2022 NFL Mock Draft: Is Kenny Pickett the future in Carolina?

Picks No. 15 through 18

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a tough stretch both on and off the field and are currently seeing their playoff hopes fade away. A three-game losing streak has them on the brink of falling below .500 this season, which is a far cry from the 5-2 start they had before going into the bye week.

At pick No. 15, the Raiders look to bolster their defensive line, adding a mountain of a man in Jordan Davis from Georgia. They have tried to revamp the interior through free agency as of late, but Davis is someone who could join Maxx Crosby as an anchor on this defensive line for years to come.

With their third and final pick within the first 16 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles continue to bolster the defensive side of the ball. After getting better on the first level, adding George Karlaftis and DeMarvin Leal to the defensive line, they bring in Andrew Booth Jr from Clemson here.

Philadelphia has taken some swings and misses when it comes to cornerback, but Booth is someone that many of the scouts are high on. He is a great cover cornerback, and has decent size, making him a player I do not see getting picked past pick No. 20 next April.

With pick No. 17, the Cleveland Browns look to get better on the defensive side of the ball, adding Drake Jackson from USC with this selection. Jackson is an incredible talent coming off the edge, and with Cleveland, he would help Myles Garrett in terms of getting after the quarterback, something that Garrett certainly needs.

Cleveland is an interesting team going into the offseason, as they will have to make a long-term commitment to Baker Mayfield at quarterback. If he is the guy, they will utilize this mid-round pick on improving a defense that has looked extremely bad against certain teams this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are another AFC North team that has a real decision to make in terms of their quarterback next offseason, as Ben Roethlisberger has looked good this season. Though an older signal-caller, he has not been their problem, and they are certainly a team that is going to be in the mix for a playoff spot this season.

Looking ahead, they are going to need help along the offensive line, whether Big Ben or someone else is at quarterback in 2022, and Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning is an interesting draft prospect. He has the size and strength to start at left tackle right away at the next level, and in Pittsburgh, that could be a position of need next offseason.