2022 Consensus Mock Draft #1-B

The Texans will arguably be the most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL so long as Cal McNair is mucking around in operations. The biggest dysfunction currently plaguing the team is the sexual harassment case filed against the star QB DeShaun Watson. There's the issue that Watson could be suspended by the NFL, but this is diluted by the fact that Watson doesn't even want to play for the Texans anymore despite signing a massive $156M deal over just 4 years. Despite all this, there are several teams interested in Watson's services and would be happy to relieve the Texans of their capable starter.

The Texans have signed longtime stopgap Tyrod Taylor to man the helm in 2021, and drafted Davis Mills with one of the few draft picks that they did not trade away.

Should the Texans be picking #1 in the 2022 draft - and they're the runaway favorites - they'd have to jump on Sam Howell or whomever emerges as the most franchise-QB capable.

The Lions' multi-year rebuild got off to a promising start this year, with longtime QB Matt Stafford moved for draft capital and some interior trench pieces added in the early rounds of the draft. But there is still plenty of room for talented bigs on a Lions defense that gave up passing yards, rushing yards, and points with equal generosity in 2020. Oregon Rush End Kayvon Thibodeaux has top-tier talent and grades near the very top of draft boards everywhere.

PFF calls Thibodeaux "an elite talent who is bound for a monstrous 2021," and he showed game-changing ability with seven fourth-quarter sacks in 2019, his last full season of action. Along with helping the team return to competence, Thibodeaux and OT Penei Sewell could usher in an era of Lions fandom for Oregon grads everywhere.

Joe Douglas has added some nice new pieces to the Jets' roster that will hopefully pay dividends in the upcoming season. Joe targeted many areas of obvious need, and fans have to be impressed with what they have witnessed. There is still a lot more to be done, and with two more RD 1 picks in 2022, expectations will be high for the franchise to continue to make strides in the right direction.

The Jets came out of the 2021 Draft with no fewer than 3 CBs added to the fold, but I feel that the roster still lacks that #1 guy. A lot of eyes will be on sophomore CB Bryce Hall after he showed some nice flashes at the end of his injury-disrupted rookie campaign. Even if Hall improves hugely, the Jets will still need someone to play opposite, and at this moment in time there would be none better than future superstar Derek Stingley Jr.Stingley, who wears number 24 for LSU, would be a sensational addition to a Robert Saleh Defense, and if he develops as expected, would keep the number 24 jersey here - synonymous with CB excellence.

- Rich Tinley, Jets Analyst

Coming off their first losing season since 2016 the Philadelphia Eagles could benefit from low expectations heading into the 2021 season. With the offensive line finally looking healthy, and the addition of RD1 draft pick WR DeVonta Smith, all eyes are on QB Jalen Hurts to lead this franchise back to the playoffs. While Hurts showed promise in a limited showing last year, how he plays over the course of a 17 game season will have a profound effect on the Eagles 2022 draft plans.

If the Eagles wind up with a top 5 pick as they do here the pressure will be on to find a new franchise QB. Alternatively, bolstering a pass rush that could lose Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat to free agency could take priority if neither can be re-signed.

GM Dave Gettleman didn't exactly ignore the deficiencies at CB during the offseason. He added lots of able bodies to the depth chart, though none of those bodies at this point show they're deserved of starting in the NFL. We certainly hope that draftees Aaron Robinson (3-71) and Rodarius Williams (6-201) can develop into that status, but their draft positioning in the 3rd and 6th rounds is indicative that achieving a starting slot veers more to hope than expectation, that the scouting team has uncovered diamonds in the chaff.

Then there's Adoree Jackson, who the team added in Free Agency. Jackson played like a RD1 draftee in his first three seasons, by all accounts meeting the expectations that the draft positioning carries. But Jackson suffered a knee injury in 2020, resulting in the Titans rescinding the 5th-year option on his contract and cuttting him. If Jackson can fully recover from that injury and nail down the RCB role opposite James Bradberry, then the Giants won't need to be fishing for a CB in the draft for several more years. Jackson's contract is carefully constructed to reward the former Titan if he succeeds, while allowing the Giants to cut bait if Jackson cannot regain form.

Just like the 2020 draft cycle, Offensive Line takes center stage again. The interior appears solid for the Jags with Guards A.J. Cann and Andrew Norwell among the best in their craft in the NFL, as is Center Brandon Linder. This being said, both are free agents after the season, and OG will be a 2022 Day-2 draft target.

The tackles, OTOH, leave much to be desired, which could be cause for concern for rookie QB Trevor Lawrence. Left Tackle Cam Robinson is on a franchise tag, and ROT Jawaan Taylor has had a rough first two years in the league, giving up 58 pressures and 8 sacks in 2020. Walker Little was drafted in RD2 in the 2021 Draft to step in if needed, but the pressure placed on Lawrence will be scrutinized all year long.

