player.
I’m lower on Jackson than some other analysts. He faded significantly in the season’s second half, but the physical traits he flashed in dominant performances against Colorado, Notre Dame, and Washington State are easy to fall in love with.
Defensive end and outside linebacker are two roles where you can draft for physical traits over production and get hits anyway.
21. Miami Dolphins (Via 49ers)- Devin Lloyd, LB Utah
The Dolphins need added versatility at their defense’s second level. They have decent depth at the position but lack true game-changers. Brian Flores’ team won’t ever reach the playoffs if they keep giving players like Elandon Roberts starting reps. Luckily, at least one of this draft’s two best linebackers should fall to Miami.
Lloyd’s resume consists of a rare combination of production and physical traits. He has 100 tackles, six passes defensed, three interceptions, 27 pressures, and seven sacks this year. Lloyd is only allowing 6.3 yards per reception despite having a moderately sized frame (6'3", 235 lbs.) for a modern college linebacker.
22. Buffalo Bills- Darian Kinnard, OT/IOL Kentucky
Kinnard is a controversial prospect. Some analysts view him strictly as a guard at the NFL level, but there’s no reason to discount Kinnard’s versatility as a multi-positional prospect. He’s spent his entire college career at tackle (mostly right tackle). The Bills are pretty set at tackle, but I could see Kinnard beginning his career as a guard before transitioning outside.
Buffalo’s interior offensive line hasn’t held up well this year, and their running game is almost nonexistent. Kinnard comes from a Kentucky offense that loves to pound the rock. He has more run blocking snaps (767) than pass blocking reps (679) over the past two years. Kinnard only surrendered 18 pressures and three sacks during that time. This year is by far his best campaign in pass protection.
23. Detroit Lions (Via Rams)- Ahmad Gardner, CB Cincinnati
Dan Campbell might start feeling the heat this offseason and make some irrational moves, but Detroit should focus on taking the best players available in the draft. Gardner is a tremendous prospect that happens to fill a team need. He and Jeffrey Okudah could serve as cornerstones in Detroit’s secondary.
Gardner doesn’t have the same level of athleticism and fluidity as Okudah, but he’s far more polished and proven. Gardner has three interceptions in each of his three years with the Bearcats. He uses his 6'3", 200 lb. frame well in run defense and is aggressive with receivers throughout their routes.
The superstar corner has only allowed more than two receptions and 20 yards in a game once this season.
24. Cincinnati Bengals- Trevor Penning, OT Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa recently produced offensive tackle Spencer Brown, who’s having a solid rookie season for the Bills. Penning should be even better than his former teammate. The 6'7", 321 lb. Iowa native has three years of starting experience at left tackle under his belt. He’s only allowed 20 pressures and two sacks over the past two seasons.
The Bengals still need help along their offensive line, especially because Riley Reiff is a free agent in 2022. Jonah Williams can stay at left tackle while Penning plays right tackle.
25. Dallas Cowboys- Jaquan Brisker, S Penn St.
Remember when the Cowboys and Earl Thomas supposedly had mutual interest? Dallas never got their dynamic safety. Fortunately, they get the chance to add a game-changing defensive back in the 2022 NFL Draft. Brisker immediately brings explosiveness and stability to a safety room that has cycled through plenty of players over the past few years.
Brisker played a significant amount of his snaps in the box this year, but he’s also experienced success as a traditional safety and in the slot. He’s allowed under nine yards per reception in 2021 while amassing 63 tackles, five passes defensed, and two interceptions.
Brisker’s best performances came in big games against Auburn, Iowa, and Wisconsin. He allowed his only touchdown of the year against Ohio State’s loaded wide receiver corps.
26. Kansas City Chiefs- Trent McDuffie, CB Washington
Despite his size (5'11", 195 lbs.), McDuffie is one of the nation’s best cornerbacks. Quarterbacks completed under 45% of their passes when targeting the California native this year. McDuffie has only surrendered 22 receptions for 163 yards (7.4 yards per reception) and no touchdowns over the past two seasons. He’s barely played in the slot.
The Chiefs are playing better on defense recently, but they can’t continue counting on Steve Spagnuolo’s unit figuring things out halfway through the season. McDuffie gives Kansas City a legitimate outside option to pair with L'Jarius Sneed.
I could see McDuffie following Sneed’s career path by starting his career in the slot and then kicking outside later.
