This article is part of our NFL Draft series.
The 2022 NFL Draft is just hours away, so here's my last crack at predicting how the first round will unfold. For the latest two-round mock draft, check out Mario Puig's article that went up on the site earlier Thursday.
1.) Jacksonville Jaguars 
The Pick: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Right or wrong, it's happening.
2.) Detroit Lions 
The Pick: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Hutchinson won't fall past his home-state Lions
3.) Houston Texans 
The Pick: Derek Stingley Jr., Cornerback, LSU
4.) New York Jets 
The Pick: Ahmad Gardner, Cornerback, Cincinnati
This one is tough because there are so many rumors tying the Jets to different players at this spot. It's believed that head coach Robert Saleh doesn't like to invest major draft capital in cornerback, and the Jets would have all the offensive tackles available to them in this scenario. Is Mekhi Becton on the outs in New York after two seasons? Or could the Jets go with Jermaine Johnson, the edge rusher they are linked to over Kayvon Thibodeaux? I'll say that Saleh has a change of heart when it comes to Gardner and the Jets go with a cornerback at 4.
5.) New York Giants 
The Pick: Evan Neal, Offensive Tackle, Alabama
Sifting through which tackle the Giants would target in this scenario is a challenge because all of Neal, Ikem Ekwonu or Charles Cross all have their cases to be the first tackle off the board. I land on Neal, though, as he's the most physically dominant of the trio who started 40 games for the Tide at an All-American level. He also has experience at both tackle spots.
6.) Carolina Panthers 
The Pick: Malik Willis, Quarterback, Liberty
The Panthers really should trade this pick and get some draft ammo for the middle rounds because, as it stands, they won't have another pick until 137 (late 4th). Unfortunately for them, there aren't many teams with the ammo to move up to the sixth pick, and the ones that do might not be compelled to do so with this class being light on quarterback talent compared to other years. I projected Seattle moving up to this spot in my first mock but the sense is that Seattle is more likely to trade down than up.
TL;DR: Carolina gets stuck at six and takes the best quarterback in the class.
7.) New York Giants
The Pick: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
The Giants would be thrilled to walk out of tonight with their No.1 tackle and one of the best edge prospects in this class. Thibodeaux's stock has been a roller coaster throughout the pre-draft process but the odds of him being a Top 10 pick are now -2500 at DraftKings, so he isn't falling far after all.
8.) Houston Texans via trade
Trade Details: Houston Sends: Nos. 13 and 37 in the 2022 Draft; Atlanta sends Nos.8 and 82 to Houston
The Pick: Ikem Ekwonu, Offensive Tackle, North Carolina State
Like Carolina, Atlanta should be looking to trade back and get more draft capital. Taking a receiver is obviously in play for the Falcons given their depth chart, but Atlanta can still address that position at 13 while picking up some mid-round ammo along the way.
From Houston's perspective, tackle remains a need and could even be in play at 3. If the board shakes out this way with two of the top three tackles still available, Houston would be wise to move up and grab one as neither will be there at 13.
9.) Seattle Seahawks 
The Pick: Charles Cross, Offensive Tackle, Mississippi State
This fits both need and best player available for the Seahawks. Kenny Pickett is not worth starting your rebuild around.
10.) New York Jets
The Pick: Jameson Williams, Wide Receiver, Alabama
No Deebo Samuel trade this time. Jameson Williams would be a nice consolation at 10, though, and would give Zach Wilson a legit receiving corps to develop alongside.
11.) Washington Commanders 
The Pick: Drake London, Wide Receiver, USC
So begins the run on receiver. Washington needs a legit threat opposite Terry McLaurin and London offers that. Plus, there isn't a guard or linebacker worth taking here.
12.) Minnesota Vikings 
The Pick: Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
Vegas' over/under on Hamilton is right in this range (11.5-12.5) and while it's hard to see him going much higher than 12, it's also hard to see him slide into the middle part of the first.
13.) Atlanta Falcons 
The Pick: Garrett Wilson, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Like I said, Atlanta needs a receiver. Well, it needs a lot of things, but receiver is particularly dire. Adding a speedy player with run-after-the-catch ability like Wilson to complement Kyle Pitts would be a start.
14.) Baltimore Ravens 
The Pick: Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia
There seems to be more and more momentum building towards Davis being the pick for Baltimore if he's there at 14. Baltimore is old up front outside of end Justin Madubuike, and Michael Pierce is not a permanent answer at nose. Davis fixes a lot of problems for that defensive line.
