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Tony Mario's 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds
Round 7
Tony Mario follow @DraftUtopia Last Updated: April 28, 2022.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Anthony Brown, QB, Oregon 
- Jacksonville gets a quarterback to challenge C.J. Beathard for the backup quarterback job in the seventh round. Anthony Brown is worth a flyer here.
Cleveland Browns: Kolby Harvell-Peel, FS, Oklahoma State 
- The Browns add a versatile safety that can play both strong safety and free safety for depth here. It's the seventh round so Cleveland can go for value here.
Miami Dolphins: Leonard Johnson, CB, Duke 
- The Miami Dolphins get a cornerback in the seventh round. Duke cornerback Leonard Johnson has the same name as former Iowa State cornerback Leonard Johnson who went undrafted in 2012.
Pittsburgh Steelers: David Anenih, 3-4 ROLB, Houston 
- The Pittsburgh Steelers draft a third pass rusher for depth behind Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt. Pittsburgh cut last years seventh round pick Quincy Roche.
Cincinnati Bengals: JoJo Domann, LOLB, Nebraska 
- JoJo Domann can line up as an edge rusher, outside linebacker, or nickel cornerback. JoJo Domann is a good depth piece for Cincinnati's defense in the seventh round.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jaivon Heiligh, WR, Coastal Carolina 
- Las Vegas gets a replacement for Zay Jones here. Davante Adams, Bryan Edwards, and Hunter Renfrow in the slot are the top three receivers on the Raiders depth chart, and it's pretty obvious those three receivers will remain starters for the next two years. Jaivon Heiligh was Coastal Carolina's number one wide receiver and top target outside of tight end Isiaah Likely. He's a better route runner than Zay Jones. He'd be able to start over Edwards down the road around 2024 if Las Vegas chooses to prioritize Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow over Edwards, which is something the Raiders probably will do as an organization.
Green Bay Packers: Tanner Conner, WR, Idaho State 
- Green Bay drafts a second wide receiver for depth here in the seventh round after using their first pick on a wide receiver at 22. Idaho State has two potential future NFL prospects on their offense. Their quarterback Tyler Vander Waal, a former starter at Wyoming is a 2023 FCS quarterback to keep an eye on. Idaho State wide receiver Tanner Conner is the best receiver the Big Sky Conference has had since Cooper Kupp coming out of Eastern Washington five years ago. Conner is also a client of Steinberg Sports and Entertainment which is represented by Chris Cabot and founder Leigh Steinberg the current agent of Patrick Mahomes so keep an eye on Tanner Conner. He was a kick returner in High School too, so Green Bay could have Tanner Conner as their kick returner and Amari Rodgers last years third round pick out of Clemson as their punt returner in 2022. Tanner Conner has also conducted a lot of interviews leading up to this years 2022 NFL Draft after not being invited to the 2022 NFL Combine.
Seattle Seahawks: Dontario Drummond, WR, Ole Miss 
- Seattle drafts another Ole Miss receiver in case D.K. Metcalf leaves. Dontario Drummond starts out on special teams and could see a bigger role with Seattle if Metcalf leaves in Free Agency.
Washington Commanders: Myron Cunningham, LT, Arkansas 
- Washington has Charles Leno Jr. and Saadiq Charles as their top two left tackles. The Commanders bring in Myron Cunningham to compete with Saadiq Charles for a roster spot.
Buffalo Bills: Percy Butler, FS, Lousiana 
- Both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde, the two Pro Bowl safeties that Buffalo has enter contract years. Buffalo also has Siran Neal, along with 2019 sixth round pick Jaquan Johnson who enters the final year of his rookie deal. Percy Butler is talented enough to push, perhaps beat out Johnson for that final safety spot on Buffalo's depth chart in the seventh round.
Denver Broncos: LaBryan Ray, 3-4 LE, Alabama 
- LaBryan Ray compliments Dre'Mont Jones at 3-4 left end. This is a nice value pick in the seventh round.
Kansas City Chiefs: D'Marco Jackson, MLB, Appalachian State 
- Kansas City grabs a backup middle linebacker to Nick Bolton. D'Marco Jackson is raw, but he's versatile, plays with a heart, and has a lot of traits you want in a starting middle linebacker. Kansas City drafts him for depth here in the seventh round.