27. Tennessee Titans- David Ojabo, EDGE Michigan
Ojabo went from being unknown to superstardom this year. He’s struggled over the past two games, but his tape this season is full of splash plays. Working across from Hutchinson created opportunities for Ojabo, but he’s shown enough on his own to warrant this selection. This season, the 6'5", 250 lb. junior has five forced fumbles, 39 pressures, and 11 sacks.
Harold Landry is in a breakout season for Tennessee, but free agent signee Bud Dupree hasn’t contributed much. He’s dealt with injuries this year, but he wasn’t producing even before getting banged up. Ojabo could contribute at a higher level than Dupree at a fraction of the price.
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Tyler Linderbaum, IOL Iowa
Linderbaum’s build (6'3", 290 lbs.) likely makes him scheme-dependent. Drafting a center in the first-round is already rare enough, but I could see the junior falling outside of the top 32 picks because of factors mostly outside of his control. However, the Buccaneers could lose center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa in free agency this coming spring.
Jensen is a mauler at 6'4", 319 lbs. Linderbaum packs a punch, but that’s not his whole game. The Iowa center has only allowed nine pressures and one sack over the past two seasons. He’d get along well with Tom Brady, but I’m not sure he’ll meet Tampa Bay’s requirements for an offensive lineman.
29. New England Patriots- Roger McCreary, CB Auburn
McCreary recently allowed seven receptions for 93 receiving yards in a game against Alabama where he played mostly man-to-man coverage against John Metchie III. That’s about 13.3 yards per reception. However, Bryce Young targeted McCreary 18 times, meaning he only allowed roughly 5.2 yards per target.
McCreary is at the end of a monster senior season. In 470 coverage snaps, he’s allowed 34 receptions on 75 targets for 442 yards and a touchdown. He’s amassed 14 passes defensed, two interceptions, and a pick-six. McCreary isn’t this draft’s most talented cornerback, but he was arguably the best of them all at the college level in 2021.
The Patriots already have a smothering defense. Adding McCreary alongside future Pro Bowler J.C. Jackson solidifies New England’s depth at outside corner.
30. Green Bay Packers- Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT Ohio St.
I’m leaning heavily toward keeping Petit-Frere out of the first-round in future mocks. He’s had three terrible games down the stretch that I can’t get out of my mind. The game against Michigan was a bloodbath, and Petit-Frere had similarly poor performances against Penn State and Nebraska. However, the need for more talented tackles keeps him in the top 32 selections.
The Packers are suffering through life without David Bakhtiari and recently lost Elgton Jenkins for the year. Green Bay learned the value of depth at offensive tackle the hard way.
31. Baltimore Ravens- Jordan Davis, IDL Georgia
Unless you’re taking the next Vita Vea (which Davis isn’t), picking a nose tackle in the first-round is only justifiable when it’s this late. The position simply isn’t worth much more.
Let me explain. Despite being healthy for almost the entire year, Davis only played 274 defensive snaps for Georgia in 2021. In comparison, fellow Georgia defenders Travon Walker (419), Nakobe Dean (467), and Derion Kendrick (566) played far more snaps at positions with substantially greater value because they rarely leave the field.
However, the Ravens desperately need a rejuvenating presence along their defensive interior. Brandon Williams and Justin Ellis are free agents in 2022.
32. Arizona Cardinals- Martin Emerson, CB Mississippi St.
Arizona could use help at wide receiver (A.J. Green and Christian Kirk are pending free agents), edge rusher, and adding depth along the offensive line is always a good move. However, finding an outside corner should take priority. Robert Alford is a free agent in 2022, and rookie Marco Wilson hasn’t impressed in his debut season.
At 6'2", 200 lb., Emerson has terrific size for a cornerback. He hasn’t intercepted a pass this season, but he’s only allowed over 50 receiving yards in two outings (Alabama and Memphis). Emerson’s physicality and elite physical traits should immediately give Arizona’s secondary a massive boost.
Best Available
Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh
Carson Strong, QB Nevada
Treylon Burks, WR Arkansas
Jahan Dotson, WR Penn St.
Drake London, WR USC
Thayer Munford, OT/IOL Ohio St.
Nik Bonitto, EDGE Oklahoma
Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE Penn St.
DeMarvin Leal, EDGE/IDL Texas A&M
Myjai Sanders, EDGE Cincinnati
Brandon Smith, LB Penn St.
Jordan Battle, S Alabama
Daxton Hill, S Michigan