Malek’s 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Let me start this off by saying what you probably all are thinking: Malek wrote a blog? You’re absolutely correct I did! Why you may ask? Because it’s officially NFL Draft season and I have an unhealthy addiction to this time of year. Ever since the year 2001 when I saw Michael Vick become a Falcon, I have become a draft nerd. This year my draft nerdom turns 21 and just like my actual 21st, I will be drunk on information to say the least. Having said that, here is my first attempt at mocking the 2022 NFL Draft (full disclaimer I’m doing this on my phone because WordPress and Google Chromebooks don’t interact well for some reason):

Jacksonville Jaguars – Evan Neal OT Alabama: Three things every franchise needs: franchise QB, someone to protect the franchise QB, some to attack the opposing team’s franchise QB. Honestly I THINK Icky is better, but as of now Neal is the favorite to go 1.
Detroit Lions – Aiden Hutchinson EDGE Michigan: Because the Lions are my #2 team I am honestly thrilled. KT is more talented but Hutch truly is the more sure thing and is exactly what Campbell wants for his team.
Houston Texans – Kayvon Thibodeaux EDGE Oregon: KT is the most talented player in this class but there is concerns about his motor. Is it a little unfair? Perhaps but he still deserves a top 5 selection.
New York Jets – Kyle Hamilton S Notre Dame: Hamilton is clearly the best player in this class. Safeties don’t always get the billing they deserve but if you put him in any secondary, you immediately get better.
New York Giants – Ikem Ekwonu OT NC State: My absolute favorite player in this class. Put him at Tackle or Guard and he will be amazing. Put him on the Giants? Danny Dimes might have a chance.
Carolina Panthers – Kenny Pickett QB Pitt: This hurts a little but you can’t deny the love fest that came out of the Senior Bowl. Its a weak QB year but Pickett is clearly the best of the group right now.
New York Giants – Tyler Linderbaum IOL Iowa: The Giants flat out need to invest in the o-line to give Daniel Jones the chance he never had. Centers are a much bigger role than the average fan thinks and Linderbaum would’ve been the first center taken last year if he decided to come out.
Atlanta Falcons – Malik Willis QB Liberty: If there was ever a year for the Falcons to grab the heir apparent to Matt Ryan, this is the year. Willis is easily the most athletic QB in this class and would be in a perfect spot to sit behind a former MVP.
Denver Broncos – Charles Cross OT Mississippi State: I am not sold on Garret Boles as a long term tackle option. Cross is easily the most athletic of tackles and could be the first one taken after the combine for all we know.
New York Jets – David Ojabo EDGE Michigan: The biggest riser of this year’s class, I am expecting Ojabo to have a great combine. This Jets defense has some interesting pieces but needs more pass rush help aside from Quinnen Williams.
Washington Commanders – Kenyon Green IOL Texas A&M: Green is a player that I feel like we’ve all forgotten how good he truly is. Guards aren’t sexy picks but this dude is a straight up mauler.
Minnesota Vikings – Derek Stingley Jr. CB LSU: Quite possibly one of the greatest freshman seasons we’ve ever seen, the last 2 years haven’t been kind to Stingley. Make no mistake, he is a top 5 talent in this class but corners aren’t necessarily highly sought after commodities. This honestly could end up being the steal of the draft.
Cleveland Browns – Devin Lloyd LB Utah: I cannot tell you how much this hurts. The browns run a 4-3 defense and Lloyd would be an excellent compliment in the middle of the field. Not alot of people saw how good he was at Utah but this dude is elite.
Baltimore Ravens – Jordan Davis IDL Georgia: The Dancing Bear!!! I really don’t want this to happen but this is essentially a more athletic Haloti Nagta. The Ravens had issues with their line play last year and Davis would solve alot of that.
Philadelphia Eagles – Ahmad Gardner CB Cincinnati: Quite possibly the consensus favorite player of everyone at TFTB, Sauce has never given up a TD in his entire collegiate career. That statement is absurd regardless of being at a Group of Five school.
