Tony Mario's 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

Round 1 Picks 1-16

The 2022 NFL Draft has a lot more uncertainty compared to 2021. Find out who goes where.

Tony Mario follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 28, 2022.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, 3-4 LE, Georgia
   
   
   Jacksonville is leaning towards Travon Walker at 1. The big question is he an edge rusher or a five technique. I'm gonna say he ends up at five technique because this would allow Josh Allen and K'Lavon Chaisson to remain at edge rusher while starting a third first round pick they drafted on their front 7. Jacksonville has some veterans on their defensive line such as Malcolm Brown and Foley Fatukasi at 3-4 right end and nose tackle that can show Walker the ropes while keeping their former first round picks as starters at edge rusher.
   
   
   
2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, 3-4 ROLB, Michigan
   
   
   The Detroit Lions get a hometown player and their best number two overall pick since taking Ndamukong Suh back in 2010. I'd also argue that Hutchinson can be just as big of a defensive presence as Suh without gaining the reputation of being a dirty player.
   
   
   
   Detroit runs a hybrid defense so Hutchinson would also play 4-3 right end. Charles Harris led Detroit in sacks and with someone as good as Aidan Hutchinson taking pressure off of him, he won't be double teamed as much. You'll also have the Okwara brothers Romeo Okwara and Julian Okwara for depth at the 3-4 outside linebacker giving Detroit a good core of edge rushers with quality starters and depth players at both 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker for Detroit's hybrid defense.
   
   
   
   Detroit may be able to win 5-7 games if everyone on their offensive line, front 7, and secondary stays completely healthy while avoiding injuries. I'm not sure theres a team picking in the top 5 of this draft that can make the jump to the playoffs like Washington in 2020 or Cincinnati in 2021, but Detroit probably has the best chance with Hutchinson. Detroit is still a team that's been historically bad over the years, but Hutchinson gives Detroit some hope moving forward.
   
   
   
   Chris Ransom posted a film cut of Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson VS Penn State a week before Hutchinson knocked Ohio State left tackle Nicholas Petit-Friere on his ass in Michigan's first home win over Ohio State in a long time. Aidan Hutchinson is a huge reason why Michigan won the Big 10.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Houston Texans: Evan Neal, LT, Alabama
   
   
   Evan Neal will probably play either left guard or right tackle as a rookie, depending on where the Texans want to play right tackle Tytus Howard who played inside at left guard, however Neal would spend the majority of his rookie contract at left tackle following the 2022 NFL Regular Season. He's the best player in the 2022 NFL Draft not named Aidan Hutchinson.
   
   
   
   I have no doubt Evan Neal will be the Houston Texans blindside by the start of the 2023 NFL Regular Season if the Texans take Neal at 3 because cutting Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil would save the Texans $18.5-million in 2023. Houston was considering cutting Tunsil earlier in the offseason, but ultimately decided to keep him because they didn't want to lose cap space.
   
   
   
   Also, I've got Houston picking first in my preliminary 2023 NFL Mock Draft that will be up on Draft Utopia soon. Heisman Finalists Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, whoever Houston takes first overall in 2023 would absolutely thrive in Houston with Evan Neal protecting their blindside.
   
   
   
4. New York Jets: Kayvon Thibodeaux, RE, Oregon
   
   
   New York gets an 4-3 defensive end at edge rusher for Robert Saleh to coach up. Saleh coached up Nick Bosa when he was the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator prior to taking the New York Jets head coaching job. Kayvon Thibodeaux is the best pass rusher for the New York Jets at 4 and he is someone who will take pressure off of Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, and Vinny Curry.
   
   
   
   Chris Ransom posted a film cut of Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux against UCLA where he's facing UCLA left tackle Sean Rhyan.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, RT, North Carolina State
   
   
   The New York Giants get a bookend to Andrew Thomas. Ikem Ekwonu is the best run blocking offensive tackle in this draft. Saquon Barkley can get 1,500 rushing yards if he plays all 17 games. His pass protection may end up being better in the NFL at the next level if he ends up playing at right tackle or left guard rather than starting at left tackle like he did at North Carolina State.
   
   
   
   New York's offensive line now has Andrew Thomas at left tackle, Max Garcia at left guard, Jon Feliciano at center, Mark Glowinski at right guard, and Ikem Ekwonu at right tackle. This offensive line helps running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones in year three.
   
