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

This is my 2022 NFL Mock Draft (FINAL) 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 5-10 picks.

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 :)

---

Jacksonville Jaguars | R1 (No. 1)

• My Pick | DE/OLB Travon Walker

• My hit-rate on Baalke R1 draft picks | 2/4 (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. Earlier, I had OT Evan Neal mocked No. 1 and that’s still a likely possibility.

However, I just received word over the weekend that new HC Doug Pederson would rather see an RT camp battle between OT Jawaan Taylor & OT Walker Little.

Furthermore, I’m told that Baalke is holding onto faith in 2019 R2 pick (No. 35) OT Jawaan Taylor to anchor the right side, while leveraging the position with the “risk reward” game with 2021 R2 pick (No. 45) OT Walker Little.

If my intel holds up, I’m thinking the pick still comes down to targeting the trenches but on the opposite side of the football.

DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson & DE/OLB Travon Walker.

Ryan Sakamoto @BEASTwriter

Having covered GM Trent Baalke during my time as a 49ers beat writer this is what he'll say about DE/OLB Travon Walker IF he goes No. 1: *Long arm-length *Rare size/speed combo *Can play 3T, 4T (who can two gap/clip), EDGE in 3-4 *"All the intangibles we look for." #BEASTwriter

Hutchinson is arguably the cleanest prospect in this class (safer pick) but his ceiling is not as high as Walker’s.

On the flip side, do you roll with the higher upside or the safer bet at No. 1? The player with the higher floor is Hutchinson, the player with the higher ceiling is Walker.

Ryan Sakamoto @BEASTwriter

Travon Walker is a real possibility at No. 1. No surprise to many of us, if he indeed goes to JAX. Baalke favors his upside more than DE/OLB Aidan Hutchinson's high floor. If it was me--I would take Hutchinson. Cleaner prospect BUT covering Baalke during SF days, I can see TW.

Walker has better NFL traits but Hutchinson is a sure-fire double-digit 8-12 sack artist. Which way will the dice roll?

I’m plugging Walker here.

With the top pick, look for Baalke to land the most versatile DEF front 7 player in this year’s draft class. No player has a higher ceiling while the NFL traits checks off majority of the boxes.

The lack of sack production shouldn’t have scouts worried if they run the grades as I did.

Ryan Sakamoto @BEASTwriter

I graded every single snap of DE/OLB Travon Walker and the most impressive stat of all in my 2021 BWF grades comes down to not having a single missed run-fit assignment. The guy can anchor at POA while not being moved off his grass. Baalke likely targeting him/Neal #BEASTwriter

In 10 games graded, Walker racked up 10 QBP, 4 QBH, 2.0 sacks (-15 yards), and 1 FF. More importantly, he had zero missed run-fit assignments (which is unheard of), especially for a player aligned to so many techniques.

He finished his 2021 campaign with a DOB grade of 6.6/10.

#DarksideofBEASTwriter Scouting Report | 6.6

A very disciplined run-fit defender, Walker is very smart at flushing plays from “box” to “spill.” A versatile player who lined up at 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6T at Georgia, Walker had little to no drop off in production from a pre-snap leverage technique. He’s very strong at the POA and can withstand brute force from bigger OTs in NFL. 

His pass-rush shows promise and can quickly convert speed to power while displaying a hot motor. However, his pass rush is somewhat inconsistent and gets stalled, and becomes non-existent from game to game. 

At 6-5, 272, Walker is scheme-diverse thanks to his functional play strength. He can play DE in 3-4 or 4-3 DT/DE. My projected draft grade for Walker is tail-end R1 (25-32) but his potential will likely land him inside the Top 10. 

---

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 as Walker goes to Jacksonville, just one pick earlier.

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 DOB 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