Is Cam Robinson worthy of a new deal? I can tell you one thing, his play through his first four season does not warrant the top-5 compensation that the franchise tag carries. And is Jawaan Taylor a starting NFL Tackle? I'm looking forward to finding out how the promising season plays out!

As Joe Burrow inches closer and closer to a 2021 return from a brutal 2020 knee injury, the talk of the town is Cincinnati's decision to take a WR in Ja'Marr Chase over an OT in Penei Sewell with the fifth-overall pick. Most analysts agree that the OT would've been the right pick, as stalwarts at OT are far harder to find than second- and third-round wide receivers that end up being long-term impact players.

The former LSU Tigers now have a new set of stripes, and can quiet critics if they demonstrate the kind of chemistry they put on display in purple and gold. On the other hand, if the offensive line fails to protect the organization's most important asset, a regime change is just over six months away.

- Kennedy Paynter, Senior Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)

For just this one season Sam Darnold has all the tools needed for success that he never had with the dysfunctional Jets. The offensive line is solid and the running game feature ultra-talent Christian McCaffrey. The WR corps is the best Darnold has ever sniffed with two returning stars in DJ Moore and Robby Anderson. Add to this RD2 rookie Terrace Marshall and the group looks downright formidable.

Anderson's contract is up following the 2021 season, making a star WR a potential target for their 2022 RD1 pick.

If Darnold can regain the confidence that he entered the NFL with, the Panthers can make some serious noise in the NFC South, in which case they'll be picking much lower than #5.

Jonathan Hankins, Solomon Thomas, Quinton Jefferson, and Matt Dickerson... the Raider's group of defensive tackles isn't just a list of guys who won't exactly strike fear in the hearts of opposing quarterbacks. It's also a list of players who aren't under contract next season.

Looking ahead to next offseason, the need for QB is, once again, dependent on how Derek Carr performs this season. All indications are that RB, TE, OT, and C will be set in terms of impact players. The Raiders currently have options at DE, LB, CB, and S, and Henry Ruggs is being given the opportunity to earn the designation of WR1. We'll see whether he can perform at such a level.

That said, OG, where the aging Richie Incognito and the journeyman Denzelle Good occupy spots, is likely to need a starting-level player. The DT position may need two. Evaluating unproven youngsters like Ruggs, Clelin Ferrell, Jonathan Abram, Bryan Edwards, and Damon Arnette will be a point of emphasis this season, but the primary need of DT is unlikely to change.

I liked Denver's 2021 draft class, but this team still has plenty of room for improvement. For starters, no one truly knows if Denver has their long-term answer at Quarterback. Drew Lock is slated to be the starter this fall, but with Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson both unhappy in their current situations, it's hard to imagine the Broncos not continuing to pursue either in a trade.

If Lock is the guy, it would appear he is in a prove-it year. If he can't, I don't see another draft going by where Denver is in a position to draft a quarterback early in the first round without them pulling the trigger. Still, if the Broncos do find their answer at the position, there are still plenty of holes to fill. The Right Tackle position is currently wide open with their only options for the 2021 season being on one-year deals.

This defensive line is also still searching for talent both at Nose Tackle and End. Shelby Harris and Mike Purcell are under long-term contracts, but few others appear to be in their plans beyond the next year or two. Linebacker is another area Denver could look to improve next April with Von Miller, A.J. Johnson, and Josey Jewell all hitting Free Agency after this year.

~ Austin Smith, DraftTek Senior Analyst

As the Vikings head into June they will hold three OTAs. They did a really good job in the draft addressing the offensive line and the two new rookies will have to earn their stripes according to Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak. The Vikings added some veteran defensive backs to bring the much-needed experience factor but they're all on one-year deals. Patrick Peterson, Mackensie Alexander, and Xavier Woods all are scheduled hit the free-agent market next offseason. If the Vikings manage to give Danielle Hunter a raise and Chazz Surratt proves to be an adequate replacement for Anthony Barr, then secondary could easily be back at the top of the draft list next year.

Harrison Smith is in the last year of his deal and turned 32 in February. They should extend Smith a few more years but they have not done it yet. The depth at safety is worrisome, to say the least. If Woods walks then safety could be the top priority.

Kyle Hamilton is 6'3" 219 and is already one of the top safety and overall players in the early rankings for the draft next year. He was a first-team All-American by the Football Writer's Association and Phil Steele. He would be an excellent addition to the Vikings secondary.

Mark P, Vikings Analyst - DrafttekVikings@Gmail.com

Please visit our Vikings team page where you can see all the team's picks in the 7-round mock and more.

