The view at the top of the 2022 NFL Draft remains the same. Though Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker has made waves, Michigan breakthrough star Aidan Hutchinson — thanks to a combination of athleticism and production — looks like the Jacksonville Jaguars’ guy with the first overall pick.
And then things get complicated. We know the Lions will probably address their defense with the second overall pick, but a handful of players fit their many needs. The Giants and Jets both have multiple top 10 selections, which gives them a chance to restock bare cupboards or make a trade backward more appealing. The Houston Texans need help everywhere, have one of the league’s least trustable front offices, and are liable to do just about anything.
That makes any mock draft a series of moderately informed guesses. At this point, with years of on-field play and months of testing and interviews, we know who the top prospects of 2022 are. Now we have to figure out who wants them most and who could be willing to trade up in order to get them.
With that in mind, let’s dig into our final mock draft of 2022 before the first round kicks off Thursday night. This one’s another two-round affair.