2022 NFL Mock Draft: NY Jets build around Zach Wilson, 3 QBs in the first round

We're a little over two months away from the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, and while it's impossible to predict just how the draft might shake out without knowing the results of free agency, it's always fun to make predictions.

Even if those predictions will likely be wildly inaccurate.

We've been doing weekly NY Jets-focused mock drafts on the site for months now. We've run through seemingly every possible scenario for the Jets this draft season.

That's why I felt it was time to shake things up a little. Why not put together a complete 32-pick first-round mock draft?

The Jets aren't the only team that's going to have difficult decisions to make. The Philadelphia Eagles hold three picks in the first round. The New York Giants also hold two top-10 picks, much like their crosstown counterparts.

Meanwhile, teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions will control a lot of how the top of the board falls. Which players will fall? Who will become surprise first-round picks?

Let's take a look at our first 32-pick first-round 2022 NFL mock draft of the year.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

It's rare that we reach February and we still have no clue who the No. 1 overall pick in the draft will be. Perhaps the picture becomes clearer in the coming weeks/months, but for now, my money is on the Jaguars going offensive line.

Evan Neal is a hulking offensive tackle prospect who can immediately step in as a day-one starter. The Jaguars opt to build around Trevor Lawrence instead of addressing their pass rush.

2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

The Lions missed out on the first overall pick, but they might just be able to land the top prospect on their board regardless. Aidan Hutchinson is a premier pass-rusher prospect with the upside to become an All-Pro at the next level.

The Lions need blue-chip talents wherever they can get them and adding Hutchinson to a Lions pass rush that finished with the third-fewest sacks in 2021 will help immensely.

3. Houston Texans: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

I don't fully buy the reports that Kayvon Thibodeaux is going to fall in the draft. While he seems to be firmly behind Hutchinson in the conversation for the top pass rusher in this class, I have a hard time believing he will fall out of the top five.

A strong performance at the NFL Combine should be enough to solidify Thibodeaux as one of the top talents in this draft class. The Houston Texans need premium players, and while Thibodeaux isn't Nick Bosa, he still has All-Pro potential.

4. New York Jets: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

The Jets could go in a few directions with this pick, but I think the best overall prospect at this spot might just be NC State's Ikem Ekwonu. Ekwonu is a plug-and-play starter who could realistically step in and play left tackle, right tackle, or right guard for New York.

The Jets aren't out on Mekhi Becton, but they clearly aren't sold on his future either. Adding Ekwonu gives the team another young offensive lineman to continue building around Zach Wilson.

5. New York Giants: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

The Giants are entering year one of what will likely be an extensive rebuild with new general manager Joe Schoen at the helm. Schoen comes from a Buffalo organization that knows just how important it is to build around your quarterback.

Daniel Jones may not be the answer, but Charles Cross should be a long-term starting tackle to pair with 2020 first-round pick Andrew Thomas who made significant strides this past season. The Giants finally have a GM who will prioritize the offensive line.

6. Carolina Panthers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

The first quarterback is off the board, perhaps a little earlier than some would have expected. The Panthers completely bungled their quarterback situation last offseason, and I have little faith they'll do much better this offseason.

Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett is being dubbed the most pro-ready QB in this class and his history with Matt Rhule (he originally committed to Temple while Rhule was the coach) could be enough for the Panthers to pounce, especially if they miss out on adding a veteran starter again.

7. New York Giants: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan

The Giants are back on the clock and they continue their emphasis on the trenches adding Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo. Ojabo was oftentimes overshadowed by Aidan Hutchinson at Michigan, but the uber-athletic pass rusher likely has an even higher ceiling.

The Giants kick off their rebuild by adding two players they could build around on either side of the ball. This is a home-run first round for Joe Schoen.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

The Atlanta Falcons manage to land perhaps the best and safest player in the draft for the second year in a row. Hamilton is a true freak of nature and the best safety prospect the NFL has seen in years.

Atlanta's defense needs work and adding a premium talent like Hamilton would do wonders. An Atlanta native, Hamilton went to high school just 19 miles away from Mercedes Benz Stadium making this somewhat of a homecoming.

9. Denver Broncos: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

There's a lot of buzz right now that Cincinnati's Ahmad Gardner is the near-consensus CB1 in this class — and I'll buy those rumors. Gardner has probably the best tape of any cornerback in this draft class and he has the physical tools to back it up.

The Broncos could go QB here, but I'd expect them to be heavily involved in the veteran market (Aaron Rodgers anyone?). Instead, they add another young stud to pair with Patrick Surtain II in their secondary.

10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

The Jets continue their commitment to building around Zach Wilson by drafting him a shiny new playmaker on offense. Ohio State's Garrett Wilson is tailor-made for Mike LaFleur's offensive system and would add another big-play element to the Jets' offense.

