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

Round 2

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

33. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
    
    
    The only two receivers on the Jaguars with any sort of long-term security at this point would be Christian Kirk a slot receiver that Jacksonville overpaid hoping he's their number one target and Zay Jones a big body target. Jacksonville still doesn't have an alpha at wide receiver that can make things easier for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson had had some amazing games on film. He'd be the third long-term receiving target along with Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
    
    
    
    With Marvin Jones Jr., entering the final year of his contract, Jacksonville can ease Dotson into their starting lineup or play him right out of the gate if he outperforms one of those top 3 wide receivers in training camp and the preseason. Laviska Shenault Jr. had 0 receiving touchdowns after D.J. Chark ended up on season ending injured reserve. This is one huge reason why I mocked Jahan Dotson to the Jaguars at 33. He's a guy who has the traits to be an alpha wide receiver for Trevor Lawrence.
    
    
    
34. Detroit Lions: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
    
    
    Detroit gets a receiver to compliment Amon-Ra St. Brown. Christian Watson out of North Dakota State dominated the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl, the 2022 NFL Combine, and North Dakota State's Pro Day despite less than stellar production. He's more durable than D.J. Chark, and if Amon-Ra St. Brown and D.J. Chark are the top two receivers on Detroit's week 1 depth chart, Christian Watson will be deadly in the slot since he's a bigger wide receiver. Watson is going to be a top 3 receiver in week 1 if Detroit drafts him.
    
    
    
    
    
35. New York Jets: Daxton Hill, FS, Michigan
    
    
    The New York Jets have two injury prone safeties that missed time with injuries in strong safety Jordan Whitehead and free safety Ashtyn Davis. I watched Whitehead miss games with injuries in person in Raymond James Stadium during his time with Tampa Bay, so I can empathize with Jets fans here.
    
    
    
    Daxton Hill can play nickel cornerback, strong safety, or free safety. Hill will likely play nickel corner as a rookie if those two safeties are healthy, but would move to a safety role once one of those two got injured. Hill is a better safety than Ashtyn Davis. The other thing, I'm looking at is that the Jets can cut Whitehead or Davis in 2023 to save cap space. New York could cut Davis right now and save over $1-million in cap space. Let's be real Hill is a fringe first round prospect at safety while Davis was a clear-cut third round prospect, so Hill is an upgrade over Davis if we take that argument into account.
    
    
    
36. New York Giants: Devin Lloyd, 3-4 MLB, Utah
    
    
    The New York Giants get a second 3-4 middle linebacker to pair with Blake Martinez. Some have a first round grade on Utah middle linebacker Devin Lloyd. Lloyd is a clear steal for the New York Giants at 36.
    
    
    
    
    
37. Houston Texans: Boye Mafe, RE, Minnesota
    
    
    Houston gets a third day 1 starter with this pick. Boye Mafe is great at getting pressure on the quarterback and dropping back into coverage. Houston desperately needs a day 1 starter at 4-3 right end, so if they don't address this position at 3 or 13, then I expect the Texans to take care of this area by pick 37. Houston would have Boye Mafe and Jonathan Greenard at 4-3 right end and 4-3 left end for the next two seasons.
    
    
    
38. New York Jets: Nicholas Petit-Friere, RT, Ohio State
    
    
    New York has Mekhi Becton and George Fant as this seasons starters offensive tackle. Neither guy has established himself as a long-term starter with Becton missing most of 2021 getting injured for the second year in a row while Fant did well at left tackle with Becton out.
    
    
    
    Nicholas Petit-Friere played both left tackle and right tackle at Ohio State. He'd begin his rookie season as a swing tackle, but he could be the starting right tackle on the Jets as early as 2023.
    
    
    
    
    
39. Chicago Bears: Drake Jackson, RE, USC
    
    
    Chicago is moving to a 4-3 defense, Robert Quinn and Trevis Gipson both did well last year when Khalil Mack got placed on the season ending injured reserve list.
    
    
    
    Drake Jackson would start out as a depth piece. At the same time, he's talented enough to beat out Gipson for the defensive end job across from Quinn. Chicago proved how valuable it is to have three edge rushers last season in case one gets injured and placed on the season ending injured reserve list.
    
    
    
    Finally, Robert Quinn, the former 2011 first round pick will turn 32-years-old in May despite being under contract until 2025 after having a career season in 2021 at the age of 31. Chicago could cut Quinn and save $4,250,000 in cap space right now if they really wanted to. Why do that with Quinn playing at a high level? Plus, Chicago saves more cap space by cutting Quinn each year they hold on to him from now until 2025 as the Bears would save almost $10-million if they waited until 2023 to cut Quinn and $13-million if the Bears held on to Quinn until 2024. That's my whole argument for drafting Drake Jackson because you'd still have Drake Jackson on a rookie deal until 2026, plus you can use that money to re-sign a younger Gipson if he plays well during the final two seasons of his rookie deal.
    
