The Steelers were able to get a great value pick in this mock draft while other teams were able to address some needs.
The 2022 NFL draft is starting to creep up for the fans that no longer have their teams in contention. The playoffs are getting down to the wire as the Super Bowl rounds the corner. The Steelers and the other 32 teams have been hard at work identifying which players they like coming out of this draft class.
There will be the usual riser and fallers in this class that will outdate this mock draft as time goes by. This mock draft does include some trades besides the ones that already occurred before this article was even posted. There will probably be more trades on the actual day of the first round as the team gets more desperate as the clock clicks down.
This draft is packed full of high-tier prospects that could help elevate any club looking for improvement. The offensive line and wide receivers took noticeable jumps with the number of selections in the first round compared to previous years. Many teams are looking for impact players at those spots.
The 2022 class is headlined by some top-end players that will become known names as the event gets closer. Evan Neal, Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and others are some of the biggest names. Other playmakers could jump into the top five conversations based on how their pre-draft process goes.
It is going to be an interesting time as teams look to scourer the free agent and trade options before the Steelers and other 31 teams’ needs are fully cemented in stone. There is still a lot of work to do before any team starts closing in on certain players they wish to target.
1.01, Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the worst run organization in the NFL and that is why they always choose in the top 10 selections constantly. They need to give Trevor Lawrence every chance to succeed so building a stable offense around him will help.
Evan Neal is the safest pick in the draft and he will secure the blindside for their franchise quarterback.
1.02, Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
The Detroit Lions need playmakers on the defensive side of the football. Aidan Hutchinson is one of the best pass rushers in this class and he can be a cornerstone to this franchise going forward. They will still be in a rebuild for the next few years but this will help their defense show signs of hope.
1.03, Houston Texans: Kyle Hamilton, Safety, Notre Dame
The Houston Texans are by far the worst team in football when you look at their roster. It doesn’t have any premier players and they have a lot of issues to fix from A to Z. They get one of the best overall prospects in this draft that was a consensus number one choice at one point before his season slowed down some.
1.04, New York Jets: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
The New York Jets just need to draft the best player available when their selection comes but cornerback is a major need. They haven’t had a great corner since Darrelle Revis left many years ago. Starting to build up that defense to hopefully alleviate the pressure off of Zack Wilson should help his progress as well.
1.05, New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon
The New York Giants select one of the most highly proclaimed prospects in this draft. His ability to be a disrupter is a tough comparison to his peers. His time from high school and throughout college just screams superstar. The Giants get a major player on the defensive side of the ball that they desperately need.
1.06, Carolina Panthers: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
The Carolina Panthers could always go quarterback here, Steelers fans exhale that they don’t, but they go with the smarter option and take one of the top tackles. The quarterback class isn’t the strongest this year but they have a desperate coach down in Carolina so he could always bite.
Charles Cross is just a great prospect that could give one of their current signal-callers a chance to stay in the pocket. This will be another interesting candidate for the Steelers pick if he falls in the draft.
1.07, New York Giants: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, North Carolina State
The Giants are back on the clock and this is where a trade could happen on the first night and cause a shakeup. The men in blue stand pat and stick with their pick by selecting the most physical tackle in the draft.
This franchise needs to finally get that offensive front right and Ikem Ekwonu is the right step forward.
1.08, TRADE:
Washington receives picks 8 & 217, Atlanta receives picks 11, 75, 228, and 2023 second-rounder
Washington Football Team: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
The first trade occurs here as the Washington Football Team jumps over the Denver Broncos to take their favorite quarterback in this class. Kenny Pickett is the most pro-ready out of this group but his upside might be limited towards what Derek Carr turned out to be.
Washington desperately needs a playmaker and Pickett comes off the board though many Steelers fans will hope he drops to 20 when the actual draft happens.
1.09, Denver Broncos: Matt Corral, QB, Mississippi
The Denver Broncos will probably target Kenny Pickett if they can’t land Aaron Rodgers or another veteran option via trade or free agency. Matt Corral is graded as the number one quarterback in his class by most and that’s because of his great play in every phase of the game.