Elijah Moore showed signs of stardom as a rookie while Corey Davis has the potential to be a good No. 2 receiver. A trio of Wilson, Moore, and Davis should be enough to get Jets fans excited.

11. Washington Commanders: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

It feels weird typing "Washington Commanders." I'm sorry, I just had to get that out of the way. Anyway, the *Commanders* are on the clock and they draft the second QB of the first round in Liberty's Malik Willis.

Taylor Heinicke isn't the future, and if Washington isn't able to land a veteran, they'll likely be forced to turn to the draft. Willis is a polarizing prospect who likely shouldn't start right away, but he has the upside teams will be looking for in this weak quarterback class.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

Derek Stingley Jr.'s stock has fallen quite a bit with rumors that NFL teams have serious concerns about his 2021 season, and with good reason. Still, he's an undeniable talent that Vikings fans should be very happy to land at this spot.

The Vikings have been burned by first-round cornerbacks in recent years with Mike Hughes and Jeff Gladney flopping badly. But they need secondary help and Stingley has All-Pro potential.

13. Cleveland Browns: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

The Browns are giving Baker Mayfield one more year to prove he's the guy, and if they're going to go that route, they might as well surround him with as much talent as possible.

Adding Treylon Burks to a receiving corps that needs some work would give Mayfield a big-bodied A.J. Brown-like receiver to hopefully maximize his potential. I don't expect Burks to fall outside the top-20.

14. Baltimore Ravens: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia

The Ravens need to get younger along their defensive line, and with Brandon Williams and Justin Ellis hitting free agency, they can use a new nose tackle to build around.

Enter Jordan Davis, one of the freakiest freaks in a draft class of freaks. Davis stands at 6-foot-6, 340 pounds, and could anchor the middle of Baltimore's defense for years to come.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Jermaine Johnson, EDGE, Florida State

The Eagles are on the clock with their first of three first-round picks. Jermaine Johnson is a player whose stock is skyrocketing following a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl, and that could intrigue general manager Howie Roseman.

Johnson is a hybrid edge defender with true positional versatility. The Eagles have a need at edge rusher with Derek Barnett set to hit free agency and Brandon Graham not getting any younger. Johnson fits the bill.

16. Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

Back-to-back selections, the Eagles address their defense again adding Clemson's Andrew Booth Jr. Booth is one of the many talented cornerbacks in this class and he could give Philadelphia a long-term building block at a key position.

The Eagles add a young defensive stalwart to pair with Darius Slay with Steven Nelson set to hit free agency this offseason.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Trevor Penning's draft stock is on the rise following an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl, and his nasty demeanor is exactly what the Chargers' offensive line needs.

The Chargers were able to land their left tackle of the future in Rashawn Slater a year ago. This year, they add a mean FCS product to hopefully solidify the right tackle position.

18. New Orleans Saints: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

It's hard to say just how much Jameson Williams' ACL injury will affect his draft stock. Regardless, I still think he's a first-round prospect and a perfect fit for the Saints right here.

I was tempted to go quarterback, but I think the Saints are more likely to address that via free agency or a trade. They're desperate for wide receiver help and add someone who could provide a huge boost to whatever QB they bring in.

MORE: NY Jets trade down TWICE in stacked 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft

19. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa

The Eagles are back for the final time and they manage to land one of the safest players in this draft class. It's almost unfair to slot Tyler Linderbaum to the Eagles at this spot.

The Eagles have long prided themselves on their offensive line, and with Jason Kelce the center of retirement rumors, they draft their long-term replacement in a player who's very reminiscent of a young Kelce.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenyon Green, OL, Texas A&M

The Steelers' interest in Malik Willis was one of the worst-kept secrets of the Senior Bowl, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them attempt to trade up to grab him. But with Willis off the board, they pivoted to the offensive line.

Kenyon Green is a super versatile prospect who can start at either guard or tackle early. That's good news for a Steelers team that needs help all over the offensive line, especially with Trai Turner and Chukwuma Okorafor set to be free agents.

21. New England Patriots: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

The Patriots could look to build around young quarterback Mac Jones, but instead, we went with perhaps the top linebacker in this draft class in Utah's Devin Lloyd.

Lloyd opted out of the Senior Bowl, but don't expect that to affect his draft stock. The Patriots draft the uber-athletic Lloyd to be Dont'a Hightower's replacement.

22. Las Vegas Raiders: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Henry Ruggs III incident left the Raiders with a clear lack of speed in their wide receiver corps. Ohio State's Chris Olave fixes that issue in a hurry.

I expect Olave to tear it up at the NFL Combine and establish himself as a surefire first-round pick. The Raiders love to have speed on offense and Olave would certainly give them that.

