2022 NFL Mock Draft: Buccaneers, Steelers draft Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger successors
By Brad Weiss
Edge. New York Giants. George Karlaftis. 7. player. 31.
The big issues with the New York Giants stem upfront on both sides of the ball, as they struggled to protect Daniel Jones last season, and also struggled to get after the quarterback. With pick No. 5, they take care of one side by bringing in offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu, before shifting their focus to the defense a few picks later.
Here, the Giants do something to improve their pass rush, and they do so by bringing in the high motor of George Karlfatis. The Purdue product is adept at getting around, or through offensive tackles, and would be a fan favorite for a fan base starving for wins.
8. player. 44. . Cornerback. Atlanta Falcons. Derek Stingley Jr.
The Atlanta Falcons hold the No. 8 overall pick, and there are plenty of ways they can go with this selection. Sure, some feel Matt Ryan is at the end of his rope in Atlanta, but the truth is, he played well this season, and the Falcons were playoff contenders up until the end of the season.
With Ryan still at the helm, the Falcons can instead go with the best player available here, getting a top-4 talent in cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. Some feel Stingley could be gone within the top-5 picks, but based on needs, he could drop, and Atlanta cannot pass up on him here.
Denver Broncos. Kenny Pickett. 9. player. 45. . Quarterback
When it comes to the Denver Broncos, new head coach Nathaniel Hackett is going to have to find someone to come in and be their franchise quarterback in 2022. Many feel that Aaron Rodgers could leave Green Bay to join his former OC in Denver, but if not, then a quarterback is definitely in play with the No. 9 overall pick.
After Matt Corral goes early on in the top-10, Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is the second signal-caller off the board, going to Mile High to be their long-term solution. Drew Lock did not work out, and Teddy Bridgewater was a stopgap, so if Rodgers does not land in Denver, Pickett could be the play.
player. 30. . Offensive Lineman. New York Jets. Tyler Linderbaum. 10
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the New York Jets made Zach Wilson from BYU the No. 2 overall pick, selecting him even though they had used a top-5 pick on a quarterback a few years back. In his rookie season, Wilson showed some flashes of brilliance, but if the Jets are going to get the most out of him, they have to revamp their offensive line.
Rounding out the top-10 in 2022, the Jets do add talent to the offensive line, bringing in the premier center in this draft class in Tyler Linderbaum. This is a kid who could play center or guard at the next level, and in New York, he will be tasked with protecting their No. 1 asset for years to come.