2022 NFL Projections

The NFL draft is just about four weeks away, and you can tell the excitement and hype are starting to build up. As of now, 24 teams have the opportunity to either make or break their franchise by drafting a couple of these potential NFL superstars. A total of eight NFL teams have traded away their first-round pick during this past free agency, with several more sets to follow. This year's NFL draft is different from most: typically in the draft, the top prospects are quarterbacks, but this year the top quarterback we are projecting to go 6th pick earliest. Regardless of the lack of depth at the quarterback position in the 2022 class, these prospects still have so much talent just waiting to be unleashed. Without further ado, here are our 2022 NFL Draft projections.

Starting off in the most flamboyant roles on the field, at quarterback there are five big players teams have been eyeing up in the lead up to the draft. Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, Malik Willis out of Liberty, Matt Corral from Ole Miss, Desmond Ridder coming from Cincinnati, and Sam Howell of North Carolina. Starting with the young phenom Pickett, and a destination we both agree on. We think he will end up in Carolina with the Panthers. We believe the Panthers are the most likely landing spot for Pickett because the Panthers just came off of a 5-12 season and are lacking in the quarterback position. Pickett has all of the attributes that the Panthers are looking for in their next quarterback. Pickett has a strong off-script profile, which makes him one of the most appealing prospects in the draft. Pickett is one of the most polished players out of this 2022 class and that is something very enticing for the Panthers. The Panthers haven't had a polished or confident QB at the helm since Cam Newton, and Pickett’s potential makes him an appealing heir. Pickett has showcased his natural ability to stay calm inside the pocket, but while he’s amazing at that he has shown the ability to flash his speed and can move the chains one foot when you need him to. Kenny Pickett will be a Panther by the end of this 2022 NFL draft.

Moving on, Malik Willis of Liberty has already met with several head coaches as they look to add his bazooka of an arm to their roster. Willis has been compared with everyone from Mahomes to Brees, however, he does need to work on things such as accuracy and decision making if he wants to become a truly great quarterback. In terms of his destination, we both have gone different routes on this subject. The Seahawks have needed a new quarterback ever since Russell Wilson’s shock blockbuster trade to the Denver Broncos, and with head coach Pete Carroll already meeting with Willis several times, many believe  Willis is their primary quarterback target. As we’ve already discussed, Willis has the outline of a great player but needs to hone his skills to truly excel, which is something Carroll did expertly with Russell Wilson. We think this would be a good move for all those involved, as the Seahawks will get a new quarterback, and Willis will get to work under a coach who knows how to get the best out of young talent. However, the destination of the Pittsburgh Steelers is also a possibility with Mike Tomlin also meeting with Willis, and as they are without a quarterback for the first time since the mid-2000s, the Steelers are also in need of a fresh injection of life in that role. 

The other three quarterbacks that are worth mentioning are Matt Corrall, Desmond Ridder, and Sam Howell. Matt Corral has been tearing it up in the SEC. He finished his senior season with 3,349 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He is definitely a more overlooked quarterback in this draft, due to his team's lack of success, but he will succeed in the NFL. If Matt Coral is developed properly he will be a great NFL quarterback. In my eyes, Matt Coral will be an Atlanta Falcon next season. though I could see him possibly ending up at the New Orleans Saints, who need depth in that area with their current quarterback, Jameis Winston, an injury-prone mess after missing almost the entire 2021 season with an ACL injury. Desmond Ridder, meanwhile, could be the best quarterback in the draft, despite being quite under the radar. Coming from Cincinnati, Ridder has already publicly stated how he is ready to turn around a franchise, something he could do in Pittsburgh. Ridder is already the complete package, and with Mike Tomlin having lost his main quarterback for almost two decades, he is probably looking for someone with more of an instant impact, rather than honing someone’s skills, such as the case with Willis at Liberty. Another option is the New York Giants, where he could give Daniel Jones some much-needed competition in an effort to improve both their games. Sam Howell of North Carolina is also an option possibly later in the draft, as a potential diamond in the rough, with good speed when scrambling, along with a decent arm and accuracy. Howell is also another player who could potentially go elsewhere to provide competition, whether it be up north against Jared Goff with the Detroit Lions, or down south with the Atlanta Falcons, and Marcus Mariota. 

This wide receiver class will join the 2020 NFL draft as one of the best draft classes in NFL history. We have players setting NFL combine records for the 40-yard-dash, and there is nothing but potential hidden in these soon-to-be NFL players. The three wide receivers that have the most promise in this NFL draft are Garrett Wilson from Ohio State, Drake London of USC, and finally Chris Olave from Ohio State. 

