Jason Bantle's 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 3 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 17-32

Jason Bantle follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 28, 2022.

17. Minnesota Vikings: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
    
    
    The Chargers traded 17 and 79 to move up to 12 for Charles Cross. Go back to Part 1 of my first round to see the two trades in this mock. Minnesota should move down here because they can get the best cornerback on their board without reaching for him at 12. Right now the over or under on Trent McDuffie is 17.5, so I'm taking the under. McDuffie hasn't given up a touchdown in two years, and he'd go to a situation in Minnesota where he gets to learn under Patrick Peterson for a year before being Minnesota's number one cornerback in 2023.
    
    
    
18. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
    
    
    Philadelphia is gonna get my second best overall player Jordan Davis at 18. His over or under is 15.5. I'm aware that Philadelphia has some other effective defensive tackles like Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Milton Williams, but Jordan Davis is gonna be a star much like Fletcher Cox. It's also worth pointing out that both Cox and Hargrave have one year left on their contracts so if Cox, the face of Philadelphia's defensive line and Davis are the week 1 starters at defensive tackle, Philadelphia can keep Hargrave for depth and let him walk next offseason.
    
    
    
    
    
19. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Smith, LT, Tulsa
    
    
    One player the Saints reportedly love is Tulsa left tackle Tyler Smith. New Orleans needs a replacement for Terron Armstead at left tackle so they draft a competent blindside at 19 that can give their quarterback trio of Winston, Dalton, and Pickett better pass protection while opening up running lanes for Alvin Kamara. New Orleans has everyone back on their offensive line except Armstead at left tackle, but the Saints reportedly love Tyler Smith.
    
    
    
20. Carolina Panthers: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
    
    
    With most of the first round left tackles off the board, Carolina takes the third quarterback at 20. Sam Howell, a local quarterback is the selection in a surpise move. Right now the over or under for Howell is 45.5, so I'm taking the under in a bold move. Want a bolder prediction? Sam Howell might be the first quarterback from the 2022 NFL Draft to start a game. Willis would have to beat out Trubisky, Pickett would have to beat out Winston plus Dalton while Sam Howell's competition for the starting quarterback job is Sam Darnold.
    
    
    
    
    
21. New England Patriots: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
    
    
    New England drafts guys from Alabama because Bill Belichick and Nick Saban coach together. Jameson Williams goes to New England where he will be a number one target for Mac Jones once he comes back from his injury. There's a lot of receivers on New England like DeVante Parker, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, N'Keal Harry, and Matthew Slater as a return specialist. The bottom line is Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams has more game speed than all of those guys, plus he could end up being a true number one for Mac Jones. Right now his over or under is 12.5. I'm taking the over here.
    
    
    
22. Green Bay Packers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
    
    
    The Green Bay Packers got the Raiders first and second round picks after trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Chris Olave would be the pick here with the other four first round receivers ranked ahead of Olave all off the board. Even if you don't like Olave's film, his over or under is 16.5. I am taking the over on Ohio State's Chris Olave. He's gonna fall to the back half of the first round, but he won't drop out of the first round entirely.
    
    
    
    
    
23. Arizona Cardinals: George Karlafits, 3-4 ROLB, Purdue
    
    
    Arizona gets an edge rusher at 23 to replace Chandler Jones. The over or under on George Karlafits is 20.5, so I'm going with the over here. Arizona gets a guy who can be the new face of Arizona's defense at 3-4 right outside linebacker while also taking pressure off of Markus Golden. This would the third year in a row Arizona spent a first round pick on a linebacker, but this time their taking an edge rusher to play 3-4 outside linebacker rather than drafting an inside linebacker like in the last two NFL Drafts leading up to 2022.
    
    
    
24. Dallas Cowboys: Kenyon Green, LG, Texas A&M
    
    
    Dallas gets their replacement to Connor Williams at 24. Kenyon Green's over or under is 27.5. Take the under on Kenyon Green despite a less then stellar showing at the 2022 NFL Combine before a bad Pro Day. He played left tackle at Texas A&M in 2021, but he's projected to kick inside to his natural position at guard in the NFL. Kenyon Green will be a day 1 starter in Dallas.
    
    
    
    
    
25. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
    
    
    Buffalo's biggest need is at cornerback. The over or under on Andrew Booth Jr. is 28.5 despite having more impressive coverage on film then Trent McDuffie at times. You have to take the under here. He may not be ready to play until 2023, but once he's healthy he'll be a great number two cornerback next to Tre'Davious White. With Andrew Booth Jr., I truly believe Buffalo will have most of the pieces to make a run towards Super Bowl 58 if they can get by my favorite AFC team.
    
    
    
26. Tennessee Titans: Zion Johnson, LG, Boston College
    
    
    Tennessee grabs a replacement to Roger Saffold at left guard now that Saffold is on the Buffalo Bills. His over or under is 24.5.
    