   
   
6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
   
   
   Carolina's owner Dave Tepper went to Pittsburgh. Matt Rhule recruited Kenny Pickett to Temple before leaving the program for Baylor. Carolina takes Kenny Pickett since he's the one guy in this draft who can start in week 1. Fanduel now has Pickett as the favorite to Carolina with other sports books still having Malik Willis and Charles Cross going at 6. It's going to be one of those three for Carolina at 6, but I'll say the Panthers get Kenny Pickett since he's the only quarterback in this draft that can start for a team in week 1.
   
   
   
   Chris Ransom posted a Kenny Pickett playlist below. He found an old Kenny Pickett film cut that he did from 2018. Kenny Pickett also made some good throws in the Andre Cisco film cut he posted against Pittsburgh leading up to the 2021 NFL Draft. Also, he added the Pickett game against Clemson that Cristian F posted to the third game of the Pickett playlist since Mark Schofield did an awesome job breaking down some plays in that game. You have to go to Cristian's channel to watch more Pickett film from 2021 outside of the Clemson game.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. New York Giants: George Karlafits, 3-4 LOLB, Purdue
   
   
   New York grabs a second pass rusher to pair with 3-4 right outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari at 3-4 left outside linebacker. George Karlafits is still my fourth best edge rusher available. Karlafits may have the best rip and swim moves of any pass rusher off the edge in this draft.
   
   
   
8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC
   
   
   Atlanta gets a replacement at wide receiver after trading Julio Jones and watching Calvin Ridley gamble on his 2022 NFL Season. Drake London is the second youngest receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft and that longevity could intrigue the Falcons into taking Drake London a man who commanded double teams and triple teams as both a High School Basketball player and a football player with the USC Trojans. Drake London and Kyle Pitts will break out by 2023 once Atlanta drafts a quarterback in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Seattle Seahawks: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
   
   
   Seattle needs two starting offensive tackles as well as two cornerbacks. This pick at 9 will either be a quarterback, left tackle, or a cornerback. Based on what I've heard, Seattle is eying in on Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Kenny Pickett, and Malik Willis at 9. Pickett is gone, but Gardner and Willis are there. Ahmad Gardner would give Seattle their first field cornerback that's really good since Richard Sherman was on the Legion of Boom. Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner brings the sauce to Seattle since he went four years at Cincinnati without giving up a touchdown.
   
   
   
10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
    
    
    The New York Jets get a number one receiver for Zach Wilson. Ohio State's Garrett Wilson is the consensus number one target. Wilson to Wilson sounds like Gumbel and Gumbel on Family Guy.
    
    
    
    
    
11. Washington Commanders: Kenyon Green, RG, Texas A&M
    
    
    Washington gets a replacement to Brandon Scherff at right guard. The Washington Commanders have Charles Leno Jr. at left tackle, Andrew Norwell at left guard, Chase Roullier at center, Kenyon Green at right guard, and Samuel Cosmi at right tackle. Washington has every hole on the offensive line addressed so there's no excuses for Carson Wentz now that Washington's offensive line has been straightend out.
    
    
    
12. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr. CB, LSU
    
    
    Minnesota gets another LSU cornerback to pair with Patrick Peterson. Derek Stingley Jr. pairs with Peterson as a rookie and by 2023 he'll be the number one field cornerback if he's not the number one cornerback this season on Minnesota.
    
    
    
13. Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, FS, Notre Dame
    
    
    The Houston Texans get a day 1 starter at free safety. Kyle Hamilton was a top 5 pick before running a 4.70 40-time at Notre Dame's Pro Day. I just have a hard time seeing the Texans pass on Hamilton twice.
    
    
    
14. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
    
    
    Baltimore replaces Bradley Bozeman with Tyler Linderbaum. Baltimore has Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Ben Powers at left guard, Tyler Linderbaum at center, Kevin Zeitler at right guard, and Morgan Moses at right tackle. If this offensive line stays healthy, Lamar Jackson can be just as lethal as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, or Joe Burrow.
    
    
    
    
    
15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jermaine Johnson II, RE, Florida State
    
    
    The Philadelphia Eagles draft a 4-3 right end who can start right away. Jermaine Johnson II fitts this criteria at 15. Jermaine Johnson II and Josh Sweat, two Seminoles start at edge rusher while Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham provide solid depth here.
    
    
    Previous Pick: Bubba Bolden, SS, Miami FL
    
    
16. New Orleans Saints: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
    
    
    Treylon Burks is a big body like Michael Thomas. He's not as fast as Thomas, but he makes a lot of spectacular catches, acrobatic catches, and catches the ball in traffic. Jameis Winston will have a lot of fun throwing the ball to Michael Thomas and Treylon Burks.