Lance's 2022 Hype Mock Draft V2.0
I've parsed through updated draft rumors and have made some pretty significant changes to my hype mock. If you missed version 1.0 than the brief recap is: this is like all of those normal Mock drafts that you see out there where the author is trying to predict who is going to go where as accurately as they possibly can. It is not how I think the draft should go. I posted a different Mock draft last week where I played the General Manager for each team and selected who I think they should take based on my personal rankings. You can find that here: https://wetalkfootball.cc/lances-2022-acting-gm-mock-draft/
1) Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: DE Travon Walker (Georgia)
Previous: DE Travon Walker (Georgia)
Reason: Rumor is there are three players in the running here; Walker (presumed Baalke's guy), Hutchinson (presumed Khan's guy) and Ekwonu (presumed Pedersen's guy). Shad Khan is the owner and absolutely has the right to give his input, but ultimately it's Baalke's job on the line. Although, if he takes Walker and misses while Hutchinson lights it up he will be toast.
2) Detroit Lions
Pick: Edge Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
Previous: Edge Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan)
Reason: Nothing changes as long as Hutchinson is still available. If Hutchinson is off the board I think they would take Kayvon Thibodeaux over Walker.
3) Houston Texans
Pick: CB Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU)
Previous: OT Ikem Ekwonu (North Carolina State)
Reason: Major change and a big surprise at that. Two rumors behind why I put Stingley here: rumor 1 is that Lovie Smith wants to upgrade his Corners, and rumor two is that they love Stingley. May seem high, but in the eyes of those who still see the talented freshman, it's not.
4) New York Jets
Pick: OT Ikem Ekwonu (North Carolina State)
Previous: CB Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)
Reason: Ekwonu wasn't available here last time, but now that he is Joe Douglas gets his guy.
5) New York Giants
Pick: OT Charles Cross (Mississippi State)
Previous: Edge Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State)
Reason: The rumor that the Giants LOVE Charles Cross has not gone away, and the rumor that the Giants want to get rid of their second first round pick entirely has heated up. So, I have them landing Cross here and trading out of the seven which you'll see below.
6) **TRADE** Washington Commanders (via Carolina)
Pick: WR Drake London (USC)
Previous: WR Drake London (USC)
Reason: Stays the same because everything I've been seeing says that Washington likes London and that he'd be the perfect fit for what they're wanting. Add in that recent rumors are Atlanta also likes London and you can see why moving up may be what they need to do to get their guy.
7) **TRADE** Baltimore Ravens (via NY Giants/Chicago)
Pick: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon)
Previous: OT Charles Cross (Mississippi State) - made by the NY Giants
Reason: The rumors prior to me doing this last week were that Thibodeaux's draft stock was falling due to questions about his dedication to the game. Thanks to the recent news that he's all in on football that rumor has changed. Baltimore has the draft capital to move up and the very obvious need at Edge Rusher that they've failed to fill with late round picks as of late. To be fair, Oweh does look like a real threat and he was a first-round pick last year, but they need someone opposite him.
8) Atlanta Falcons
Pick: WR Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Previous: WR Garrett Wilson (Ohio State)
Reason: Nothing changes, especially with London and Thibodeaux off the board.
9) Seattle Seahawks (via Denver)
Pick: OT Evan Neal (Alabama)
Previous: CB Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU)
Reason: The latest rumor about Seattle's interest in this QB class stems around Matt Corral who many believe will be available late in the first or even potentially early in the second. Ahmad Gardner is an option here, but as I recently had pointed out to me, Seattle hasn't used an early round pick on a Corner in the last 12 years. Offensive Line is a glaring need and Evan Neal is generally considered a top five talent.
10) New York Jets (via Seattle)
Pick: CB Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati)
Previous: QB Malik Willis (Liberty) - made by Pittsburgh after trading up
Reason: This would be a prime position for a team, like Pitt, to move up to, but if Gardner slides I don't see the Jets letting him go.
11) **TRADE** Carolina Panthers (via Washington)
Pick: QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)
Previous: QB Kenny Pickett (Pittsburgh)
Reason: Same pick, same reasons.
12) **TRADE** Los Angeles Chargers (via Minnesota)
Pick: DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)
Previous: DT Jordan Davis (Georgia)
Reason: Nothing changes here either, the Chargers go up and get their guy.
13) Houston Texans (via Cleveland)
Pick: WR Jameson Williams (Alabama)
Previous: WR Jameson Williams (Alabama)
Reason: Williams' name is still heating back up and Houston seems to like this Receiver class.
14) **TRADE** Arizona Cardinals (via NY Giants/Baltimore)
Pick: Edge Jermaine Johnson II (Florida State)
Previous: DE Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon) -made by Dallas after trade up
Reason: There's two reasons I can see this happening: First, the Giants reportedly want to get rid of their second first-round pick completely and would like to receive high 2023 picks in return. Second, the Cardinals have a good team, they know they do, and they must realize that a couple of high-profile rookies would go a long way toward them making a run this year. Johnson is a top five talent in my opinion and Arizona needs to replace Chandler Jones. Giving up a 2023 first round pick and throwing in a mid-round 2023 pick.
15) Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami)
Pick: WR Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
Previous: WR Treylon Burks (Arkansas)
Reason: Haven't seen anything that would change my mind here.
16) New Orleans Saints (via Philly/Indy)
Pick: WR Chris Olave (Ohio State)
Previous: QB Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati)
Reason: I had the Saints taking Olave at 19 previously, but I have seen recently that people basically view the Receivers as being two separate tiers. Tier one (Wilson, London, Williams, Burks and Olave) are shoo-ins for the first-round, and then the next tier includes guys like Jahan Dotson and Christian Watson and they are viewed as borderline first rounders. Basically that's just a long way of saying if the Saints are going to draft him they're better off doing it here rather than at 19.