    
    
40. Seattle Seahawks: Daniel Faalele, RT, Minnesota
    
    
    Here's a bold take. Seattle is gonna start Stone Forsythe their 2021 sixth round pick who played good against Nick Bosa at left tackle last year during 14 snaps as their new left tackle. Daniel Faalele becomes a bookend right tackle to Stone Forsythe.
    
    
    
    
    
41. Seattle Seahawks: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
    
    
    Seattle has Drew Lock, Geno Smith, and Jacob Eason on their depth chart. Eason is the only quarterback under contract past 2023. Sam Howell could come in and compete for the starting job right away in Seattle. If Howell can't win that job, that may be an indicator to draft a quarterback in 2023. Something tells me Howell may be able to establish himself as a starting quarterback.
    
    
    
42. Indianapolis Colts: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
    
    
    Chris Ballard has three quality cornerbacks with Kenny Moore, Brandon Facyson, and Stephon Gilmore. Facyson is on a one-year deal while Moore and Gilmore are under contract until 2024. My point is that the Indianapolis Colts don't have a cornerback with a long-term contract. Roger McCreary is a tremendous value pick for the Indianapolis Colts at this point in the second round.
    
    
    
    
    
43. Atlanta Falcons: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
    
    
    Atlanta's only two quarterbacks are Marcus Mariota and Filipe Franks. This is a situation where Desmond Ridder may end up playing as a rookie. Ridder will have a left tackle in Jake Matthews to protect his blindside, Drake London as his number one wide receiver, and Kyle Pitts as his tight end. If Ridder can't get it done with those weapons, it won't surprise me to see Atlanta draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft while keeping Desmond Ridder as the backup.
    
    
    
44. Cleveland Browns: Cameron Thomas, LE, San Diego State
    
    
    Cleveland replaces Jadeveon Clowney. The Cleveland Browns now have two sack artists at 4-3 defensive end with Myles Garrett at 4-3 right end and Cameron Thomas at 4-3 left end.
    
    
    
    
    
45. Baltimore Ravens: Arnold Ebiketie, 3-4 ROLB, Penn State
    
    
    Arnold Ebiketie may have more variety of moves than any pass rusher in this draft. Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser may miss time this season due to injuries which is why the Ravens would be smart to draft Arnold Ebiketie since he could end up being a day 1 starter on the Baltimore Ravens.
    
    
    
46. Minnesota Vikings: Jaquan Brisker, FS, Penn State
    
    
    Minnesota has Harrison Smith starting at strong safety and Camryn Bynum as the starting free safety on their depth chart. Smith got extended until 2026 while Bynum is talented enough to play, but Jaquan Brisker is a clear upgrade over Camryn Bynum at free safety in my honest opinion. Putting Harrison Smith plus Jaquan Brisker as the starting safeties next to a cornerback tandem of Patrick Peterson, Derek Stingley Jr, and Cameron Dantzler as the nickel cornerback is quite deadly.
    
    
    
    
    
47. Washington Commanders: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
    
    
    Washington gets themselves a second tight end since Carson Wentz loved using two tight end sets in both Philadelphia and Indianapolis. Trey McBride is the one tight end in this draft that I can actually see beating out Logan Thomas for the starting tight end job. Also, Washington can save $5-million in cap space if they cut Logan Thomas in 2023 if he doesn't stay healthy and revert to his 2020 form.
    
    
    
48. Chicago Bears: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
    
    
    The Bears use this second round pick from the Chargers in the Khalil Mack trade on a wide receiver for Justin Fields now that Allen Robinson is gone. John Metchie III is a better route runner than Jameson Williams. He can come in and push Darnell Mooney to be the number one receiver while former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Byron Pringle plays the slot. Chicago doesn't have any receivers under contract past 2024, so getting a long-term receiver whose under contract for the duration of Justin Fields rookie deal is paramount for the Chicago Bears.
    
    
    
    
    
49. New Orleans Saints: Lewis Cine, SS, Georgia
    
    
    New Orleans lost strong safety Marcus Williams to the Baltimore Ravens and free safety Malcolm Jenkins to retirement. New Orleans currently has Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Daniel Sorensen competing for the starting strong safety job while Marcus Maye plays free safety.
    
    
    
    Lewis Cine is a pretty talented strong safety on film. It wouldn't surprise me if he came in as a rookie like Marcus Williams did out of Utah and won a starting safety spot. I could see Lewis Cine beating out both Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Daniel Sorensen for the strong safety job. Sorenson would be the backup strong safety to Lewis Cine while Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the backup free safety to Marcus Maye.
    
