2022 NFL Mock Draft 1B: Final 8
January 31, 2022
The divisional round we just saw may be the greatest ever. All of the games came down to the wire and were simply sensational. Each team would have deserved victory. However, only four can come out on top, which means four more picks all set for the draft.
- The Buffalo Bills select Drake London, WR, USC
I know Gabriel Davis just put together the greatest wideout performance in playoff history, but he is not the one being replaced. Emmanuel Sanders and Cole Beasley are going to be gone very soon, and Isaiah McKenzie is not going to be a top two option. Thus, the Bills will select an exciting prospect from out west. Drake London was a multi-sport standout at USC. He possesses great ball skills and reliable hands for catching. His vertical speed makes him a constant big-play threat, and he performed well despite shaky quarterback play in 2021. London and Stefon Diggs will make a lethal tandem in Buffalo.
- The Tennessee Titans select Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa:
The Titans are set to gain what they need in free agency, including right tackle, which has been a need for a long time. Trevor Penning is a massive specimen, standing at 6-foot-8. But, he is also super athletic for his size. Penning is nasty in the run game and you will often see his assigned defender on the floor at the end of the play. That is the power of Trevor Penning. With David Quessenberry a free agent and Taylor Lewan getting older, Penning could easily supplant one or the other, depending on the need.
- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Trent McDuffie, DB, Washington
Amongst the impending free agents the Bucs face is Carlton Davis, their top corner. Considering Chris Godwin, Leonard Fournette, and Rob Gronkowski are waiting for new deals, it will be hard to keep Davis. Bruce Arians has to take a Belichick approach, finding a cheaper replacement for an expensive talent. Enter Trent McDuffie. McDuffie stands out because of his versatility and athletic profile. He is a very fast player who can play in the slot and on the boundary, and can also play free safety. This versatility will allow him to fit into any scheme.
- The Green Bay Packers select Darian Kinnard, G, Kentucky
Though he aligned at right tackle for Kentucky last season, Darian Kinnard projects best as a guard. He could be a valuable run blocker for Green Bay, and maybe a decent pass blocker for whoever is playing quarterback at Lambeau next season. The right side of the Packers’ line is far inferior to the left side, where David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are starters. Getting more reinforcements on Aaron Rodgers’ right will certainly make the offense much better.
- The Miami Dolphins select Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
The Dolphins’ defensive line has some rising names, but one more can help the defense take another step up. Jordan Davis is by far the best run stopper in the draft class, but he also has pass rushing upside. The massive specimen carries a lot of strength and can make plays despite being blocked by two guys at once. He is scheme-versatile and has improved over the past few seasons with Georgia. Miami has big needs everywhere, but Jordan Davis is simply too talented of a player to pass on.
- The Kansas City Chiefs select Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
The Chiefs are likely going to lose several defensive linemen to free agency. Jarran Reed, Derrick Nnadi, and Melvin Ingram are the biggest names set to walk out in the spring. Travon Walker can replace at least one of them. He is a very versatile and athletic prospect with outstanding size and a brilliant football IQ. He has a high motor and he uses his hands well, often resulting in pressures, sacks, and run stoppages. He may have the highest upside of any pass rusher not named Thibodeaux, Karlaftis, Hutchinson, or Ojabo.
- The Cincinnati Bengals select Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
An impressive developmental prospect, Bernhard Raimann is very new to American football. Hailing from Austria, he played wide receiver and tight end before building up weight and moving to offensive tackle. He is very technically refined despite only playing on the offensive line for two years up to this point. He has plug-and-play potential, meaning a team like the Bengals, who are set to lose Riley Reiff to free agency, can make a quality prospect like Raimann a week-one starter in 2022.
- The Detroit Lions select Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
The Lions acquired this pick from the Rams in the Matt Stafford trade, which has worked out well for Los Angeles. Detroit is looking forward to the future, but their offense needs a dynamic weapon opposite Amon-Ra St. Brown. Jahan Dotson, a former basketball and track guy, is a nice route runner and is a great vertical threat. Whoever the Lions quarterback is next year will enjoy having Dotson, St. Brown, TJ Hockenson, and DeAndre Swift at their disposal.