Detroit Lions: Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State 
- Detroit gets their replacement to Jesse James and backup tight end to T.J. Hockenson here. Daniel Bellinger is a good blocking tight end which helps Detroit's running game, plus he's the second youngest tight end in this draft class.
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Jacksonville Jaguars: Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
- Jacksonville gets their replacement to Carlos Hyde here. Rachaad White is a good running back to add here to compliment James Robinson and Travis Etienne.
Los Angeles Chargers: Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU 
- The Chargers add a tight end for depth behind Gerald Everett. Grant Calcaterra is good enough to get drafted as a backup tight end. Him having three different concussions makes me wonder how long he can avoid head trauma.
Philadelphia Eagles: Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
- Damarion Williams was voted team captain on the Houston Cougars defense. He played cornerback with 2022 NFL Draft Prospect Marcus Jones. The Eagles were at Houston's Pro Day so you cannot rule out the possibility of Philadephia bringing one of these cornerbacks in for depth or perhaps the Eagles draft one of these cornerbacks as a return specialist.
Los Angeles Rams: Tre Sterling, SS, Oklahoma State
- The Los Angeles Rams add a strong safety for depth because both of their strong safeties Taylor Rapp their 2019 second round pick from Washington and Nick Scott their 2019 seventh round pick enter contract years. Tre Sterling broke up a deflection intended for CeeDee Lamb back in 2019 during CeeDee Lamb's draft year. At the very worst he can replace Nick Scott if the Rams opt to bring back Rapp. The best case scenario for Tre Sterling is he's the starting strong safety by the start of the 2023 NFL Season.
Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Roberson, WR, SMU
- The Indianapolis Colts add a wide receiver for depth here. Reggie Roberson can play his rookie season on special teams. He may end up being the successor to T.Y. Hilton once Hilton chooses to retire.
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Washington Commanders: Sterling Weatherford, FS, Miami Ohio
- Washington needs multiple safeties and I haven't mocked one to the Commanders yet. Sterling Weatherford is versatile enough to play outside linebacker or safety on either side making him a good final selection for the Washington Commanders at 240.
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
- The Pittsburgh Steelers get backup center to Mason Cole. Doug Kramer, no relation to fictional character Cosmo Kramer ends up in Pittsburgh where he reunites with last years third round pick out of Illinois in Kendrick Green who played on the interior offensive line with Doug Kramer.
Carolina Panthers: Jaylon Thomas, LG, SMU
- The Carolina Panthers bring in competition for Michael Jordan and Pat Elflein at left guard. Jaylon Thomas is a nice late round pick here.
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Kansas City Chiefs: Gerrit Prince, TE, UAB
- Kansas City's top three tight ends on their depth chart are Travis Kelce, Blake Bell, and Noah Gray. Kelce is under contract until 2026, Gray is undr contract until 2025, and Blake Bell enters a contract year where Kansas City cannot cut Bell since they'd save 0 cap space by releasing him. Gerrit Prince could be a guy you stash on the practice squad for a year before you bring him up to replace Blake Bell.
Arizona Cardinals: Dustin Crum, QB, Kent State 
- Arizona doesn't have a third string quarterback behind Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy the quarterback he idolized growing up. Colt McCoy enters a contract year while Kyler Murray is making $29.7-million on his fifth year option after Baker Mayfield made $18.8-million. Murray's contract has no dead cap on his fifth year option for the 2023 NFL Season after this upcoming season.
New England Patriots: Kyler McMichael, CB, North Carolina 
- Kyler McMichael was one of the standout cornerbacks at the 2022 East West Shrine Game. New England adds a second cornerback for depth in the seventh round with their final pick.
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Cleveland Browns: Nick Zakelj, RT, Fordham
- The Cleveland Browns bring in a right tackle to compete with James Hudson III for a roster spot. You also have to consider the fact that Jack Conklin, Cleveland's right tackle enters a contract year.
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Miami Dolphins: C.J. Brewer, 3-4 LE, Coastal Carolina
- Miami needs depth behind Christian Wilkins and Emmanuel Ogbah at 3-4 defensive end. C.J. Brewer is a good addition for the Miami Dolphins here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trenton Thompson, SS, San Diego State
- Tampa Bay has four safeties under contract. Three of those safeties, Logan Ryan, Keanu Neal, and Mike Edwards enter contract years after Jordan Whitehead signed with the New York Jets. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the only safety on this Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster that I'd consider giving a long-term extension to as well. Trenton Thompson lined up at 4-3 right outside linebacker, 4-3 middle linebacker, 4-3 left outside linebacker, strong safety, and free safety. Outside of Jalen Pitre, Trenton Thompson may be the most versatile safety in this years draft. He intercepted San Jose State while playing zone coverage after lining up in the middle linebacker spot.
