The 2022 NFL Draft is a little over a month away. Before then, we've got big names that still need to confirm their homes for the upcoming season. But make no mistake: April's big event is chock-full of drama, with several quarterback prospects potentially poised to come off the board on the first night and a handful of teams -- including the Eagles and Giants, two NFC East foes -- owning multiple first-round selections.
With that in mind, let's get to projecting the first 32 picks of the 2022 NFL Draft:
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Aidan Hutchinson
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 268 lbs
Protecting Trevor Lawrence is paramount, but the Jaguars have oodles of cap space to invest in a proven tackle. Hutchinson gives them a bona fide star on the other side of the trenches.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 224 lbs
Dan Campbell needs as many playmakers as he can get, and Hamilton gives him a do-it-all future captain for a needy defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
Kayvon Thibodeaux
EDGE
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 258 lbs
A corner would be nice, as would an offensive lineman. But they still need more juice off the edge, and Thibodeaux brings requisite size and skill (and then some).
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Round 1 - Pick 5
Ikem Ekwonu
OL
NC State
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
The new regime needs to shore up the trenches before reevaluating QB, and Ekwonu might be the nastiest OL prospect in the class. He gives the G-Men an instant starter either inside or outside.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Mississippi State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 311 lbs
Surprise! They need a QB in the worst way, but only Malik Willis' upside seems to justify a pick here. Instead, GM Scott Fitterer addresses a porous line, with the hope of pulling off a blockbuster veteran trade or Day Two gamble to help under center.
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Mock Trade from
New York Giants
Round 1 - Pick 7
Malik Willis
QB
Liberty
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
With the Falcons lurking as a potential dark-horse QB contender, the Broncos make up for missing on Aaron Rodgers by moving up to get the most gifted arm in the class.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 190 lbs
Atlanta could go any number of directions here, but it still needs answers at corner, and Gardner offers both lock-down skills and confidence.
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Mock Trade from
Denver Broncos
Round 1 - Pick 9
Devin Lloyd
LB
Utah
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 235 lbs
Collecting extra ammunition on the move down from No. 7, the Giants add a defensive centerpiece with their second pick of the first round, giving new coordinator Wink Martindale a prime candidate to wear the headset.
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From
Seattle Seahawks
Round 1 - Pick 10
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 183 lbs
With pass rusher addressed earlier in the round, GM Joe Douglas gets Zach Wilson much-needed pass-catching help -- a ready-made WR1 who can work opposite Corey Davis.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Pittsburgh
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 220 lbs
Even after dipping into the veteran market in free agency, Ron Rivera stops Pickett's "slide" to secure a long-term prospect under center, with the hope the rookie proves ready enough to start in Week 1.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 195 lbs
A perfect match for Minnesota's mostly barren cornerback room, Stingley Jr. gives new coordinator Ed Donatell a confident No. 1 on the outside.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Arkansas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 225 lbs
A defensive lineman almost makes more sense here, but Burks is such an attractive big-bodied option out wide, and the Browns really need weapons to make a definitive decision on QB Baker Mayfield's future.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 272 lbs
With or without Calais Campbell, they need more help in the front seven, and Walker has the flexibility to move around their defense.
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From
Miami Dolphins
Round 1 - Pick 15
Jermaine Johnson II
EDGE
Florida State
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 254 lbs
GM Howie Roseman loves him some edge rushers, and Johnson is the complete package. He gives the Eagles an immediate Derek Barnett replacement.
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From
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1 - Pick 16
Washington
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 193 lbs
The Eagles have been burned by early-round Washington corners before, but McDuffie's toughness is worth the bet, especially with only Darius Slay proven in their secondary.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Jordan Davis
DL
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 336 lbs
With Mike Williams likely back out wide, the Chargers acknowledge their biggest issue -- run defense -- and insert the massive Davis into the heart of their D-line.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Drake London
WR
USC
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 213 lbs
QB is a huge issue, but they are in dire need of wideouts, too. London should make for an easy target no matter who's under center, offering top-notch jump-ball ability.
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Mock Trade from
Philadelphia Eagles
Round 1 - Pick 19
Matt Corral
QB
Ole Miss
• Soph
• 6'2"
/ 205 lbs
Ryan Tannehill is in Tennessee, but the Titans may very well have hit their ceiling with him under center. They take a page out of the Chiefs' playbook, moving up ahead of the Steelers for a potential long-term starter with a veteran already in place. Corral's mobility adds upside to their run-heavy attack.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 314 lbs
Leap-frogged by the Titans, the Steelers postpone their QB addition until Day Two, instead making a wise investment up front, where Linderbaum can step in and start at multiple spots.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Kyler Gordon
CB
Washington
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 200 lbs
New England bucks against some experts' draft boards to add ball skills and natural physicality to its cornerback room.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Chris Olave
WR
Ohio State
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 187 lbs
The Raiders love speed, and they lacked it after losing Henry Ruggs. Olave brings instant explosiveness to Josh McDaniels' offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
David Ojabo
EDGE
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 252 lbs
Can you really trust J.J. Watt to fill the pass-rushing void with Chandler Jones no sure bet to stick? Ojabo's upside is the real draw here.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Kenyon Green
OL
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 325 lbs
Pass rusher would be a wise investment here, especially considering their tight financial situation, but maintaining a playoff-caliber O-line for Dak Prescott is just as key. Green gives them a short- and long-term option on the interior.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
George Karlaftis
EDGE
Purdue
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 263 lbs
Talk about a dream come true for Buffalo, which could use a well-rounded edge presence for Sean McDermott's title-contending defense.
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Mock Trade from
Tennessee Titans
Round 1 - Pick 26
Three straight defensive picks for the Eagles? Sure, considering WR can also be addressed in free agency. Hill's versatility is key for a secondary that doesn't have any obvious answers on the back end.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Tyler Smith
OL
Tulsa
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 332 lbs
With Ali Marpet retiring and other tough free agency decisions up front, Smith gives Tampa Bay a much-needed big man for the trenches. Guard feels like a natural starting point for his massive size.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Alabama
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 180 lbs
With Aaron Rodgers likely back, the Packers go all in on supporting No. 12, betting that Williams will get healthy enough to suit up early in 2022, giving the offense another big-play threat on the outside.
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From
San Francisco 49ers
Round 1 - Pick 29
Zion Johnson
OL
Boston College
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 316 lbs
Miami needs O-line help more than anything, especially with new coach Mike McDaniel all about the run game. Johnson is a plug-and-play guard.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 304 lbs
The secondary needs work, and Patrick Mahomes could use another weapon (why not?), but Wyatt is exactly the kind of pass-rushing interior man they're looking to add alongside Chris Jones.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Northern Iowa
• Jr
• 6'7"
/ 325 lbs
Guard is a more pressing need than tackle, but that's beside the point: the trenches are the top priority, for Joe Burrow's sake. Penning has adequate size and strength to work his way into the lineup.
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From
Los Angeles Rams
Round 1 - Pick 32
Cincinnati
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 207 lbs
The Lions could address plenty of other spots, but getting a fifth-year option for a QB is important. Ridder may not be an eye-popping prospect, but he has a nice total package of athleticism, leadership and improving passing vision. Detroit gives Jared Goff some real competition.
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