He played in a tough conference, the SEC, and was able to turn the Ole Miss program into relevancy again. This is another quarterback that the Steelers could show interest in throughout the process but it is unlikely he will make it to pick 20.
1.10, New York Jets: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue
The New York Jets were able to add a quality corner with their first selection and now they double-dip on the defensive side. They get a premier pass rusher that many have not talked about leading up to the draft. George Karlaftis has the best motor out of any edge rusher in this class and he will be a welcomed addition to this team.
1.11, TRADE, Atlanta Falcons: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
The Falcons traded back and got a decent return and they still get great value. They pick Devin Lloyd, the best linebacker in this draft class. They need to start bringing pieces onto this team that they can build around and Lloyd will be a centerpiece for a defense for many years.
1.12, Minnesota Vikings: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
The Minnesota Vikings have a ton of needs that will have to be addressed. Finding a running partner opposite of their star receiver should be a major point of focus. Garrett Wilson is the best receiver coming out right now with his explosiveness in the open field. He is the healthiest and ready to go on day one, while other receiving options might not be.
1.13, Cleveland Browns: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
The Cleveland Browns were one of the biggest disappointments in 2021 but they will have a chance to improve their solid roster even more. They will be in the market for a starting linebacker on their defense and they get a solid value pick here by selecting Nakobe Dean. He was a big part of that Nation Championship team at Georgia.
1.14, Baltimore Ravens: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
The Baltimore Ravens also had an underwhelming season as many projected them to win the AFC North division. They need to build up the offensive line and adding a swiss-army-knife like Kenyon Green will help stabilize the front. He can play anywhere but center but he is better off as a guard in the NFL.
1.15, Philadelphia Eagles: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
The Philadelphia Eagles could also be a trade option here with back-to-back selections, especially if one of the top quarterbacks begins to fall. They need a corner opposite of Darius Slay and they get one of the top players with Ahmad Gardner.
He has all the tools to be one of the best corners in the league as long as he can also chip in to stop the run when called upon. This corner will be a name to remember if he is still sitting there when the Steelers are selecting someone.
1.16, Philadelphia Eagles: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
The Eagles have enough draft capital where they can take a potential gamble here. Jameson Williams is the best receiver in this class when healthy but he just tore his ACL in the championship game in early January. His medical report will need to check out but adding him to an already solid receiving group will make Jalen Hurts life much easier.
1.17, Los Angeles Chargers: Drake London, WR, USC
The LA Chargers had a good season that faded at the very end that almost saw them reach the playoffs. They are a promising young team with a bright future that will need to address some needs during the offseason. One of their starting receivers will likely be departing the team and bringing in a monster like Drake London would be a big addition.
1.18, New Orleans Saints: Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina
New Orleans has holes all over the roster and that pile will continue further as their massive cap issue goes along. They could always stick with a quarterback on their roster now and suffer the consequences but getting a young guy in the building would be a better option.
Sam Howell is someone that the Steelers are interested in but he has concerns after his lackluster season in 2021 that might scare other clubs away.
1.19, Philadelphia Eagles: David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
The Philadelphia Eagles could trade back from here as they choose to stay in this instance and pick their third first-round selection of the night. They go defense here again as they look to bolster their pass rush on defense. That unit hasn’t been the same since their Super Bowl win and they will try to build that back by getting a great player that is lurking in the shadows of this class.
1.20, Pittsburgh Steelers: Tyler Linderbaum, OC, Iowa
The Steelers have so many needs to pick from and it is going to be the best player available scenario for them. Unless a solid quarterback like Kenny Pickett, Matt Corral, or Sam Howell slides to them, then they will probably go offensive line or cornerback. This roster has many weaknesses at this point and they will need to address them via free agency and the draft.
Luckily for this club, they have a decent chunk of cash to spend in free agency that can take away some of their major needs of focus before draft day even approaches. Their spending when the open market begins will show what their plans for the selection process will be. They do settle for a top offensive lineman at their 20th overall pick.
Tyler Linderbaum slid in this mock draft and he was too good for the Steelers to pass up. Kendrick Green had a poor rookie year at center but he could move back to guard. Having this selection come in and start at center will solidify that spot for the next ten years at the minimum.
