2022 NFL Mock Draft; Picks 19-24
The first wave of playoff games are over and six teams have been eliminated, so here is who I think they'll draft.
Last week I put together my mock draft of picks 1 through 18. Now with the playoffs beginning to narrow, six teams have been eliminated and here is who I think they’ll take.
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Georgia Edge Rusher Travon Walker
This is the Eagles third and final first round selection of the draft and they’ve already addressed their issues at receiver and linebacker, now they will bolster their pass rush and take the Georgia Bulldog Travon Walker.
At 6’5, 275 pounds, Walker blurs the lines of a true edge rushers because he can play anywhere from a true two technique to a wide seven tech. Walker has a fantastic get off and first two steps that pairs nicely with his powerful punch. He can be a great counterpart to Fletcher Cox and Derek Barnett in Philly.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: North Carolina Quarterback Sam Howell
It seems very clear that Big Ben is not going to be slinging the rock in the Steel City next year and the Steelers need a replacement. Sam Howell could be a great player at this pick to compete with Dwayne Haskins to start.
Howell would be given the tools to succeed in Pittsburgh with receivers like Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool, Juju Smith-Schuster, and one of the best young backs in Najee Harris. The UNC alum would be a great fit that could help the Steelers win early.
21. New England Patriots: Georgia Linebacker Nakobe Dean
After watching the Patriots get thrashed by the Bills in the playoffs, it became apparent that New England needed a change at the linebacker position. If Nakobe Dean is sitting here at twenty one then they need to pounce on him.
He’s extremely quick and has the ability to fill the A, B, and C gap. Dean has a lot of the same tendencies as Baltimore linebacker Patrick Queen. He’d be a great fit for the Patriots scheme and would add size and youth to a diminished linebacking core.
22. Las Vegas Raiders: Georgia Defensive Tackle Jordan Davis
We’ve got the third Georgia player in four picks, all defenders which is no surprise. Jordan Davis has awesome lateral quickness and shouldn’t move in the way he does at around 360 pounds. The Raiders defensive line is pretty set at edge rusher with Maxx Crosby, Carl Nassib, and Yannick Ngakoue, but could use help at defensive tackle.
The one draw back of a player like Davis is that he cannot be on the field for over five plays because his conditioning is poor. He’ll be effective on first and second down, but when the sticks are pushed back on third or a teams going no huddle, I’d take him off the field.
23. Arizona Cardinals: Auburn Cornerback Roger McCreary
With the Cardinals playing in the NFC West, they face high powered receiving duos week after week in Kupp and Woods, Metcalf and Lockett, and Aiyuk and Samuel. Corner is a big need for Arizona and McCreary would be a solid fit with Marco Wilson and Byron Murphy.
McCreary is great in run support and has the talent to play in the slot if Arizona wanted to rock with a three corner look. His ability to close any separation is second too none and would be a sweet pick for the Cards at twenty three.
24. Dallas Cowboys: Penn State Safety Jaquan Brisker
Dallas is thin at the safety position and one of the positions that they definitely need to address. There is a big gap between the number one and two safety in this years draft, but Jaquan Brisker is very talented. Drafting Penn State defenders seems to workout for the Cowboys so they should pull the trigger on another one.
Brisker is super aggressive and plays sideline to sideline, but the one draw back of the Nittany Lion is that he isn’t a great tackler. He won’t be a big help in the run game for Dallas, but can be a quick fix in pass coverage.