2022 NFL Mock Draft: Lewis Cine powers Georgia defenders who headline the first round

2022 NFL Mock Draft | 17-32

Which players fill out the rest of the first round? Please note that the draft order is set based on the completion of Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season. Be sure to check back on Tuesday morning (November 2) for our next mock draft, which will have the updated order following all of the action in Week 8.

17) Atlanta Falcons: Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State

Atlanta’s offensive line will need an injection of youth at left tackle in the very near future. Kaleb McGary largely hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft selection and could be off the team after next season’s end. Nicholas Petit-Frere has been dominant this year for Ohio State and would give Atlanta the option to move on from McGary.

It’s not often that the best player available in the first round is a future move, but NPF gives Atlanta freedom to explore with McGary and Jake Matthews reaching 30 next season.

18) Pittsburgh Steelers: Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota

A monster of a man, the Steelers are one of two teams in the state of Pennsylvania that have had success with 6’9″ offensive tackles. Okay, fine, they’re seemingly the only two teams in the league that have had success with massive tackles that reach nearly 7’0″ tall. Daniel Faalele is rising up draft boards, piggybacking on great success since returning in 2021.

He is 6’9″, 380 pounds, a former rugby player, and Australian — exactly like current star Philadelphia Eagles LT Jordan Mailata. He’s honed his craft and is an immovable object. Pittsburgh needs more than just Faalele to rebuild their offensive line, but he presents a massive — literally — head start in doing so.

19) Minnesota Vikings: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

The Vikings should be at every Michigan game at this point due to their influx of talent on the defensive side of the ball this season and their geographic proximity. A mere 1.5-hour plane ride, they can be in Ann Arbor and watching the likes of Daxton Hill, who demands an even further flight path to watch him play.

Hill closes space with the blink of an eye and plays downhill like a bigger safety. He’s the third safety drafted in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft, but by no means is that a sign of ability. Hill can fit into any defense and has terrific versatility to cover receivers in the slot or play a free-roaming free safety position opposite Harrison Smith.

20) Cleveland Browns: Drake London, WR, USC

No matter the play call, USC QB Kedon Slovis looks Drake London‘s way. London has become an escape artist for Slovis to be bailed out of his errant throws. It doesn’t matter that London has been the lone focal point for USC’s offense this season — he still hasn’t been stopped.

A dual-sport athlete, London’s basketball ability is on prime display when he high-points footballs over defensive backs. He also bulls them over when he runs after the catch. He’s not the fastest guy in the class, but you don’t want to be standing in front of him with a full head of steam.

21) Buffalo Bills: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

A knock on Ahmad Gardner is that he doesn’t make enough plays. He’s kicked that away from his evaluation with several marquee moments this season alone. Gardner has been in great position more than a handful of times and has even seen quarterbacks completely ignore his side of the field. Gardner sticks with receivers of all sizes and abilities and is perfect for the Bills’ aggressive defense.

22) Los Angeles Chargers: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

This almost feels unfair at times, but then again, any team that drafts Treylon Burks feels unfair. The biggest concern with Burks is that he doesn’t have a complete route tree. But in this offense, with Keenan Allen routinely demanding the opposing top corner and his ability to find mismatches in the open field, Burks won’t have to run a full tree. He can also learn from the best route runner in the league in Allen.

A WR trio of Allen, Mike Williams, and Burks give Justin Herbert more than enough options to throw to. This trio also becomes the league’s best by year’s end if this pick happens.

23) New Orleans Saints: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Success with Ohio State receivers seems almost too glaring to look over. As Michael Thomas still returns from injury, it’s clear that New Orleans has to pick up more options for Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, or whoever their quarterback is in 2022. Garrett Wilson has excellent ball skills and some terrific, slick routes from any alignment. He wins from all over the field and is a terrific WR2 in this Saints offense.

24) Dallas Cowboys: Adam Anderson, EDGE, Georgia

Another Georgia first-round defensive prospect, Adam Anderson is dominant off the edge. He may not have the impact of a first-rounder that “box score scouts” want to see, but that’s because of the plethora of riches on that Georgia defensive line. Anderson has amazing size and can play from either alignment, a three-down lineman, or as a stand-up pass rusher. Micah Parsons and Anderson would be a fearsome duo in their ability to rush the passer and cover the flats and underneath area of the field.

25) Tennessee Titans: DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M

The first true interior defensive lineman taken, DeMarvin Leal is the top defensive tackle by a long shot. He’s a fabulous pass rusher but perhaps even a better run stuffer. Remarkably consistent over his career with the Aggies, he doesn’t lack any trait the Titans would need in a man of his size and position.

