2022 NFL Mock Draft: Texans, Steelers target quarterbacks; Michigan’s defense yields three first-rounders

The Lions would probably love to trade out of this pick because for as good as Thibodeaux has been, he won’t be the final piece to turning things around in Detroit. But since there are no trades in this mock draft, the Oregon pass-rusher remains the choice here.

Neal isn’t our No. 2 prospect but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fill a huge need in New York. The Jets have to protect Zach Wilson (once he gets healthy) — this should be the mantra to begin every draft meeting the team has. Neal is an athletic marvel who has excelled at several O-line positions for the Crimson Tide.

Ekwonu is one of our favorite players in this draft class. There’s talk that he may have to move inside to guard but when you watch him play, he’s perfectly suited to be a dominant tackle, which is exactly what the Jags need.

We haven’t had a QB go this high since our Sept. 13 mock draft, and we understand that the Texans and Tyrod Taylor are coming off a huge win over the Titans, but for as good as Taylor has been when he’s healthy, he’s not Houston’s franchise QB going forward. And if the Texans are convinced that one of the quarterbacks in this class can serve as a big red reset button, then it’s probably worth rolling the dice. Corral is the best QB in this class and he was much-improved in ’21 after a solid ’20 campaign.

The Jets already addressed the offensive line so here they take the best CB in this class, and perhaps in any of the recent draft classes. Stingley hasn’t played since suffering an injury last month but that will have zero impact on his draft stock.

Hutchinson is a great example of a player who got better each and every season, and instead of coming out early he stayed in school, balled out as a senior, and made himself into one of the best players — on either side of the ball — in the country during the ’21 college football season.

The Giants have young safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room in the secondary for Hamilton, too. He’s a 6-4, 220-pound version of Ed Reed — a sideline-to-sideline ball hawk — and that makes him a Day 1 impact player.

The Eagles are on track for three first-round picks, which means there’s a great opportunity to address their defense. First up: cornerback. Booth has all the athleticism and tools to be special, and he has balled out for Clemson this season.

The Falcons have needs on both sides of the ball, starting with what Matt Ryan’s future is with the team. Whoever ends up under center, the offensive line has to play with more consistency. Green can play either tackle or guard and he has the ability to be a Day 1 starter.

WFT needs a long-term answer at QB, which is why we’ve typically had them targeting Matt Corral here. But he’s off the board and, to his credit, Taylor Heinicke has played well in recent weeks. Instead Washington decides to bolster the wide receiver corps, where Terry McLaurin remains WR1. Of course, the hope is that Curtis Samuel will indeed be an impact player, but even if that happens, there’s still plenty of room for Wilson in the offense.

Dean plays with the type of urgency and physicality that has been lacking at times in the middle of this Eagles defense. And while Dean’s playing on the best defense in the country, don’t be fooled — he’s not riding on the coattails of a dominant defensive line — he’s been a huge reason for its success.

Quarterback makes all the sense in the world here, especially since the Panthers appear to be out of the running for Deshaun Watson. But again, if Corral is already off the board, Carolina will have to reach for a passer here. Instead, the Panthers bolster the offensive line. Cross is a high-upside athletic offensive tackle who is having a strong season for Mississippi State.

Davis has consistently been a one-man wrecking crew for Georgia this season and he’ll likely go much higher than this even if he doesn’t offer much as a pass-rusher. He’s a pocket collapser, which, on some level, transcends the play call.

The Dolphins’ offensive line woes aren’t from constantly trying to upgrade the position the last few years. It just hasn’t happened yet, and until it does, the team will continue to make upgrades. Linderbaum is one of the best offensive linemen in the country, and he’s ever bit the top 10 pick, so landing him at No. 14 should be considered a steal.

Leal hasn’t been as dominant in ’21 as he was in ’20 but not only does he easily pass the eye test, he’s proven he can take over games against some of the best players in the country. Originally a defensive end, Leal, at 6-foot-4, 290, has the versatility and athleticism to play up and down the line, he just needs to play with more consistency from one play to the next.

Karlaftis adds another dimension to the defensive line. Injuries and the pandemic saw him play limited snaps in ’20 but Karlaftis was nearly impossible to stop in ’19 when he recorded 17 TFLs and had 7.5 sacks.

