NFL Draft: Todd McShay releases first 2022 mock draft

ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay has released his first 2022 mock draft. With just a month remaining in the NFL’s regular season and bowl season about to get underway in college football, the NFL Draft picture continues to take shape. McShay’s first 2022 NFL mock draft contains some surprises, and no quarterbacks taken inside the top ten.

McShay’s first 2022 NFL mock draft

1. Detroit Lions: Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson
2. Houston Texans: Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama OT Evan Neal
4. New York Jets: LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
5. New York Giants (via Chicago): Purdue DE George Karlaftis
6. Carolina Panthers: Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
7. New York Giants: Georgia LB Nakobe Dean
8. Atlanta Falcons: Alabama WR Jameson Williams
9. New York Jets (via Seattle): Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): Michigan DE David Ojabo
11. Las Vegas Raiders: Texas A&M DL DeMarvin Leal
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett
13. Washington Football Team: Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
14. Philadelphia Eagles: Utah LB Devin Lloyd
15. Minnesota Vikings: Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
16. Cincinnati Bengals: Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
17. Denver Broncos: Liberty QB Malik Willis
18. Cleveland Browns: USC WR Drake London
19. New Orleans Saints: Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder
20. Philadelphia Eagles: Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson
21. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco): NC State OL Ikem Ekwonu
22. Baltimore Ravens: Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
23. Buffalo Bills: Auburn CB Roger McCreary
24. Los Angeles Chargers: Georgia DT Jordan Davis
25. Detroit Lions (via LA Rams): North Carolina QB Sam Howell
26. Tennessee Titans: Clemson CB Andrew Booth Jr.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Georgia DE Travon Walker
28. Green Bay Packers: Ohio State WR Chris Olave
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Penn State WR Jahan Dotson
30. Arizona Cardinals: Florida CB Kaiir Elam
31. New England Patriots: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: San Diego State DE Cameron Thomas

McShay predicts five first round quarterbacks, but none in the top ten

As is the case with most NFL Drafts, once one team takes a quarterback, others usually follow. McShay did not have a single quarterback taken in the first round in his first 2022 mock draft, but once he had one go, the rest quickly followed. The first quarterback taken in McShay’s mock was Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett, who went No. 12 to the Steelers.

Washington followed that up by selecting Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral at No. 13. Denver (Liberty’s Malik Willis, No. 17), New Orleans (Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder, No. 19), and Detroit (North Carolina’s Sam Howell, No. 25) also took quarterbacks.

If there are no quarterbacks taken in the top ten, it would be the first time that has happened since 2013. In the 2013 NFL Draft, EJ Manuel was the first quarterback taken at 16th overall.

McShay projects an even 16-16 split in the first round between offensive and defensive players. While the draft order is a long ways from being finalized, McShay gave us an interesting look into what we could see come draft night.