26) Cincinnati Bengals: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

The top of the class at center, Tyler Linderbaum is the best center prospect in some time. Cincinnati has their terrific skill players outside set up, but they still need help on the offensive line. Trey Hopkins has been an upgrade over the years past at center, but Linderbaum gives them a potential Pro Bowler on the interior.

27) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

The Buccaneers are going to have to revamp their defensive line soon enough. Their secondary is youthful, and their linebacking corps is as strong as it has been in decades. With Ndamukong Suh’s days numbered in the NFL, Jordan Davis presents a future stud in the same mold. Big No. 99 wins with speed despite his 6’6″, 340-pound frame. He clogs up gaps and gives the Bucs the biggest two-DT lineup in history with him and Vita Vea.

28) Detroit Lions: Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama

The Lions are on the hook for one more season with Jared Goff, as his potential out is in 2023. With that in mind, they take their quarterback of the future with the first pick of the second round here while grabbing a dynamic, underrated receiver in Jalen Tolbert. He can win from any alignment but dominates outside.

Tolbert is a terrific route runner with an even better first step. Routinely flying by his defender, Tolbert is on his way to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, showing off incredible ball skills in the process. He has the best ball tracking of anyone in the class and will be a terrific pro.

29) Las Vegas Raiders: Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA

The Raiders need to continue to revamp an offensive line that trots out Brandon Parker and Kolton Miller as their tackles. Sean Rhyan shut down Kayvon Thibodeaux when matched up against him in Week 8, and that’s what he’s shown over the past two seasons in LA. Rhyan is a big man with a great first step. He’s ready right away.

30) Green Bay Packers: David Bell, WR, Purdue

An explosive playmaker, David Bell is even better than his former teammate and current Arizona Cardinals WR Rondale Moore. He has some of the best yards-after-the-catch ability in the class and even better body control. Bell should be yet another tool for Aaron Rodgers (or Jordan Love) to use in the Green Bay offense.

31) Baltimore Ravens: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

He may not even make it this far, but expect teams to come a calling for Trevor Penning if he does. The Northern Iowa left tackle is rocketing up draft boards and should continue to do so if he gets some postseason invitations. Expect the big man to carry much more of a household name come next April. Until then, take solace, Ravens fans. He is everything you’d want in a left tackle that can supplant Ronnie Stanley, fill in if he’s injured again, or even kick to right tackle to bolster Baltimore’s line.

32) Atlanta Falcons: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati

Dynamic off the edge, the Bearcats have utilized Myjai Sanders as both a down lineman and a stand-up pass rusher over the years. He makes a great cornerstone to a Falcons defensive line that needs pass rushers. Sanders has it all, including size at 6’5″, 255 pounds, though he plays much faster.

2022 NFL Mock Draft | Round 2

The first round gets all of the love, but don’t sleep on these Round 2 prospects. Please remember that the draft order is set based on the completion of Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season. Be sure to check back on Tuesday morning (November 2) for our next mock draft, which will have the updated order following all of the action in Week 8.

Picks 33-48

33) Detroit Lions
Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

34) Houston Texans
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

35) Miami Dolphins
Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

36) Jacksonville Jaguars
Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia

37) New York Jets
Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

38) New York Giants
Zion Johnson, G, Boston College

39) Seattle Seahawks
Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

40) Washington Football Team
Jalen Catalon, S, Arkansas

41) Philadelphia Eagles
Christian Harris, LB, Alabama

42) San Francisco 49ers
Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

43) Denver Broncos
Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Oklahoma

44) Indianapolis Colts
Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State

45) New York Jets
Justyn Ross, WR, Clemson

46) Chicago Bears
Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky

47) Kansas City Chiefs
Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State

48) New England Patriots
Jordan Battle, S, Alabama

Picks 49-64

49) Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

50) Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

51) Minnesota Vikings
Brandon Joseph, S, Northwestern

52) Cleveland Browns
Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

53) Los Angeles Chargers
Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

54) New Orleans Saints
Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

55) Buffalo Bills
Ed Ingram, G, LSU

56) Dallas Cowboys
Thayer Munford, OL, Ohio State

57) Cincinnati Bengals
Lecitus Smith, G, Virginia Tech

58) Atlanta Falcons
DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

59) Los Angeles Rams
Tykee Smith, DB, Georgia

60) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M

61) Las Vegas Raiders
Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma

62) Green Bay Packers
Zion Tupuola-Fetui, EDGE, Washington

63) Baltimore Ravens
Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon

64) Arizona Cardinals
Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M