Williams had to transfer from Ohio State to Alabama to get playing time (think about that) and he’s taken full advantage of his opportunities. In Cleveland, the Browns don’t have much depth at wide receiver and Williams, who has been unstoppable against SEC defenders, has put his name into the first-round conversation.

We love what Pickett’s accomplished this season but we also didn’t give him a first-round grade. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had a fantastic season, or that he’ll end up being among the first 32 selections. It’s hard to imagine 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger returns for another season and if he doesn’t, Mason Rudolph has yet to prove he’s earned the starting gig behind him. Pickett, meanwhile, will continue to make his case over the final few games of the season and then, of course, the pre-draft process that will likely include a Senior Bowl appearance.

London, was one of the few bright spots in a disappointing USC season, is sidelined with a fractured ankle. And while he won’t run a 4.3 when healthy, London is a high-point-catch machine who can take over games; he’d be a welcome addition in New Orleans, even though the quarterback situation remains unsettled.

The team has already parted ways with 2020 first-rounder Jeff Gladney, and Patrick Peterson is on a one-year deal. Wide receiver could also be an option here but stockpiling defensive backs is never a bad strategy, and McCreary, who has gotten better each year against some of the best WRs in the country, is having a great season for the Tigers.

Josh Allen and the offense hasn’t been nearly as consistent as it was a season ago and part of that is due to issues with the O-line. Kirkland has been the cornerstone of the Huskies’ offensive line and has a chance to be a first-round talent.

At 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Burks is a Grown Man. He has all the tools to eventually be WR1, as was evidenced Saturday afternoon when Alabama had no answers for him. In L.A., only receivers Keenan Allen and rookie Josh Palmer are under contract after the season, and if Mike Williams isn’t in the Chargers’ long-term plans, Burks wouldn’t be a bad consolation prize.

Kinnard is a mauler who plays with an edge and he can wreak havoc as both a run and pass-blocker. He may have to kick inside at the next level but his ability to open holes in the running game makes him an immediate asset for the Bengals’ offense.

Carlton Davis and Richard Sherman will be free agents after the season and no CB currently on the roster is signed beyond the ’22 season. Gardner, meanwhile, is a long, press corner who fits Todd Bowles’ system.

The Chiefs’ offense certainly appears to much closer to the group we’re used to seeing, and with only Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman under contract after the season, why not give them another athletic marvel. Dotson has been electric this season for the Nittany Lions, and he threatens the defense at all three levels. He’s not going to break a lot of tackles but that assumes defenders are able to get their hands on him; he’s as fast as he is elusive, and a legit home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Olave is a polished route runner who would give Mac Jones some much-needed options beyond free agent acquisitions, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne, especially with Jakobi Meyers in the final year of his rookie deal.

How healthy is Strong’s knee? With a clean bill of health he’d be in the running for our QB1, but if NFL teams feel differently — and some have legit concerns — he could fall out of the first round altogether. Assuming Strong is healthy, the Lions would have to consider him here.

Hill is part of a Wolverines defense that could end up seeing three players go in Round 1 next spring. He’s underrated nationally but watch him play and it becomes clear pretty quickly that he’s in the running for the best safety in the class after Hamilton.

Even though McDuffie plays cornerback, we get Tyrann Mathieu vibes when we watch him. We love him as a slot corner who serves as an enforcer in run support and locks down short and intermediate routes, something he does regularly for the Huskies.

Lloyd is a twitchy, sideline-to-sideline player who fits the mold of off-ball linebackers we’ve seen coming into the league the last 7-8 years, and while De’Vondre Campbell has been effective for the Packers this season, there’s not much depth behind him.

The Titans’ defense has been much-improved this season but the entire unit was invisible against the Texans on Sunday. It didn’t help that Bud Dupree found his way to IR. Ojabo has been a lot of fun to watch this season where he’s taken advantage of every opportunity playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson. But don’t get it twisted — he’s a twitchy edge rusher who will only get better.

It’s been a forgettable season for the Gators but it will be hard to pass on a cornerback of Elam’s talents here. He has the size (6-foot-2, 190) and athleticism to be one of the best draft-eligible corners in ’21.