Bob Glauber's NFL mock draft 2022
Travon Walker of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with fans after defeating the Florida Gators 34-7 in a game at TIAA Bank Field on Oct. 30, 2021 in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: Getty Images/James Gilbert
1. Jaguars: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
The Jaguars have long been linked to Aidan Hutchinson, but Walker’s versatility may have convinced GM Trent Baalke to go with the Bulldogs’ star defender with his first pick for new coach Doug Pederson.
2. Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
Lions fans are quite familiar with Hutchinson from his time at Michigan, and if Jacksonville opens the door, Detroit won’t take long to anoint Hutchinson as the man around whom the defense will revolve.
3. Texans: Ickey Ekwonu, T, North Carolina State
The Texans have a long way to go in the post-Deshaun Watson era, but Ekwonu’s reliability makes him a logical choice with their top pick. As good a tackle prospect as there has been over the last decade.
4. Jets: Sauce Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Jets need to build back the defense in a big way, and Gardner’s coverage skills are too good to pass up. They like Jermaine Johnson, and Kayvon Thibodeaux has been discussed a lot, but Gardner is a massive upgrade for Robert Saleh’s defense.
5. Giants: Evan Neal, T, Alabama
There are needs everywhere on what might be the worst team in football, but first-year GM Joe Schoen can go a long way toward fixing the offensive line by adding Neal as a bookend tackle for Andrew Thomas. Charles Cross also is a consideration here.
6. Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
It’s awfully high to take a quarterback in this class, but the Panthers need a solution at the position after former Jets first-rounder Sam Darnold flamed out following last year’s 3-0 start.
7. Giants: Jermaine Johnson, Edge, Florida State
Derek Stingley is a possibility here, but if the Giants are sold on Johnson’s reliability as a pass rusher, it’s tough to pass him up. They need someone besides Leonard Williams to get to the quarterback.
8. Falcons: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
It’s rebuild time in Atlanta after the trade of Matt Ryan to the Colts, and in a draft with no surefire franchise quarterback, Thibodeaux’s promise fills a major need.
9. Seahawks: Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
Pete Carroll hasn’t had a cornerback like Stingley since the Legion of Boom years, so if he’s available, the Seahawks’ defense would get a major upgrade with the only other cornerback at Sauce Gardner’s level in this draft.
10. Jets: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
Williams is coming off a torn ACL, but there’s optimism he can be ready for at least the second half of the season. He’s a home-run wide receiver -- just what the Jets could use. And if they do trade with the 49ers for Deebo Samuel, then Williams will be an adequate replacement for the 49ers if they end up picking here.
11. Commanders: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
Wilson is among the fastest receivers in this year’s draft, and Washington can use his outside speed as a complement to Terry McLaurin.
12. Vikings: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
New head coach Kevin O’Connell would love to have some more offensive firepower, but the Vikings need to get younger on defense, and McDuffie, despite being a cut below Gardner and Stingley, is an excellent prospect with strong man-to-man coverage skills.
13. Texans: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
Hamilton was considered a top-10 prospect in the early weeks of draft scrutiny, but he plays a position that is not always coveted at the very top of the draft. That said, he’s a unique player who covers a lot of ground and will make any secondary better.
14. Ravens: Charles Cross, T, Mississippi State
There’s no guarantee Cross falls this far, but the Ravens have a knack for selecting and developing offensive tackles, and finding Cross there would be a huge plus.
15. Eagles: Drake London, WR, USC
The Eagles hit it big last year with Alabama receiver DeVonta Smith, and GM Howie Roseman is not afraid to add to the position. London doesn’t have blazing speed, but he’s a terrific route runner who has a knack for making contested catches.
16. Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Drew Brees and Sean Payton are no longer in New Orleans, but the Saints still covet speed on offense, and Olave has plenty of it. A guy who can take the top off a defense.
17. Chargers: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
There’s talk of the Chargers going after a wide receiver here, but one of the underplayed issues on this team is an inability to stop the run. Davis would be a big help in that area.
18. Eagles: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Micah Parsons has made it fashionable again to draft inside linebackers high. Lloyd is as fine a prospect and as sure a tackler at the position as you’ll find. He’ll make a big difference quickly.
19. Saints: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
The Saints have improved defensive line depth over the years, and now that one-time defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is running the show as head coach, he’s in position to stock the position some more with this promising run-stopper.
20. Steelers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Is Willis a big-time prospect or a developmental quarterback? It’s a huge question, but the Steelers may be willing to invest in him as the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger.
21. Patriots: Andrew Booth, CB, Clemson
Bill Belichick opted not to get into a free agent bidding war for J.C. Jackson, so it makes sense to find a successor to the ball-hawking cornerback.
22. Packers: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Green Bay traded away Aaron Rodgers’ favorite receiver, so replacing Devante Adams is a must. Dotson has great speed and hands, so it’s a reasonable choice here.
23. Cardinals: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Kliff Kingsbury never met a quality receiver he didn’t like, so adding Burks to the lineup can only help Kyler Murray’s offense get to the next level – which is a must if he’s going to be considered for a new contract.
24. Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The Cowboys need to think about retooling the interior of their offensive line, and Linderbaum’s versatility will go a long way toward addressing the issue.
25. Bills: Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
Buffalo is in the enviable position of drafting for depth with a Super Bowl-caliber roster, so adding Johnson as a potential bodyguard for Josh Allen is a smart choice here.
26. Titans: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
Karlaftis has earned his way into the first round with a relentless approach, and he’ll fit in perfectly with Mike Vrabel’s defense, which already has promising pass-rush skills.
27. Buccaneers: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
Tom Brady is back for another year, and the Bucs are automatically Super Bowl contenders as a result. With new coach Todd Bowles now calling the shots, adding defensive depth with Gordon can only help.
28. Packers: Trevor Penning, T, Northern Iowa
There isn’t a pressing need at tackle, although David Bakhtiari is now 30, but the Packers have a great way of finding and developing offensive line talent. Penning can thus be a terrific addition.
29. Kansas City: Boye Mafe, Edge, Minnesota
Don’t worry so much about Kansas City’s offense, because Patrick Mahomes always makes things right. But the defense does need help with the pass rush, and Mafe can help take some of the pressure off Frank Clark and Chris Jones.
30. Kansas City: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
It’s time to get younger at linebacker for the one-time Super Bowl champs, and with the elite receiving talent mostly off the board as a replacement for Tyreek Hill, Dean is a major upgrade for the defense.
31. Bengals: Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
As the Rams showed in Super Bowl LVI, Joe Burrow needs as much help in pass protection as he can possibly get. Signing La’El Collins in free agency was huge; drafting Green will help even more.
32. Lions: Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
Jared Goff was a major disappointment in his first season with the Lions, so it’s time Detroit looks to find a better answer at the position.
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
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