ITB’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft

Inside The Birds podcast hosts Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan joined with InsideTheBirds.com’s Andrew DiCecco for the third annual Inside The Birds Mock Draft, complete with all 32 selections and background on the prospects. 

Aiden Hutchinson could be the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Aiden Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

Adam Caplan: “They need pass rushers, there’s no question about that. The guy is camera-ready.”  

2. Detroit Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon

Andrew DiCecco: “They have a ton of needs. You could make a case for Sauce Gardner. But they really need to add some youth there on the edge.”

3. Houston Texans: Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

Geoff Mosher: “He makes sense for what they want to do defensively, and what they are now [Tampa 2].”

4. New York Jets:  Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinatti

Caplan: “This guy’s an absolute stud. As one GM told me this previous week, ‘He’s the best player in this draft,’ and I believe that.”

5. New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OL, N.C. State

DiCecco: “Positional versatility, plays with a mean streak. In time he can kick out at right tackle.”

6. Carolina Panthers: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

Mosher: “It’s a layup. If Evan Neal is there he’s gonna be a Carolina Panther. He’s gonna be their left tackle. And they’re going to be pretty good team if they can get just decent play out of Sam Darnold.”

7. New York Giants: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Caplan: “This is where the board starts to drop a little bit. Comes down to [Derek] Stingley vs. Hamilton, and you don’t have the injury history with Hamilton.”

8. Atlanta Falcons:  Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

DiCecco: “They really can’t lime up right now [with receivers]. If  you see Jameson Williams out there, you run to the podium, you make him the pick.”

9. Seattle Seahawks: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

Mosher: “This is a good opportunity for whenever everybody expects the Seahawks to rebuild this year to go ahead and get that quarterback and build up around him.”

10. New York Jets: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Caplan: “I know [Jets GM] Joe Douglas in terms of how he thinks. It’s about the future. Hell figure it out. [Cross] be a right tackle in 2023.”

11. Washington Commanders: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

DiCecco: “You talk about adding a playmaker to the secondary, that would make the most sense to me.”

12. Minnesota Vikings: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

Mosher: “For who the Vikings are, for what they need … I’m taking the guy who’s an analytics dream.”

13. Houston Texans: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson

Caplan: “I’m gonna take the best available player here. To me it’s Andrew Booth.”

14. Baltimore Ravens: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

DiCecco: “They have a really old line with Derek Wolfe and they have Calais Campbell there as well. They really need to add some youth.”

15. EAGLES:  Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Mosher: “I would have to think he’s the best player available on most teams’ boards. I know some teams like him in the top 10.”

16. New Orleans Saints: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

Caplan: “If Kenny Pickett is there, you take him. Pickett’s gotta be that guy. They’ve needed a quarterback for the future.”

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Tyler Linderbaum, C/G, Iowa

DiCecco: “If I’m the Chargers, that would make the most sense.”

18. EAGLES: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

Mosher: “When you take Garrett Wilson at 15 … it still leaves Jermaine Johnson available.”

19. New Orleans Saints: Drake London, WR, USC

Caplan: “Receiver is another big need for them. They need explosiveness.”

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

DiCecco: “A guy like Trent McDuffie would sort of fit their prototype in what hey look for — young, physical corner with good football IQ.”

21. New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

Mosher: “This is a team that’s not afraid to take a linebacker in the first round. It’s almost a steal if he’s as good as they say he is.”

22. Green Bay Packers: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Caplan: “To me it’s gotta be a receiver here. Best available at the position.” 

23. Arizona Cardinals: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Mosher: “I think they need offensive line help more than anything.”

24. Dallas Cowboys: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

Caplan: “They lost two receivers. I’m taking the best available player on the board, and that’s Olave.”

25. Buffalo Bills: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

DiCecco: “Also looking at maybe Nakobi Dean at linebacker, but I’m going Daxton Hill.”

26. Tennessee Titans: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M

Mosher: “He’s a really good player who’s starting to slip into the bottom end of the first round.”

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Zion Johnson, G/C, Boston College

Caplan: “They need a guard. They’re super deep at receiver.”

28. Green Bay Packers: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

DiCecco: “You gotta go with Nakobi Dean.”

29. Kansas City Chiefs: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

Mosher: “When you have two picks like this in the first round, you can make a luxury pick and take a risk. We know Andy Reid loves explosive edge rushers.”

30. Kansas City Chiefs: George Pickens, WR, Georgia

Caplan: “There’s no Tyreek Hill. This guy … without this [past] ACL injury is one of the best players in the draft.”

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

DiCecco: “Eli Apple isn’t going to get it done. He shouldn’t be a starter. They need to shore up that back end.”

32. Detroit Lions: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Mosher: “The fifth-year is a huge advantage for teams. When you know you’ve got a year to develop a guy … the feedback I get is that of all the [QBs] remaining he may have the highest upside.”

– Justin Morganstein (@jmotweets_) is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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