Garrett Wilson is the most exciting wide receiver prospect we've ever seen. He finished out his last season with Ohio State having 1,058 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. One of Wilson’s signature traits and the primary thing that makes him so appealing to NFL teams is his run-after-catch ability. That is what is making him a better NFL prospect in my eyes than his teammate Chris Olave. Another thing that makes young Wilson unguardable is his speed. His long speed is a 7/10, but his acceleration burst into space is what makes him almost unguardable. He may not always be the smoothest player out on the field, but his breathtaking ball skills will get any team that drafts him that big play when they need him the most. Wilson needs to improve on certain areas of the game, but if he is developed properly he will be a phenomenal WR1. Garrett Wilson will be the fourth pick in this year's draft and will become a New York Jet. He will be a great addition to the Jets because they have the talented Zach Wilson, whose issue last year was that he had almost nobody to throw the ball to. Adding Garrett Wilson will give the young Quarterback some confidence that might even snowball into a playoff run if they play their cards right. Now, moving into Garrett Wilson’s beloved teammate and near counterpart Chris Olave. Chris Olave has been cast as Garrett Wilson’s Robin in a sense and has been caught in his shadow for quite a while. We assure you that Chris Olave is nothing to sleep on. To put it lightly, Chris Olave is smooth, steady, and the type of player that makes things happen on the field. His route running has caught the eye of multiple NFL coaches and has been a real selling point for young Olave. Chris Olave possesses the natural well-rounded ball skills, physical strength, and route running ability that every NFL player needs and that every coach dreams to have on their roster. This past season he had his best season yet with Ohio State. He finished off his senior season with 936 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns. Olave has many potential landing spots, but we believe he’ll either land with the Texans or Ravens.

Moving out of Ohio, and down to the University of South Carolina, Drake London is yet another strong receiver who will come out of this draft. London also played basketball at South Carolina, giving him the attributes to be a truly top-class wide receiver, as his jumping ability, agility, and body control are almost mastered before even entering the NFL. His catching and route-running abilities have also caught the eye of many coaches looking for a receiver, with two, in particular, seeing him as their number one target. The first of these possibilities is the Houston Texans, who are looking for the best young talent in the 2022 draft as they look to rebuild their roster from the ground up. Head coach Lovie Smith will be looking to give their quarterback, whether it be Davis Mills or a quarterback they bring in with their first pick, no excuses in the wide receiver area as they look to add to the already dangerous Brandin Cooks in the wideout position. Another possibility is the Minnesota Vikings, who are looking to add a third top receiver to their roster after the additions of Justin Jefferson and Adam Theilen in recent years. However, they may look to go in a different direction, with Jefferson and Theilen both excelling when route-running deep, a major part of London’s play. 

Our final major position in the draft we are going to touch on is the defensive ends. Touching on three excellent talents, one of which we believe will be the number one pick of the entire draft. Aidan Hutchinson out of Michigan is that number one. With fourteen sacks in the 2021 season, Hutchinson put himself on the map after having less than five sacks in the past three seasons up north. Hutchinson’s constant attack of the pocket is what has gotten him his fourteen sacks, but has also left some things to be desired in other areas of his game. His strength and flexion allow him to drop as a deep anchor, however, at times his movement is too mechanical, going for the man instead of the ball. He is a skilled catcher so he must use that to his advantage especially as he may not immediately be able to make the same plays as he did in college against NFL-level tackles. The first pick falls to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who coincidentally have been in desperate need of a top-level DE for years now, a new superstar they can mold as they have started to do with quarterback Trevor Lawrence since drafting him last year. Hutchinson will become a Jaguar and could be the final cog they need, to finally make a push for the playoffs. 

Kayvon Thibodeaux is one of the scariest DEs I’ve ever seen. He’s 6’4” and weighs 254 pounds. Just picture him charging at you full speed ahead to tackle you. That’s scary stuff. What’s even scarier than that is his stats. Thibodeaux finished his season with seven sacks, two forced fumbles, 35 solo tackles, and 14 assisted tackles. I don’t just believe, but I know that Thibodeaux will be a top DE in the next five years. Thibodeaux started his collegiate career off strong by being an honorable mention named All-Pack-12 pick and Conference Freshmen Defensive Player of the Year. Then Sophomore year he battled injury, but when he was on the field he was dominating in every way possible. He led Oregon with 9.5 tackles for a loss and 3 sacks in only seven starts, which is an extraordinary accomplishment. He ended up bringing home Third Team Associated Press All-American honors, winning the Pac-12 Morris Trophy as its top defensive lineman, and on top of all of those awards, he won Pac-12 Championship Game MVP. Then, after being tamed for so long during that 2021 season Thibodeaux was ready to unleash it all during his senior season. He was an absolute monster finishing the season with 12 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, and totaled 50 tackles, with only playing 11 games before opting out of Oregon's bowl games to prepare himself for the 2022 NFL Combine and Draft. Kayvon Thibodeaux will be an instant success in the NFL and will make his mark in his first year. Through doing a lot of research we have identified two possible destinations for Thibodeaux, the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons, both in rebuilding phases, desperate for a young, hungry defensive end. 

The final player we will touch on is one out of our very own backyard, Travon Walker out of Georgia. As a current national champion, Walker will be a high-profile target for teams in search of a confident-high defensive end. As a big run-stopper, he usually takes control at the point of attack, with firm edges, violent hands, and his overall aggression are big factors in what has made him such a dangerous defender to face. The Lions and Texans are both in desperate need of this type of aggression, not only in their defense but throughout their entire team. So will Walker end up moving further south, or far up north? 

This NFL draft is one of the best we’ve seen in recent years. From the quarterbacks to the defensive ends to positions we haven’t even talked about, such as safety and cornerback, there is talent seeping out of this group of young players. However, for the players, this next step in their career is a make or break, no matter how good their college career was. If they move to work with the wrong coach or squad, their entire potential career could evaporate in front of their eyes, leaving them to think about what might have been. However, if they get the right squad, the right manager, and the right environment, they very well could live up to their potential and become one of the greats of the game. Be sure to tune in with your very own set of predictions on April 28th, to see the latest crop of NFL superstars have their futures decided.

By Avner Belsky and Luke Birch