2022 NFL Mock Draft - Chefs Edition
Updated: Apr 28, 2022
Photo Credit: NFL.com
On Thursday, April 28th, the NFL will welcome 32 new players to their league. The 2022 edition of the NFL Draft takes place in Las Vegas, NV and there is as much of a gamble this year as ever. With a deep WR and OT class and no clear #1 QB, the top of this draft is as unpredictable as ever.
This past Tuesday, Aaron Simmons, Barry Jordan and James Greenwood held their first ever mock draft on the season finale of the NFL Front Office Show. The Chefs came prepared to analyze this year's draft class and put their GM hats on. The results are below!
Serious' Mock Draft - 1st Round
Overview: Overall, Serious went with biggest need over best available. He went with his heart for his Steelers picks, but had most teams going for the best player at their biggest need.
No Brainer: #5 (Giants) Evan Neal / T/ Alabama. The Giants have 2 picks in the top 10 and honestly as long as they walk away from their final pick in the 1st round (pick #7) with one of these offensive line prospects I’d consider this a solid draft.
Best Value: #16 (Saints) Malik Willis / QB / Liberty. There needs to be a guy at the QB position that can come in and take some of the pressure off Kamara. Granted he's a work in progress but the juice is defiantly worth the squeeze here at 16.
Biggest Reach: Pick #32 (Lions) Desmond Ridder / QB / Cincinatti. Ridder is a day 2 guy. The Lions picking a QB here (when they have a signifigant need for OL / DL help) is a huge reach. I'm also not huge fan of Ahmad Gardner coming off the board at #2 to the Lions earlier in the draft. I expect the Lions to do "Lions" things and mess this up
Mr. Controversy's Mock Draft - 1st Round
Overview: Overall, Controversy avoided the controversy and had a solid draft. He was not sold on the QB talent but had 2 going in the top 8. He had OL and WR coming off the board in Day One.
No Brainer: The two elite tackles are off Controversy's board in the top 5. This is one of the deeper offensive linemen drafts in recent years. Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu are the best in the draft. Both New York teams will reap the rewards of these picks.
Best Value: Controversy had WR Garrett Wilson falling into the Green Bay Packers lap at #22. If Wilson lasts this long, picking him up is the best value by far. Rodgers lost his #1 WR in Davante Addams and Wilson will come right in to fill the void.
Biggest Reach: Florida CB Kaiir Elam's name has been popping up in the first round the last few weeks. Controversy felt he would sneaking into the first day as the Kansas City Chiefs using 1 of their 2 first round picks on him. Elam needs to do a better job getting off wide receiver blocks vs. the run and being physical in the run game. His second day value is higher than Day 1.
The Villain's Mock Draft - 1st Round
Overview: Overall, the Villain's draft went mostly chalk with a few reaches and a few picks sliding. He had 6 WRs, 5 EDGE and 8 OLs off the board in the first round. After the two big Tackles coming off the board, he had a run of lineman off the board late in the 1st.
No Brainer: While the top picks are a little iffy, the Villain felt the best fit was Zion Johnson at #24 to the Dallas Cowboys. He's a need for the Cowboys as the right side of the line was a revolving door and they need to keep Dak Prescott healthy.
Best Value: The Villain has the New York Jets grabbing WR Jameson Williams at #10. If not for a torn ACL suffered in the National Championship game, Williams is easily a top 5 pick. Williams rehab is ahead of schedule and the Jets could have a dynamic weapon for QB Zack Wilson fall in their lap.
Biggest Reach: The Villain had the Arizona Cardinals drafting EDGE David Ojabo from Michigan at pick 23. This is a reach as Ojabo suffered torn Achilles at pro day in March. Ojabo is graded lower than George Karlaftis in most mocks. He's a liability in run defense and needs to develop more counter moves.
