2022 NFL Mock Draft (2.0) | Top 10 features surprise selection by Seahawks

This is the first of a three part installment of my 2022 NFL Mock Draft (2.0) based on where each team currently is slated to pick (no trades).

Please keep in mind, my mocks are based on how I actually see the draft unfolding (based on analytics) & NOT whether or not I would select that player.

I’ll be breaking down the first-round of the draft in increments of 10 picks for the sake of saving your eyes. lol.

Please feel free to spread the word and share/like/comment as we grow our BEASTwriter+ Newsletter Community, I wouldn’t be here without you. Mahalo :)

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Jacksonville Jaguars | R1 (No. 1)

• My Pick | OT Evan Neal

• My hit-rate on Baalke R1 draft picks | 1/2 (50%)

Analysis:

Having covered GM Trent Baalke during my tenure as a 49ers beat writer--one thing I took was he loves building teams from the inside/out. To peel back another layer of the onion to get to the core…

Ryan Sakamoto @BEASTwriter

Everyone has Aidan Hutchinson mocked to Jaguars at No. 1, but I don't see it. Having covered Baalke during my time w/Niners, he always loved building team from inside/out. In 2010, traded up from 13 to 11 to draft RT Anthony Davis & drafted OG Iupati at 17. My pick Evan Neal.

In 2010 he traded up from No. 13 to No. 11 to land RT Anthony Davis while doubling down on those gains just six picks later yielding OG Mike Iupati. If you remember, the team already had blindside LT Joe Staley.

Jaguars franchise-tagged LT Cam Robinson for the second consecutive year. It’s unlikely it happens a third time. If things go sour when it comes to a long-term deal, look for Baalke to stay two steps ahead and have his insurance policy in place with OT Evan Neal.

Neal played OG in 2019, before moving outside to RT to replace OT Jedrick Wills in 2020 and then LT to replace OT Alex Leatherwood in 2021. Baalke loves versatility which is why I believe this pick comes down to two players: Neal or DT/DE Travon Walker.

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Detroit Lions | R1 (No. 2)

• My Pick | DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson

• My hit rate on Holmes R1 draft picks | 1/1 (100%)

Analysis:

Last year, I hit on GM Brad Holmes R1 pick of OT Penei Sewell. Can I do it again? While some NFL analysts believe DT/DE Travon Walker is the pick, I’m rolling with the hometown kid.

Ryan Sakamoto @BEASTwriter

My NFL comparison for EDGE Aidan Hutchinson is Ryan Kerrigan. That's not a knock on Hutchinson at all, Kerrigan was 4x Pro Bowler & led NFL in FF back in 2014. Both are not scheme-dependant but scheme-diverse & win leverage game. Rarely will you see outside shoulder covered up.

Holmes and DC Aaron Glenn attended Hutchinson’s pro day while Dannie Rogers of the Lions media team conducted a full-length interview.

Hutchinson is arguably the cleanest prospect in this draft class. After running my BWF game grades--he graded out with an overall grade of 7.8/10.

A fundamentally sound EDGE rusher, Hutchinson remains disciplined in his run-fit integrity while staying home. Rarely caught out of position, you can count on Hutchinson to be an asset vs the run. 

From a P/R perspective, Hutchinson displays rare get-off (timing) and has an arsenal of P/R moves in his toolbox. He can convert speed to power, run the arch, rip, hand swipe, etc.

NFL Comparison: Ryan Kerrigan