Impressive attendance at the optional activities held in Ashburn has Ron Rivera looking more and more like the right guy for the job in Washington. While it would've been nice to have defensive leaders (and hopefully perennial Pro-Bowlers) Chase Young and Montez Sweat in attendance, 86/90 is an impressive number of attendees, especially when you consider how many teams aren't having their OTAs attended at all.

A pair of moves that have many scratching their heads were the releases of both 2020 Week 1 starting tackles in Morgan Moses and Geron Christian. While Rivera might have two new starters at those spots in Charles Leno and rookie Sam Cosmi, depth on the offensive line is both hard to come by and undeniably crucial. Only time will tell if these moves end up haunting the new regime. Either way, one thing is clear: In Ashburn, Ron Rivera, and only Ron Rivera, is steering the WFT ship.

- Kennedy Paynter, Senior Draft Analyst (@Kennedy_Paynter on Twitter)

No one will confuse the Giants' pass rush with Paranormal Activity. That is, they're not going to scare anyone (Yeah I'm that guy who needs to explain his jokes). The additions of Azeez Ojulari in RD2 of the 2021 draft and Ryan Anderson (4 career starts) through Free Agency probably will not prevent DT Leonard Williams from again leading the team in sacks.

Further, several of the Giants' mediocre pass-rush contingent (Lorenzo Carter, Ifeadi Odenigbo and Anderson) will be free agents after the season, further diluting an already-weak drink.

We'll definitely keep tabs on the CFB edge prospects throughout the season, but all signs point to pass-rush for at least one of the Giants' RD1 picks in the 2022 draft.

With Justin Fields on the board at Pick #4, the Falcons' resolve to pick Kyle Pitts threw some analysts. Recent revelations that Julio Jones had asked for a trade prior to the draft shed some light on that decision. Under Dirk Koetter, Atlanta struggled to convert without Julio on the field. Adding Pitts while subtracting Jones will make the salary cap work, but it will ease the minds of Defensive Coordinators who will face the Atlanta offense. By the time this is published, perhaps the greatest talent to wear a Falcons' jersey could be traded. One era ends and another begins.

It has been an eventful springtime for the Indianapolis Colts and GM Chris Ballard. The trade for struggling Eagles' Carson Wentz to answer the Quarterback question was the banner move of the offseason, along with addressing the rest of the offense with the re-signing of T.Y. Hilton and the acquisition of veteran tackle Eric Fisher. The Colts made a conscientious effort to get better offensively.

But it was defense that ruled the draft. Three of Indianapolis' first four picks were on the defensive side of the ball, looking to continue to build the talent to complement star players like DeForest Buckner and Darius Leonard. Kwity Paye with the first-round selection seemed a head-scratching pick at the time, with Guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and plenty other positions still brimming with talent on the draft board, but Paye seems to be showing good early returns and a readiness to learn under the team's vets.

Other picks like Dayo Odeyingbo and Shawn Davis will likely be depth pieces while they develop, but Ballard clearly prioritized development of the young defense for sustainable success in the future. We'll see if it pays off.

For this particular mock draft, it's going to be an Offensive Tackle. The Fisher signing could bring good stability to the offensive line, but if the 30-year-old can't stay healthy after his Achilles injury, he may be finished with football following the season. Miami's Zion Nelson is definitely someone to keep an eye on this college football season with his high upside and athleticism. .

- Dylan Rudolph, Colts Analyst

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On our wedding anniversary, my wife and I visited New Orleans and hopped on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar to take in the big, beautiful houses and the oak trees that line the trolley in the Garden District. Viewable from the ride is a mansion decorated with a huge 40-ft long banner thanking Drew Brees for his service. I am now told that home was, in fact, the Brees household. The banner reflects how much the city loves this man.

The iconic QB gave the Black and Gold faithful 15 unforgettable football seasons, matching or breaking nearly every Saints passing record before retiring March 14. Yet, for many in the community, Brees' dedication to New Orleans meant as much as his work on the field. The NFL's 2006 Walter Payton Man of the Year has helped raise millions for the city through philanthropic activities such as hurricane relief efforts; donations to fight cancer; and, most recently, when the deadly coronavirus pandemic flipped the world on its axis last year, the Brees family donated $5 million to build multiple health care centers tailored to underserved communities throughout Louisiana. ... Needless to say, number 9 left big shoes to fill.

Head Coach Sean Payton can espouse confidence overflowing for Taysom Hill and Jameis Winston; but, we all know the truth -- the next guy is just a one-two year stop-gap. Although I found it hard to celebrate the draft selections of 2021, I do like that the Saints chose team balance over reaching for Brees' replacement. This year, however, it is time to invest in the QB of the future.

~ DatBudMan, Saints Analyst