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Green Bay Packers: Dominique Robertson, 3-4 LOLB, Miami Ohio
- Dominique Robertson gives Green Bay a second pass rusher for depth behind Preston Smith. He's worth a late rond flyer here.
Minnesota Vikings: Cordell Volson, RG, North Dakota State 
- Minnesota gets an offensive lineman with the versatility to play right tackle or right guard. Minnesota stashes Volson for depth on the right side of their offensive line.
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Kansas City Chiefs: Raleigh Texada, CB, Baylor
- Kansas City adds a second cornerback for depth here. Raleigh Texada played cornerback with Kalon Barnes on Baylor while complimenting safeties JT Woods and Jalen Pitre.
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Cincinnati Bengals: Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
- Cincinnati gets Auden Tate's replacement here with their final selection now that Auden Tate signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Another thing to consider is that Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins will probably both get extended in a year from now before Ja'Maar Chase gets extended too assuming he dominates like he did as a rookie in his next two seasons. In order to secure, Burrow, Higgins, and Chase long-term, Cincinnati will have to cut Tyler Boyd in 2023 to save cap space.
- Higgins and Boyd both have expiring contracts in 2024, but cutting Boyd saves the Bengals $8.9-million in a year from now. If Cincinnati had a first round grade on a receiver in this draft, and that guy was the best player on their board at 31, Cincinnati could drop Tyler Boyd right now to save $7.3-million against the cap. I don't envision the Bengals doing something this careless after winning the AFC Championship last season when most of the pieces are in place to build something special for the long-term.
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Los Angeles Rams: Jonathan Ford, NT, Miami FL
- Greg Gaines enters the final year of his rookie deal after rotating at nose tackle with Sebastian Joseph-Day. Expect the Rams to take a nose tackle for depth here to split reps with Gaines since the Rams have made zero effort to extend Gaines.
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Los Angeles Chargers: Emeka Emezie, WR, North Carolina State
- The Los Angeles Chargers got this compensation pick at 254 after San Diego Chargers 2015 second round pick Denzel Perryman signed a contract with the Carolina Panthers. The former Miami Hurricanes middle linebacker got cut by Carolina and revived his career with the Las Vegas Raiders.
- The Chargers get the most consistent receiver in this draft that nobody is talking about with one of their three remaining draft selections. Emeka Emezie won the Phillip Rivers Award for best freshman on North Carolina State in 2017. He also won the Mike Hardy Award in 2018. Emeka Emezie led North Carolina State as their number one wide receiver in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He had three signature games against Clemson, Wake Forest, and North Carolina this past season in 2021.
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Los Angeles Chargers: Jack Coan, QB, Notre Dame
- The Los Angeles Chargers got this compensation pick at 255 after 2017 third round pick Dan Feeney signed a contract with the New York Jets. The former Indiana Hoosiers interior offensive lineman could play left guard, center, or right guard with his versatility as he's currently the backup center on the New York Jets.
- Chase Daniels came in as a backup and took Easton Stick's job as the backup after the 2019 fifth round pick failed to maintain the backup job which is a position he held during the first two years of his rookie deal. Stick still played well enough to remain with the Chargers, but Daniels and Stick enter contract years. Justin Herbert is probably getting extended in 2023 as well, so when you take that into consideration you can either get a future backup now or a future backup to Herbert in the 2023 NFL Draft. Jack Coan was the best quarterback at the 2022 East West Shrine Game which means Coan's done enough to warrant a tryout if he gets drafted by a team.
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Arizona Cardinals: Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
- The Arizona Cardinals got this compensation pick at 256 after former tight end Dan Arnold signed with the Carolina Panthers. Dan Arnold got traded to Jacksonville in the C.J. Henderson trade.
- The Arizona Cardinals add their backup center to Rodney Hudson here. Cameron Jurgens is being mocked as early as the third round, but he's got a lengthy history with season ending injuries. He got injured in his junior and senior seasons of High School. He redshirted as a freshman, and got injured in 2020 as well. Jurgens did well in his draft year, but some NFL teams may rather wait for someone like Jarrett Patterson or Luke Matthews the youngest son of Bruce Matthews. Those are my arguments for dropping Cameron Jurgens to the seventh round.