Philadelphia Eagles – Zion Johnson IOL Boston College: Regardless of whether you keep him at Guard or try to make him the heir to Jason Kelce, Johnson is a mountain and straight up bullies dudes. The eagles showed massive improvement when they ran the ball more and this will keep it consistent.
Los Angeles Chargers – Trevor Penning OT Northern Iowa: The Chargers already got their franchise tackle last year in Slater so why not add someone at RT who watches horror movies to get himself hyped up? You’re welcome Justin Herbert.
New Orleans Saints – Matt Corral QB Ole Miss: The Saints are a team in transition with question marks everywhere on offense. I don’t think Corral starts right away, but they can begin the process of building their offense for the future.
Philadelphia Eagles – George Karlaftis EDGE Purdue: The Eagles won a super bowl because of their depth at defensive line which is something they’ve struggled with the last few years. Karlaftis has slipped a little but I still think he’s talented enough to contribute right away.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Nakobe Dean LB Georgia: The way this mock has worked out so far is not what the Steelers want to see. However this would be the insurance policy in a make or break year for Devin Bush and best case scenario you have 2 burners at ILB for years to come.
New England Patriots – Drake London WR USC: This is a very strong WR class but I wouldn’t say it’s too heavy. Having said that, there was an argument to be made that London was playing like a top 10 pick before he hurt his ankle.
Las Vegas Raiders – Andrew Booth Jr CB Clemson: I’ve started to come around on Booth alot lately. He’s not going to wow you in anyway, but he doesn’t make mistakes which is what I think is the number 1 trait needed in a corner.
Arizona Cardinals – Jermaine Johnson EDGE Florida State: I’m not a 100% sold on Johnson but part of it can be because he was part of a god awful situation at Florida State. Hes looked great during Senior Bowl practices and if he tests well, he could shoot up boards.
Dallas Cowboys – Travon Walker EDGE Georgia: It’s crazy to consider anyone from the elite UGA defense as underrated but honestly, Walker is somewhat of a forgotten player in this extremely deep line class.
Buffalo Bills – DeMarvin Leal IDL Texas A&M: Leal is a guy that coming into this year was a top 5 player. He didn’t necessarily lose his stock, but there were so many great performances this year that he was somewhat overshadowed. He falls into a great situation where he can impact a title contender.
Tennessee Titans – Trent McDuffie CB Washington: As my co-host Deke correctly says, there’s something about Washington DBs. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, but I KNOW at least one will get high marks during draft season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Treylon Burks WR Arkansas: I’m going to repeatedly say this until I’m blue in the face, the only reason Arkansas was good last year was because of Burks. There were games against SEC competition he singlehandedly took over.
Green Bay Packers – Jahan Dotson WR Penn State: I can’t believe I’m about to be complimentary towards a PSU player but Dotson is my favorite receiver in this class. There’s something about the way he plays where you have a feeling that at any point he will make a break for the end zone and that’s not something you can say for alot of receivers.
Miami Dolphins – Jameson Williams WR Alabama: I know it seems like I’m going on a WR run but that truly speaks to how much depth there is in this class. Williams to me would be the perfect compliment to Jaylen Waddle and yes while the knee needs to test well, this is a great risk to take.
Kansas City Chiefs – Jaquan Brisker S Penn State: The Chiefs desperately need playmakers on their defense in order to compliment the elite offense they have. Tyranny Mathieu isn’t getting younger and it would be smart for them to invest in a secondary that wasn’t much of a strong suit this year.
Cincinnati Bengals – Daniel Faalele OT Minnesota: Everyone and their mother can tell you the number one thing the Bengals need to do this off-season: protect Joe Burrow. How do you do that? Maybe draft a 6’8 380 pound offensive lineman?
Detroit Lions – Sam Howell QB North Carolina: There’s just something about this combo that feels so good to me. Howell to me is a gamer that will do everything he can to try to win. In other words he is the exact opposite of Jared Goff which is exactly what the Lions need.