2022 NFL Mock Draft: Malik Willis is first QB off the board

With their third and final first-round pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles once again get a weapon for Jalen Hurts. Last year, the team got Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith in the first round, and here, they add another elite wideout in Treylon Burks from Arkansas.

Burks is one of a handful of wide receivers who could hear their name called in the first round this April, and I believe he would be an excellent complement to Smith. Both players can take the top off the defense at any time, and with added help along the offensive line, we will see what Hurts is made of in 2022.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be tasked with replacing a legend this offseason, as Ben Roethlisberger decided to hang up his cleats after nearly 20 years with the organization. Big Ben led this team to two Super Bowl titles, and while the franchise seems to be high on Mason Rudolph, I believe Desmond Ridder does enough during this draft cycle to gain first-round buzz.

Picking this late in round one with a chance to get a potential franchise quarterback may be too much for the Steelers to pass up. Sure, they need offensive line help and help on the defense, but Ridder is a special talent and would be excellent in the Steelers system giving Mike Tomlin the agile QB he is looking for.

For the New England Patriots, the 2021 NFL season was a breath of fresh air, as they got back to being a playoff team, and realized they have a new franchise quarterback in Mac Jones. The rookie did a tremendous job stepping in after winning the national title at Alabama, and it appears the franchise is in good hands moving forward.

In the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Patriots should now look to improve the defense, getting younger at linebacker with Devin Lloyd from Utah. This is a three-down linebacker who can play sideline to sideline, making him a perfect fit for Bill Belichick’s defense.

The Las Vegas Raiders made it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 NFL season and were quickly bounced by the eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Still, this is a franchise trending in the right direction for once, and with a new general manager and head coach at the helm, they should be a playoff team once again this season.

To do so, they have to improve along the offensive line, specifically bringing in someone who can hold down the right tackle spot. Despite going offensive tackle in round one in 2021, they once again utilize a first-round pick on the position group, adding Charles Cross, an elite option to fill in opposite Kolton Miller.