    
    
50. Kansas City Chiefs: Logan Hall, DT, Houston
    
    
    Kansas City needs a starting 4-3 defensive tackle next to Chris Jones. Houston defensive tackle Logan Hall is versatile enough to play 4-3 right end, 4-3 defensive tackle, and 4-3 left end. Drafting Logan Hall after getting Nakobe Dean as a second starter on this defense already improves this run defense quite a bit.
    
    
    
    
    
51. Philadelphia Eagles: George Pickens, WR, Georgia
    
    
    Philadelphia gets an upgrade over Jalen Reagor their 2020 first round pick whose been a massive disappointment. George Pickens is a big body target who could be a number two target next to DeVonta Smith.
    
    
    
52. Pittsburgh Steelers: Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
    
    
    The 5-10 194 lb Skyy Moore compliments Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool in the slot with JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington gone. Pittsburgh signed Miles Boykin to a one year deal after the Ravens cut him, but he's probably James Washington's replacement. Skyy Moore on the other hand is JuJu Smith-Schuster's replacement, as Moore would be a day 1 starter in the slot giving Mitchell Trubisky some short-term weapons. By the time Malik Willis starts in 2023, I truely believe Skyy Moore will be Pittsburgh's number one receiver at that point assuming the Steelers draft Skyy Moore in round two after taking Malik Willis in round one.
    
    
    
    
    
53. Green Bay Packers: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
    
    
    Green Bay has Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas under contract at cornerback. Douglas stepped up once Alexander got injured while Eric Stokes Green Bay's 2021 first round pick beat out Kevin King for the number two cornerback job by week 2. The problem is Green Bay has no depth at cornerback behind those three with Kevin King, Josh Jackson and Chandon Sullivan gone. Kaiir Elam is a first round cornerback on some big boards, so Green Bay goes for value over need here. If Jaire Alexander gets injured again in 2022, I'm honestly not sure if Green Bay would extend him with Eric Stokes under contract until 2026, Rasul Douglas under contract until 2025, and Elam under contract until 2026 on a rookie deal if the Packers drafted him here.
    
    
    
    Kaiir Elam is great in coverage, but struggles with wrapping up tackles. Correcting this, while sitting out and learning Green Bay's playbook as a rooke may benefit him. In this situation, Elam wouldn't have to play unless Alexander, Stokes, or Douglas got injured, plus you'd have three cornerbacks under contract until 2025, and four if Alexander gets extended.
    
    
    
54. New England Patriots: Christian Harris, 3-4 MLB, Alabama
    
    
    Now that Dont'a Hightower is gone, New England drafts another 3-4 middle linebacker that can start next to Ju'Whan Bentley on day 1. Christian Harris is versatile and has great athletcisim. He needs to be coached up, but Harris can be a star if Bill Belichick can correct his suspect coverage.
    
    
    
    
    
55. Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
    
    
    Arizona has had success drafting defensive backs from Washington in the second round. Cornerback Byron Murphy and free safety Budda Baker are living breathing proof of this. Arizona drafts Kyler Gordon who can start right away as a number two cornerback allowing Jeff Gladney to play nickel cornerback.
    
    
    
56. Dallas Cowboys: Kerby Joseph, FS, Illinois
    
    
    The Dallas Cowboys get the best zone coverage safety in the draft left on the board here. Chris Ransom compared Kerby Joseph to Eddie Jackson and now I can see why. Kerby Joseph had a good week at the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl. He's talented enough to beat out Donovan Wilson for the starting free safety job in Dallas.
    
    
    
    
    
57. Buffalo Bills: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
    
    
    Tariq Woolen is a perfect replacement for Levi Wallace. He can compliment Tre'Davious White as a number two cornerback right away. He could also take over at field cornerback if White suffers a season ending injury for the second year in a row.
    
    
    
58. Atlanta Falcons: Nik Bonitto, 3-4 ROLB, Oklahoma
    
    
    Atlanta needs a day 1 starter at 3-4 right outside linebacker. They may not get a sack artist that makes left tackles quiver in fear, but they can still land a talented edge rusher who can start on day 1 with this selection.
    
    
    
    
    
59. Green Bay Packers: Myjai Sanders, 3-4 ROLB, Cincinnati
    
    
    Green Bay adds depth at 3-4 outside linebacker behind 3-4 right outside linebacker Rashan Gary and 3-4 left outside linebacker Preston Smith. Green Bay needed depth at 3-4 outside linebacker as well as three edge rushers when sack artist Z'Darius Smith got injured. Green Bay prioritizes depth on the edge by adding a third 3-4 outside linebacker here.
    
    
    
60. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
    
    
    Tampa Bay needs bodies at cornerback. Coby Bryant is someone who could compliment Carlton Davis. Davis can be a number one corner, but he's too inconsistent for my liking despite the extension. His coverage in Super Bowl 55 is a big reason why he got extended. I wouldn't extend Sean Bunting-Murphy whose on the final year of his rookie deal or Jamel Dean whose also on the final year of his contract though.
    