This could also allow for Green to get back to basics and move back to his more comfortable position. He could rejuvenate his career at guard and hopefully start to help this front group turn things around. Center, guard, and tackle will be the major focuses for this team throughout the offseason. Selecting Linderbaum will allow them to kill two birds with one stone.
1.21, New England Patriots: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
The New England Patriots could be losing some key contributors on their roster when free agency opens up. J.C. Jackson could be leaving the team and this club knows how to develop corners. McCreary had some physical limits with his style of play but with the correct coaching, he could become a solid starter in the NFL.
1.22, Las Vegas Raiders: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Las Vegas Raiders barely squeaked into the playoffs but they were able to overcome many obstacles. Their defense is still the weak spot for them and getting an upgrade in the middle of the tranches would be a huge benefit. Jordan Davis is a wall that cannot be moved as he dominated his entire time at Georgia.
1.23, Arizona Cardinals: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
The Arizona Cardinals decided to go with a corner to bolster their defense. The offensive side of the ball has a bounty of riches when healthy and they need to start complimenting that with some solid defensive players. Elam didn’t have an impressive last season at Florida but that entire program was in a state of flux, so the gamble of that being a fluke is what the Red Sea goes with here.
1.24, Dallas Cowboys: Arnold Ebiketie, Edge, Penn State
The Dallas Cowboys could always go with an offensive lineman here but that defense still needs work, despite having a bounce-back year. They seem to be turning a corner here as long as they can keep their star player healthy. Bringing an edge rusher that will have a huge impact to hep Micah Parsons will be big for this club.
1.25, Buffalo Bills: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
Trent McDuffie goes off the board to the Buffalo Bills as they look to upgrade an already solid roster. It hurt their team once Tre’Davious White was lost with a season-ending injury. Getting some insurance and a solid partner for him in the secondary will be huge for the unit that allowed three points to happen in just 13 seconds.
1.26, Tennessee Titans: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
The Titans are always in the mix when the post-season rolls around. They continuously disappoint when they get there. The defense cannot stop opponents when the game is on the line and adding some talent to the secondary will be high on the board for them.
1.27, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
Chris Olave is an extremely talented receiver that can run better routes than any in his positional group coming out. Chris Godwin could be leaving in free agency and that should be a major concern for the Bucs. Olave would take away some of the major concerns that losing Godwin would bring.
1.28, Green Bay Packers: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
The Green Bay Packers have a ton of decisions to make before the draft, mainly what they are doing with Aaron Rodgers. Either way, they will need to secure a solid front line for their young quarterback of the future.
Getting a solid prospect like Trevor Penning at this point of the draft would be a great value. This is another player that the Steelers could show interest throughout the process.
1.29, Miami Dolphins: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Jahan Dotson finds a new home with the Miami Dolphins that look for a speedy receiver that they were hoping to get with Will Fuller last season. Dotson is a playmaker in every sense of the word as Miami seems to want to move forward with Tua Tagovailoa as their starter. This is a solid value in the late portions of the first round.
1.30, Kansas City Chiefs: Lewis Cine, Safety, Georgia
The Kansas City Chiefs will be contenders as long as Patrick Mahomes is their starting quarterback. They had a shocking loss in the AFC Championship and they need help on defense. Their offensive line could use an upgrade or two but for the most part, that entire side of the ball is good. They need to invest in their defense more and get a better all-around team.
1.31, Cincinnati Bengals: Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
The Cincinnati Bengals made it to the Super Bowl just a year after selecting in the top five in the 2021 draft. They were able to win their division and beat the Steelers twice despite having issues along their offensive line. They need to continue to improve that front to protect Joe Burrow better. Getting a project player with a huge upside like Bernhard Raimann will allow them to get better in the trenches.
1.32, Detroit Lions: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
The Detroit Lions wrap up the mock draft with another receiver coming off the board. They need more targets on offense to build around. Treylon Burks is a massive target that plays physically. He has been able to play in the backfield at times during college, like how Deebo Samuel was utilized this year with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Steelers were able to secure a top offensive lineman in this draft class without having to move up. The draft has a lot of prospects that could move between now and the event so these mocks will become outdated as time goes by.