The NFL Draft is a little more than a week away and we are starting to see the final mock drafts leading up to the three-day event were more than 250 players will hear their names called as they take another step towards realizing their dreams of being professional football players.
Ohio State has seen at least one player selected in the first round in every draft since the 2016 draft and while the 2021 draft saw Ohio State’s streak of multiple first-rounders snapped (Justin Fields 1st round – 11th overall) the 2022 draft should see two Buckeyes go with Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.
But this is more than just where the Ohio State players are going to go as the NFL is truly a worldwide sport and interest in the upcoming draft remains at an all-time high.
A lot can happen up until the night of the first round and even then, things can completely change with trades. With a wild free agency period in the past weeks, do you really think we are not going to see more upheaval between now and the time that the picks are done?
We are not going to project trades, we are going to stick with the draft order as it reads on Thursday morning, but we are taking our best stab at the upcoming NFL Draft with our one-and-only mock draft.
My draft will look a little different than many out there but what fun is having a clone of existing drafts, but even with that, I still feel good about my picks, but will NFL front offices agree?
Where will the Buckeyes go? Do we see any big surprises? Who goes higher and lower than expected?
Keep reading and find out.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 1. | Jaguars | Aidan Hutchinson, Edge | Michigan | |
| 2. | Lions | Travon Walker, DL | Georgia | |
| 3. | Texans | Evan Neal, OL | Alabama | |
| 4. | Jets | Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge | Oregon | |
| 5. | Giants | Ickey Ekwonu, OT | NC State |
This year did not have a clear-cut No. 1 pick overall and the Jacksonville Jaguars are pretty terrible and need almost everything. The buzz around Aidan Hutchinson has been real and at times the former Wolverine looks like a world-beater and other times looks quite mortal.
We give him the edge over Georgia’s Travon Walker for the top-pick of the draft, but two defensive linemen come off the board in the first two picks.
Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal may be the real No. 1 player in the draft, and he comes off to the Houston Texans next while Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, a presumed No. 1 overall pick just a few months ago, is saddled with the New York Jets organization that sure means well.
NC State’s Ickey Ekwonu rounds out the top five as the first five picks all play in the trenches.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 6. | Panthers | Kenny Pickett, QB | Pittsburgh | |
| 7. | Giants | From CHI | Sauce Gardner, CB | Cincinnati |
| 8. | Falcons | Garrett Wilson, WR | Ohio State | |
| 9. | Seahawks | From DEN | Malik Willis, QB | Liberty |
| 10. | Jets | From SEA | Jameson Williams, WR | Alabama |
Kenny Pickett and his tiny hands are next up for the Carolina Panthers, a bit of a surprise move to those who remember post-combine but the buzz between these two parties has been deafening as of late.
The Giants need a lot of help and look to add some sauce with Sauce Gardner from Cincinnati.
Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson comes off the board in the top-10 at No. 8 as he goes to the Atlanta Falcons. He matches David Boston’s position in the draft at No. 8 overall and the pair are the highest selected WRs from Ohio State since Terry Glenn went No. 7 overall in the 1996 draft.
Seattle is known for having their own draft board compared to other organizations and Malik Willis could lead this team for a long time if everything works out.
We round out the top-10 with a former Ohio State Buckeyes wideout, Jameson Williams going to the Jets.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 11. | Commanders | Kyle Hamilton, S | Notre Dame | |
| 12. | Vikings | Derek Stingley, CB | LSU | |
| 13. | Texans | From CLE | Jermaine Johnson, DE | Florida State |
| 14. | Ravens | Charles Cross, OT | Mississippi St. | |
| 15. | Eagles | From MIA | Drake London, WR | USC |
It is hard to believe that Kyle Hamilton slid out of the top-10 and his reward is a Washington Commanders team that has been embroiled in ownership issues for some time.
Derek Stingley Jr. makes it to No. 12 and will head to Minnesota while Florida State’s defensive end Jermaine Johnson goes to Houston with a pick that was given up by the Cleveland Browns.
Charles Cross goes to the rival team of both the Browns and Bengals as the Ravens snap him up and then former USC receiver Drake London comes off the board at No. 15 to give the Eagles a big-bodied receiver to throw to in a muddled NFC East race.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 16. | Saints | From IND/PHI | Chris Olave, WR | Ohio State |
| 17. | Chargers | Trevor Penning, OT | Northern Iowa | |
| 18. | Eagles | From NO | Trent McDuffie, CB | Washington |
| 19. | Saints | From PHI | Jordan Davis, DT | Georgia |
| 20. | Steelers | Daxton Hill, S | Michigan |
Ohio State’s Chris Olave has been rumored to go to New Orleans and we are buying, we have him going with the No. 16 pick rather than the No. 19 pick as three receivers are already off the board.
The Chargers add to their offensive line with Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning and the first of two Washington corners comes off the board next with Trent McDuffie going to the Eagles.
New Orleans lands a defensive lineman with its second pick in the teens with Georgia’s Jordan Davis and Michigan’s Dax Hill rounds out this group of five picks going to the Steelers.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 21. | Patriots | Devin Lloyd, LB | Utah | |
| 22. | Packers | From LV | Treylon Burks, WR | Arkansas |
| 23. | Cardinals | George Karlaftis, Edge | Purdue | |
| 24. | Cowboys | Kenyon Green, OG | Texas A&M | |
| 25. | Bills | Andrew Booth, CB | Clemson |
Is there a more New England pick than Devin Lloyd? The former Utah linebacker may not be the biggest need for the rebuilding Pats, but this pick makes too much sense not to ride with.
Green Bay needs receivers and Treylon Burks from Arkansas fits the bill as Aaron Rodgers needs players to throw to.
Purdue’s George Karlaftis will head to Arizona as the Cardinals turn to defense.
Zeke Elliott will be happy to see the Cowboys putting a premium on rebuilding the offensive line with interior lineman Kenyon Green coming off the board next.
Cornerback Andrew Booth of Clemson rounds out this section going to Buffalo.
| Pick | Team | Via | Player, Position | College |
| 26. | Titans | Zion Johnson, OG | Boston College | |
| 27. | Bucs | Kaiir Elam, CB | Florida | |
| 28. | Packers | Nakobe Dean, LB | Georgia | |
| 29. | Chiefs | From SF/MIA | Christian Watson, WR | North Dakota St. |
| 30. | Chiefs | Kyler Gordon, CB | Washington | |
| 31. | Bengals | Tyler Linderbaum, OC | Iowa | |
| 32. | Lions | From LAR | Matt Corral, QB | Mississippi |
Offensive line remains an in-demand position as Zion Johnson of Boston College will go to the Tennessee Titans to shore up a major need.
Kaiir Elam won’t have far to travel as the cornerback leaves Gainesville (Fla.) to head to Tampa.
Green Bay goes to the other side of the ball with linebacker Nakobe Dean from UGA to fill a need.
Kansas City has watched a lot of top receivers come off the board, but Christian Watson of North Dakota State could be grossly undervalued, and it would not be shocking to see the Chiefs hit a home run here.
The Chiefs go with the next pick and go defense with Kyler Gordon out of Washington.
The Bengals have addressed offensive line through free agency but the chance to land Tyler Linderbaum at center is just too appealing to pass up on, he comes off the board at No. 31.
We round out the first-round mock with Ole Miss QB Matt Corral off to the Detroit Lions as a back-up to Jared Goff.
Agree? Disagree? Be sure to join the discussion on the Ask the Insiders board. The NFL Draft gets underway on April 28th and runs through April 30th with the first round on night one, rounds two and three on the 29th and rounds four through seven on April 30th.