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Arizona Cardinals: Malcolm Rodriguez, 3-4 MLB, Oklahoma State
- The Arizona Cardinals got this compensation pick at 257 after former defensive end Angelo Blackson signed a contract with the Chicago Bears.
- The Arizona Cardinals get their backup 3-4 middle linebacker to Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins here. Jordan Hicks is no longer with Arizona so a 3-4 middle linebacker for depth is needed.
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Green Bay Packers: Andrew Rupcich, LT, Culver-Stockton
- The Green Bay Packers got this compensation pick at 258 for losing their 2017 fourth round pick Jamaal Williams who signed with the NFC North rival Detroit Lions. The former Packers running back complimented Aaron Jones as both Williams and Jones were from the 2017 NFL Draft. Williams was drafted ahead of Jones, but Jones ended up as the starting running back until Williams rookie deal ended. The former BYU running back was alright as a change of pace running back complimenting D'Andre Swift in Detroit during his first season with the Detroit Lions.
- Andrew Rupcich is versatile enough to play left tackle, left guard, center, right guard, and right tackle. Green Bay can use more depth on their offensive line and will find a role for this guy on their second team. He's pretty tall, around 6-6, so my guess is he starts out as a backup left tackle to Bahktiari here.
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Kansas City Chiefs: Joshua Ezeudu, LG, North Carolina
- The Kansas City Chiefs got this compensation pick at 259 for losing their linebacker Damien Wilson to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Damien Wilson had a career high 106 total tackles with the Jacksonville Jaguars before signing with the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 NFL Free Agency period afer signing with Jacksonville in 2021, which led to Kansas City getting pick 259 in the 2022 NFL Draft.
- Kansas City gets a backup left guard to Joe Thuney here because they can. This is probably the best pass blocker and run blocker North Carolina's offensive line had. Sam Howell's offensive line struggled and while North Carolina had a couple of offensive linemen at the 2022 NFL Combine, the only one who played well enough to get drafted was Joshua Ezeudu.
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Los Angeles Chargers: Devin Cochran, RT, Georgia Tech
- The Los Angeles Chargers got this compensation pick at 260 after Los Angeles Chargers 2017 sixth round pick Sam Tevi signed a contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Sam Tevi tore his ACL and MCL in August and missed the entire 2021 season. The Los Angeles Chargers go rewarded with this pick for letting a backup Sam Tevi walk.
- The Chargers get a swing tackle to compliment left tackle Rashawn Slater and right tackle Storm Norton here. Devin Cochran redshirted in 2016 when Vandeerbilt had left tackle Will Holden. Devin Cochran took over at right tackle for the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2017 as a freshman redshirt in 2017. After two seasons, he made the move to left tackle playing two years at Vanderbilt before transferring to Georgia Tech as a super senior with his extra year of eligiblity due to Covid-19.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lukas Krull, TE, Pittsburgh
- The ampa Bay Buccaneers got this compensation pick at 261 after backup offensive tackle Joel Haeg signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right now, Haeg is a backup offensive tackle on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Lukas Krull is a good red zone tight end, but he doesn't bring much else to the table. Tampa Bay still hasn't re-signed starting tight end Rob Gronkowski and our third string tight end O.J. Howard, whose always been good enough to start is now a backup tight end to Dawson Knox on the Buffalo Bills. Lukas Krull is a good red zone tight end to add for depth here.
San Francisco 49ers: William Dunkle, RG, San Diego State
- The San Francisco 49ers get this compensation pick at 262 because San Francisco 49ers 2017 third round pick C.J. Beathard signed a contract to be the Jacksonville Jaguars backup quarterback to Trevor Lawrence. This never happens, if the Jaguars kept Gardner Minshew II on as the backup, but I understand why the Jaguars traded Minshew to the Eagles. C.J. Beathard couldn't even keep undrafted free agent Nick Mullins from taking the backup job from him, and somehow C.J. Beathard went from being a wasted third round pick that head coach Kyle Shanahan wanted into Mr. Irrelevant thanks to the Jaguars signing Beathard during the 2021 Free Agency period.
- San Francisco uses the Mr. Irrelevant pick on a right guard for depth. William Dunkle has three years of experience as a right guard for depth.