    
    
    Drafting a cornerback with a high football IQ and high character to pair with Carlton Davis gives Tampa Bay more depth at cornerback and it also gives the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a second day 1 starter since I see Bryant either playing boundary cornerback or nickel as a rookie if Sean Bunting-Murphy remains the number two cornerback. Even if Bryant sits out his rookie year, he'll be starting across from Carlton Davis at cornerback by 2023 at the very latest.
    
    
    
    
    
61. San Francisco 49ers: Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
    
    
    San Francisco fans are probably pissed that I didn't mock them a cornerback. However, I have a very good reason for that. For starters, defensive tackle Arik Armstead hasn't had 10 sacks since 2019 when he was in a contract year, but he's set to make $24-million in 2023, and San Francisco can cut him then to save cap space. San Francisco can save over $11-million if they wait until 2024 to move on from him once he turns 30.
    
    
    
    Also Javon Kinlaw missed a lot of last season with injuries and honestly, San Francisco has no depth behind Armstead and Kinlaw at the 4-3 defensive tackle spot. If San Francisco wants to cut Dee Ford and play Armstead at 4-3 left end across from Nick Bosa on the edge then San Francisco could draft Perrion Winfrey, the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl MVP and make him a day 1 starter next to Kinlaw at defensive tackle assuming Armstead plays defensive end next to Nick Bosa.
    
    
    
    You also have to consider the possibility that San Francisco is probably gonna use money from Garoppolo or perhaps even Armstead to extend Nick Bosa long-term.
    
    
    
62. Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Pitre, SS, Baylor
    
    
    Kansas City drafts Jalen Pitre. He'll begin his NFL career as a backup to Juan Thornhill, Kansas City's 2019 second round pick out of Virginia since Kansas City currently has Juan Thornhill starting at strong safety and Justin Reid starting at free safety. Jalen Pitre would play in a depth role like Daniel Sorensen during his rookie season in 2022 unless the Chiefs make him a day 1 starter at nickel cornerback. Jalen Pitre will be ready to start next to Justin Reid at strong safety by the 2023 NFL Season.
    
    
    
    
    
63. Cincinnati Bengals: Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
    
    
    Cincinnati drafts the first running back and youngest player in the entire 2022 NFL Draft here. Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams both enter contract years. Cutting Perine and Williams saves the Bengals $2,815,000 in cap space with Perine saving the Bengals $1.5-million despite playing well as a third down back while Williams saves $965,000 and has no dead cap after losing the third string job to rookie running back Chris Evans who did better than most expected coming out of Michigan.
    
    
    
    Javonte Williams Denver's 2021 second round pick is making just over $2-million in 2022. Jonathan Taylor, the Colts star running back and league leader in rushing yards makes $2,135,223 dollars in 2022. Why keep two running backs in contract years when you can reload and get one for much cheaper for four years. Perine turns 27 in September while the 20-year-old Spiller turns 21 in August, plus he's the youngest player in the draft. Spiller's rookie deal will be up in 2026 and he'll be 24 turning 25 in August of that year.
    
    
    
    Joe Mixon turns 26-years-old in July and his contract will be up in 2025 when he's 28-years-old, but he'll be turning 29 in July of that year as long as Mixon's healthy I'd keep him in Cincinnati. At the same time, if the Bengals wanted to move on from Mixon at that point in 2025 with Burrow and Chase commanding huge contracts they could, and Spiller would have a full year to earn the running back one job for the long-term in his contract year on his rookie deal.
    
    
    
    Spiller had three consecutive seasons of 1,000 total yards at Texas A&M and can be just as effective if not more effective then Samaje Perine as a number two running back. Spiller is a fantastic replacement for Perine and Williams while allowing Mixon to remain the number one running back. Joe Mixon is still the number one running back on this depth chart, but Isaiah Spiller would be a huge upgrade over Samaje Perine since he's six years younger than Perine. Spiller is also capable of being the starting running back by 2025 if Cincinnati opted to move on from Joe Mixon before he turns 30, but its way too early to have that conversation after Mixon dominated in 2021 during the Bengals run to Super Bowl 56.
    
    
    
    Cincinnati would have Joe Mixon as their top running back, Isaiah Spiller as their number two running back, and Chris Evans as their third string running back. This is assuming they cut Perine and Williams to save cap space, which is something the Bengals have to consider here if Spiller falls to 63.
    
    
    
64. Denver Broncos: Darrian Kinnard, RT, Kentucky
    
    
    Billy Turner and Will Compton are both on one-year prove it deals. Darrian Kinnard can develop for a year behind those two as a rookie. Then Kinnard would take over as the starting right tackle by the 2023 NFL Season.