23. Arizona Cardinals: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purude

George Karlaftis has seen his draft stock plummet as of late. Once viewed as a potential top-five pick, most analysts now project Karlaftis to fall out of the top-15 altogether.

The Cardinals stop his free fall here with the team eyeing a long-term replacement for Chandler Jones who's set to hit free agency this offseason.

24. Dallas Cowboys: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia

The Cowboys have a number of important pending free agents, one of whom is former first-round pick Leighton Vander Esch who seems unlikely to return.

Georgia's Nakobe Dean would help address a position that was once a strength of the roster. Pairing Dean with rookie sensation Micah Parsons would give the Cowboys one of the most absurdly athletic linebacker duos in the NFL.

25. Buffalo Bills: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College

The Bills have struggled to find a solution at offensive guard over the last few years after swinging and missing on former top-40 pick Cody Ford. They return to the offensive line well in this scenario drafting one of the Senior Bowl's biggest standouts.

Zion Johnson earned himself a lot of money at Mobile this week and went from a projected Day 2 pick to someone who could very well be taken on Day 1. He's athletic, versatile, and a plug-and-play starter at one of the few glaring positions of need for the Bills.

26. Tennessee Titans: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

Some might be surprised to see a quarterback at this spot, but the Titans need to start planning for the future and it would make sense to add a QB with a higher upside than Ryan Tannehill.

Matt Corral is a very good athlete who could thrive in an RPO-based offense at the next level. The Ole Miss product could sit behind Tannehill for a year and, if he's ready to start in 2023, the Titans would have a potential out in Tannehill's contract.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M

The Buccaneers' roster is too good for them not to land a veteran quarterback this offseason. Plus, after drafting Kyle Trask last year, I highly doubt they add another young QB late in the draft this year.

With so many key players hitting free agency, it's hard to predict what direction they might go in. But they could use another young interior defensive lineman to pair with Vita Vea and DeMarvin Leal has the upside to warrant the selection.

28. Green Bay Packers: Travon Walker, EDGE/DL, Georgia

Yes, the Packers pass on a wide receiver in the first round again. I'm at the "believe it when I see it" stage in regard to that. Still, Georgia's Travon Walker is an excellent consolation prize.

Walker is a potential top-15 player in this class according to some. More of a tweener at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds, Walker gives the Packers another young pass rusher and added insurance in case they move on from one of their veterans for cap purposes.

29. Miami Dolphins: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

The Miami Dolphins are all-in on Tua Tagovailoa this offseason — at least that's the impression they've given. I'd love to give them an offensive lineman here, but the value just wasn't there.

Instead, they add another promising wide receiver in Penn State's Jahan Dotson. I chose Doston over USC's Drake London as more of a projection pick, operating under the assumption Mike McDaniel is their choice of head coach. Dotson's skill set is tailor-made for a McDaniel/Kyle Shanahan offense.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has opted not to use significant capital on the cornerback position during his time in Kansas City. But with an obvious need this offseason, that changes here.

Washington's Trent McDuffie is one of the most underrated players in this class and it wouldn't surprise me to see him become an instant stud at the next level. He's a day-one starter in this homegrown Kansas City secondary.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State

The Bengals have shocked the NFL world and made it all the way to the Super Bowl, but don't be fooled — this is still a roster with many holes. The offensive line needs to be addressed, but the value isn't there at this spot.

Instead, they add one of the draft's biggest risers in Colorado State tight end Trey McBride. C.J. Uzomah's injury history is a concern and he's hardly lit the world on fire when healthy. The Bengals add another young playmaker to their already-stacked receiving corps.

32. Detroit Lions: Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

Roger McCreary is the fifth cornerback drafted in this mock providing further evidence of just how stacked this cornerback class is. I flirted with the idea of giving Detroit a quarterback here, but I just don't think any of the remaining prospects warrant the pick.

McCreary is a smart, high-upside cornerback prospect who should immediately compete for snaps as a rookie. He fills a position of need and gives Detroit another young defensive building block to pair with Aidan Hutchinson.

It doesn't hurt that the Lions coaching staff just coached him at the Senior Bowl either.

Best Remaining Prospects: S Jaquan Brisker (Penn State), CB Kaiir Elam (Florida), WR Drake London (USC), S Daxton Hill (Michigan), WR David Bell (Purdue), QB Desmond Ridder (Cincinnati), QB Sam Howell (North Carolina), EDGE Myjai Sanders (Cincinnati), LB Christian Harris (Alabama), EDGE Cameron Thomas (San Diego State), DT Devonte Wyatt (Georgia), OT Daniel Faalele (Minnesota), CB Kyler Gordon (Washington), OT Bernhard Raimann (Central Michigan)