    
    
    
    
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
    
    
    Tampa Bay gets the one cornerback left on the board who did well in coverage against Alabama's receivers. The over or under on Kaiir Elam is 35.5, and that's kind of ridiculous for someone with first round tape which is why I'm taking the under. Pairing Kaiir Elam with Carlton Davis gives the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two potential number one cornerbacks allowing Sean Bunting-Murphy and Jamel Dean to compete for the nickel cornerback job with both of those 2019 draft picks in contract years. Hopefully, Buccaneers fans aren't reminded of the Vernon Hargraves glory days this time around, even though his celebration during Super Bowl 56 was cool.
    
    
    
28. Green Bay Packers: David Ojabo, 3-4 LOLB, Michigan
    
    
    Green Bay has two edge rushers that got 9 sacks at 3-4 outside linebacker in Rashan Gary their 2019 first round pick at 3-4 right outside linebacker and Preston Smith at 3-4 left outside linebacker. Preston Smith turns 30 in November, and the opportunity to draft David Ojabo, a sack artist on Michigan's defensive line next to Aidan Hutchinson may be too good to pass on because there were rumors that Green Bay would trade up for Ojabo prior to Michigan's Pro Day where David Ojabo tore his ACL. There's no over or under on Ojabo at the moment, so this is the only team in the first round with no odds on him.
    
    
    
    Also, Preston Smith's five year contract extension which keeps him in Green Bay until 2027 was front-loaded, meaning the Packers can keep Preston Smith while Ojabo recovers from his torn ACL from Michigan's Pro Day and cut Smith the moment he declines to save cap space as early as 2023 by plugging in David Ojabo as his replacement once he's ready. Green Bay could also keep Ojabo as a third edge rusher his first two years before making him a full-time starter. This is the same approach Green Bay took with Rashan Gary who also went to the same College as Ojabo. My best guess is Green Bay would want two long-term edges that are young with Gary being 24 and Ojabo turning 22 shortly after the 2022 NFL Draft.
    
    
    
    
    
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Devin Lloyd, ROLB, Utah
    
    
    Kansas City gets a third starting linebacker for their 4-3 defense. A trio of Willie Gay Jr. at 4-3 right outside linebacker, Nick Bolton at 4-3 middle linebacker, and Devin Lloyd 4-3 left outside linebacker would be deadly. For 4-2-5 nickel packages, I'd imagine Lloyd as the ROLB and Bolton would be the MLB with Willie Gay Jr. as a rotational guy. Bolton impressed with 112 total tackles as a rooke and people had a first round grade on him despite the fact that he fell to Kansas City. Willie Gay Jr. on the other hand went from having 39 total tackles as a rookie to 48 total tackles in 2021 during his second season. Either Devin Lloyd or Nakobe Dean would be a massive upgrade over Willie Gay Jr. if we're being honest. The over or under on Devin Lloyd is 18.5, so I'm going with the over here on Devin Lloyd as linebackers have become less valuable over the years in the modern NFL where more passing is involved. Keep reading to find out where Dean ends up.
    
    
    
30. Kansas City Chiefs: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
    
    
    Kansas City gets George Pickens here as their replacement to Tyreek Hill. He can come in and play with MeCole Hardman while Marquez Valdes-Scantling and JuJu Smith-Schuster play in the slot with similar roles to Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle. Ironically enough, it was Pickens who took over as the number one target on the Georgia Bulldogs in 2019 right after Hardman was drafted by Kansas City. The over or under on Pickens is 36.5. I'm taking the under, and making an even bolder prediction that Pickens is the sixth receiver picked in the first round.
    
    
    
    
    
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, FS, Michigan
    
    
    My favorite NFL team is finally on the clock. The Cincinnati Bengals draft a free safety here in case they cannot get a long-term extension done with Jessie Bates III. Daxton Hill is a first round prospect just based on his game film. Hill can line up at nickel cornerback, strong safety, or free safety. His over or under is 29.5, so I'm taking the over here.
    
    
    
32. Detroit Lions: Nakobe Dean, 3-4 MLB, Georgia
    
    
    It's a good thing the Detroit Lions got this pick from the Matthew Stafford Jared Goff trade after all the excessive uncalled penalties by the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 56. Rams fans can celebrate their win all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that Aaron Donald was offsides on the final play of the game or the fact that 103 teams are picking before Les Snead gets to make a selection in this years draft, and if you want to get technical the Rams first two picks are compesation picks with their first offical pick being in the fifth round. There's numerous other examples of bad officiating from Super Bowl 56 that I could rant about, but our readers want to know who the Detroit Lions are getting at 32.
    
    
    
    Detroit is now on the clock at 32. The only linebacker that's under contract for the long-term is Derrick Barnes, one of Detroit's 2021 fourth round picks out of Purdue. Nakobe Dean gives Detroit a second face for their defense to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit's defense now has a leader with Hutchinson and a middle linebacker that can call plays on defense with Nakobe Dean who will be a day 1 starter next to Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, or Jarrad Davis. The over or under on Dean is 30.5, and I'm taking the over. There's a lot of mocks having Dean drop to the second round, but he's too talented to slip past this pick.