17) **TRADE** Minnesota Vikings (via LA Chargers)
Pick: CB Trent McDuffie (Washington)
Previous: S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)
Reason: Hamilton would still be an option, but if the Vikings were to trade down and find both he and McDuffie were available I think it would be McDuffie, based largely off reports saying that he has nailed his interviews. The Vikings could use help at either position and I don't think they could go wrong with either player.
18) Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans)
Pick: Edge George Karlaftis (Purdue)
Previous: DT Devonte Wyatt (Georgia)
Reason: Karlaftis' stock seems to sit somewhere between pick 14 and the end of the first round. Edge seems to be toward the top of Philly's draft wants, and Karlaftis reminds people a lot of a former Purdue pass rusher the Eagles played pretty often and who played for them last year (Ryan Kerrigan).
19) New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia)
Pick: OT Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa)
Previous: WR Chris Olave (Ohio State)
Reason: The original rumors were the Saints wanted to use one of these picks on a QB or trade both to move up and grab a QB. Recent rumors are that they still view themselves as contenders and want to be more practical with their selections. After Receiver, Tackle is the next biggest need and Penning is a top ten talent that's being slightly overlooked cause he's out of an FCS school.
20) Pittsburgh Steelers
Pick: QB Malik Willis (Liberty)
Previous: OT Evan Neal (Alabama) -made by the Jets after trade down
Reason: There's a very good chance Pitt will be able to stay put and get the guy they want. There's also a chance that Willis will be gone before pick 20, but even if that's the case they should have their pick of the next 3-4 top five QBs. Option number two is to address their O-Line or Secondary and worry about QB next year, but all the rumors seem to suggest they're going to go Quarterback.
21) **TRADE** Kansas City Chiefs (via New England)
Pick: WR Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
Previous: WR Jahan Dotson (Penn State)
Reason: Dotson won't replace Hill's speed, but the Chiefs need multiple Receivers, so this pick stays the same, and maybe they target/steal Calvin Austin III in round 2.
22) Green Bay Packers (via Las Vegas)
Pick: WR Christian Watson (North Dakota State)
Previous: WR Christian Watson (North Dakota State)
Reason: Might seem like a reach and there are plenty of analysts out there that don't think this is going to happen at all, but I do. Watson is getting first-round buzz and if Green Bay passes they may miss out on him altogether.
23) Arizona Cardinals
Pick: S Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame)
Previous: Edge George Karlaftis (Purdue)
Reason: The Cards should jump on Hamilton if he slides this far. They do have Budda Baker, but Hamilton is a center-fielder, so his play style wouldn't interfere with Baker's.
24) Dallas Cowboys
Pick: OG Kenyon Green (Texas A&M)
Previous: OT Trevor Penning (Northern Iowa) -made by Baltimore after trading down
Reason: Green's been tied to Dallas and Offensive Line is a unit they need to fix.
25) Buffalo Bills
Pick: CB Kaiir Elam (Florida)
Previous: CB Trent McDuffie (Washington)
Reason: Buffalo has few needs, and Corner is probably the biggest. Just like they did with Tre'Davious White, they jump on an SEC Corner with good intangibles late in the first-round.
26) Tennessee Titans
Pick: QB Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati)
Previous: OT Tyler Smith (Tulsa)
Reason: The tie here is Mike Vrabel and Cincinnati Head Coach Luke Fickell. The Titans have an out on Tannehill's contract after this season and given his well documented collapse in the playoffs they may be looking for an option next year that will allow them to cut ties. Drafting Ridder now gives them that option later, especially since they're still a playoff caliber team, so it's unlikely they draft early enough to get one of the top guys in the 2023 draft.
27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pick: DT Devonte Wyatt (Georgia)
Previous: QB Matt Corral (Ole Miss)
Reason: The Bucs need a Guard and should probably also address their Corner spot opposite Carlton Davis, but adding youth in certain areas should be toward the top of that list too. Wyatt fills the youth aspect and the best player available aspect.
28) **TRADE** Seattle Seahawks (via Green Bay)
Pick: QB Matt Corral (Ole Miss)
Previous: WR George Pickens (Georgia) -made by Green Bay
Reason: Corral is expected to be available down here and the prominent thought is that Seattle and Atlanta both like him, so one of them will trade back in to grab him. Seattle has picks 9 and 10 in the second round and they may need to part with both in order to outbid Atlanta.
29) **TRADE** New England Patriots (via KC/Miami/SF)
Pick: LB Devin Lloyd (Utah)
Previous: LB Devin Lloyd (Utah)
Reason: If the Pats can overlook his age (supposed to be 24 by the start of the year) his slide will stop here. He fills a need at Linebacker and offers up great value which Belichick will love.
30) Kansas City Chiefs
Pick: DE Boye Mafe (Minnesota)
Previous: DE Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State)
Reason: The Chiefs are apparently in love with Mafe. Edge is a need and they would have to trade up in the second round in order to get him, so they may as well pull the trigger here.
31) **TRADE** Jacksonville Jaguars (via Cincinnati) **TRADE**
Pick: C Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)
Previous: C Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa)
Reason: Same reason as before, the Jags need a Center and by moving up they can prevent others from jumping them, and they get the fifth-year option. Cincy could also target him, but they seem to want a Corner more and by moving down they would add some extra draft capital.
32) Detroit Lions (via LA Rams)
Pick: LB Nakobe Dean (Georgia)
Previous: LB Nakobe Dean (Georgia)
Reason: Dean is sliding because of his small size and injury history. His talent may be too much for Detroit to pass on at the end of the first.