15.) Philadelphia Eagles 
The Pick: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State
Philly is a hard team to shop for this year. Finishing second-worst in the league in sacks in 2021 leads me to believe they'll want to add some pass rush help and Johnson shouldn't fall past 15 even if he isn't the cleanest fit in this scheme.
16.) New Orleans Saints 
The Pick: Chris Olave, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
This one feels inevitable.
17.) Los Angeles Chargers 
The Pick: Trevor Penning, Offensive Tackle, Northern Iowa
Getting a read on the second-tier tackles has gotten tricky with Bernhard Raimann seemingly slipping to the second round and Tulsa's Tyler Smith moving up. Penning is still the likeliest to go first of that next tier behind Neal/Ekwonu/Cross and the Chargers still need an upgrade opposite Rashawn Slater. A trade back is definitely in play if a speedy receiver isn't available at 17.
18.) Philadelphia Eagles
The Pick: Quay Walker, Linebacker, Georgia
Walker has gotten some late helium and going inside the Top 20 is now a distinct possibility. He wasn't as productive in college as teammate Nakobe Dean, but Walker has more NFL tools at 6-foot-4 and 242 pounds with 4.52 speed and an elite 3-cone time. Getting a duo of Jermaine Johnson and Quay Walker would give some scary athleticism to Philly's front seven.
19.) New Orleans Saints
The Pick: Tyler Smith, Offensive Tackle, Tulsa
Double-tapping receiver would be a fun turn from New Orleans but I look for the Saints to add to the offensive line if they stick at 19.
20.) Pittsburgh Steelers 
The Pick: Kenny Pickett, Quarterback, Pittsburgh
I'll bite on the narrative hook, line and sinker. Mitchell Trubisky being there on a two-year deal won't stop Pittsburgh from looking to find its future Ben Roethlisberger replacement.
21.) New England Patriots 
The Pick: Nakobe Dean, Linebacker, Georgia
I'm sticking to what I projected in the first mock and linking Dean to the Patriots. He's not the prototypical Pats linebacker (read: he's small) but his football I.Q. is unmatched among his peers at his position.
22.) Green Bay Packers 
The Pick: Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas
Consensus has soured a bit on Burks in recent weeks but I'll still be surprised if he falls out of the first. The Packers need to at least try to restock the receiving corps and adding Burks would be a solid value at 22.
23.) Arizona Cardinals 
The Pick: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue
I don't know what the Cardinals are doing and neither do they. Still, Karlaftis makes too much sense if he's available here. Otherwise, they risk not filling the void left by Chandler Jones.
24.) Dallas Cowboys 
The Pick: George Pickens, Wide Receiver, Georgia
The sense this week has been that Pickens will fall to the second round. We can't apply conventional wisdom to the Cowboys' draft tendencies, though. Amari Cooper is gone and Michael Gallup is coming off a late-season ACL tear. Dallas going receiver in Round 1 would not shock me.
25.) Buffalo Bills 
The Pick: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida
Another late helium guy, Elam probably should have gotten more serious first-round consideration all along. I will not be surprised if he comes off the board tonight and Buffalo is a perfect landing spot.
26.) Tennessee Titans 
The Pick: Zion Johnson, Guard, Boston College
Tennessee's offense is built around Derrick Henry and the offensive line needs help at both guard spots. Johnson is a road grader that can be a plug-and-play option right away.
27.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 
The Pick: Kenyon Green, Guard, Texas A&M
Ali Marpet ain't walking through that door. Tampa Bay needs to make sure Tom Brady stays upright.
28.) Green Bay Packers
The Pick: Tyler Linderbaum, Center, Iowa
Josh Myers was a second-round pick a year ago so this might be dubious, but Linderbaum is the best player available in this scenario.
29.) Kansas City Chiefs 
The Pick: Devonte Wyatt, Defensive Line, Georgia
Devin Lloyd would be tempting here but the Jermaine Carter signing this offseason lessens the need at inside linebacker. Wyatt may be close to his developmental ceiling but that's alright when his tools are as good as they are. He can get on the field right away in this scenario.
30.) Kansas City Chiefs
The Pick: Jahan Dotson, Wide Receiver, Penn State
Kansas City leaving the first round without a receiver seems unlikely. Dotson is the best one left and would make plenty of sense here.
31.) Cincinnati Bengals 
The Pick: Daxton Hill, Defensive Back, Michigan
Cincinnati adds a versatile defensive back who can play multiple spots in the secondary. Guard is also an option, but if that market dries up by 31, a trade back would not be surprising.
32.) Detroit Lions
The Pick: Devin Lloyd, Linebacker, Utah
Lloyd falling this far would be a huge boon for the Lions, who still need some help in the linebacking corps.
