10 Bold Predictions Leading Into The 2022 NFL Draft
In the days and weeks leading into the 2022 NFL Draft, everyone and their mother love to do the mock draft simulators for their favorite teams and try and figure out who is going where. But in reality, the only ones who have any idea what is happening with their teams are the people in those war rooms making the key decisions that can affect their franchise for years to come. With that, there are always picks from these teams that are bold and take their fans by surprise. In this article, we will be predicting those moves by naming 10 bold predictions for the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft.
#1 The Streak Is Broken
This isn’t as much of a bold prediction because we all know it will happen. I just want to nail at least one of these.
For the last 4 years, and 6 of the last 7 years, a QB has gone first overall. A QB will not be drafted first overall this year. I personally don’t believe there are any first-round QBs in this year’s draft, but as we all know there are likely to be a few.
#2: Two Separate Trades In The Top 5
The top of the NFL Draft order has the Jets at 4 then again at 10, and the Giants at 5 and 7. The Giants have already come out and said that they are willing to move one of their first-round picks this year and it makes so much sense. The Giants aren’t close to competing for a playoff berth and neither are the Jets. I believe that both teams trade down from their first picks in the draft this year for what will likely be a king’s ransom type of deal. Both teams need talent but also to build more pieces for the future, and with how next year’s draft class is shaping up already, the more capital for next year the better.
#3: Carolina Takes A QB At 6, But It’s Not Who You Think
In many mocks, not mine see for yourself here, Carolina is projected to take QB Malik Willis from Liberty. I get the appeal, I believe that Willis has the rawest potential of the QBs in this year’s draft class. I think that this Carolina team sees their division for the weakness that it is, and will take the most NFL-ready QB that there is in this draft class in Kenny Pickett. Pickett can make the throws that Carolina needs right away to keep them in the playoff hunt. Pending Christian McCaffrey is healthy for all of 2022, this Carolina team could surprise some folks.
#4: Seattle Passes On A QB At 9
I might be going out on a limb here, but I actually think Drew Lock could be something. Yes, I know that he couldn’t beat out Teddy Bridgewater for the starting job in Denver, but in the games, he played in, you can find glimpses of the QB he could become under the right tutelage. It was clear from the jump that Vic Fangio never believed in Lock, and with the roster in place in Seattle, it doesn’t make sense to shoot their shot with a QB from this class. This could be a trade-down spot even for Seattle, pending how the board falls. But I believe that Seattle gives Lock a full year to see what they have.
#5: The First Receiver Comes Off The Board At 10
Stay with me, this one gets wild.
This is supposed to be the Jets’ pick. I mentioned above that they trade down from 4, preferably still in the top 10. They trade down here as well, with Kansas City. Kansas City takes Jameson Williams from Alabama to fill the hole left by the Tyreek Hill trade. Yes, Williams is not likely to play early this season but I think that Kansas City has the weapons to vie for a playoff spot this season. This is a pick for the future and Williams will slide into this offensive scheme perfectly.
#6: Kayvon Thibodeaux Plumets Down The Board
This isn’t to say that I personally believe he isn’t worthy of a top 5 or even top 3 pick in this year’s NFL Draft, but there have been quite a lot of rumblings lately that Thibodeaux might fall in this year’s draft. In a realistic world, if we try to project how far he could fall his landing spot could be Baltimore at 14 but man that would require something dramatic happening. If he falls past the Giants at 7 someone has to move up for him.
#7: New Orleans Moves Michael Thomas During The Draft
Let’s get crazy.
The relationship between the New Orleans Saints and receiver Michael Thomas probably can’t be fixed. Thomas is a drama queen with limited potential without Drew Brees there to throw him slants. The Saints would be wise to move Thomas for a premium pick to a team that needs a receiver (looking at you, Green Bay) and completely reset this team and kick off their rebuild. I think New Orleans can get multiple picks out of any team, but a team like Green Bay for example would likely pay top dollar for a top-of-the-market receiver to help them push towards a Super Bowl.
#8: Pittsburgh Can And Will Pass On A QB
I get it. Folks don’t love the idea of Mitch Trubisky. Especially Trey Daubert. He went as far as to say Pittsburgh is a poverty franchise. But let’s call a spade a spade, if Pittsburgh had ANY chance to compete this year, Mitch was the guy. This isn’t the draft to find Big Ben’s true replacement, so Pittsburgh should beef up their offensive line or take a premier receiver talent if one starts to fall on draft day.
#9: No Running Backs In The First Round
This isn’t even that bold because, in today’s NFL, you just don’t see running back being valued as highly as they used to. The days of taking a running back at #2 overall are long gone. People even slandered Pittsburgh for taking Najee Harris at 24 last year! The last time a running back wasn’t taken in the first round was 2014, and that will change in this year’s draft. This draft class has talent, but just not first-round talent.
#10: Offense Dominate Day 1, Defense Dominates Day 2
It’s a scoring league. Look at the AFC West. Those teams are gathering weapons on offense knowing it’s going to be a shootout nowadays. I think offensive players heavily outnumber defensive players, maybe something like 20-12 or 19-13 or something, while day 2 is a completely different story. Defense is the name of the game, especially in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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