NFL analyst drops initial mock draft filled with trades

The offseason will officially be in full swing on Monday, following the conclusion of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams. With the end of the season coming to an end, all attention will be shifting towards free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft in the coming weeks. NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein just released his first mock draft, with a couple of big trades shaking up the selections.

Zierlein’s first NFL mock draft

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama OT Evan Neal
2. Detroit Lions: Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson
TRADE: New York Giants move up, swap picks with Houston Texans
3. New York Giants (via Houston): NC State OT Ikem Ekwonu
4. New York Jets: Notre Dame S Kyle Hamilton
5. Houston Texans (via NY Giants): LSU CB Derek Stingley Jr.
6. Carolina Panthers: Mississippi State OT Charles Cross
7. New York Giants (via Chicago): Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux
8. Atlanta Falcons: Arkansas WR Treylon Burks
9. Denver Broncos: Michigan EDGE David Ojabo
10. New York Jets (via Seattle): Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner
11. Washington Commanders: Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett
12. Minnesota Vikings: Washington CB Trent McDuffie
13. Cleveland Browns: Florida State DE Jermaine Johnson II
14. Baltimore Ravens: Georgia DE Travon Walker
15. Philadelphia Eagles (via Miami): Texas A&M OG Kenyon Green
16. Philadelphia Eagles (via Indianapolis): USC WR Drake London
TRADE: Pittsburgh Steelers move up, swap with Los Angeles Chargers
17. Pittsburgh Steelers (via LA Chargers): Liberty QB Malik Willis
18. New Orleans Saints: Ohio State WR Chris Olave
19. Philadelphia Eagles: Penn State S Jaquan Brisker
20. Los Angeles Chargers (via Pittsburgh): Northern Iowa OT Trevor Penning
21. New England Patriots: Utah LB Devin Lloyd
22. Las Vegas Raiders: Ohio State WR Garrett Wilson
23. Arizona Cardinals: Washington CB Kyler Gordon
24. Dallas Cowboys: Central Michigan OT Bernhard Raimann
25. Buffalo Bills: Georgia DT Jordan Davis
26. Tennessee Titans: Boston College OG Zion Johnson
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Ole Miss QB Matt Corral
28. Green Bay Packers: Georgia LB Nakobe Dean
29. Miami Dolphins (via San Francisco): Alabama WR Jameson Williams
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Purdue EDGE George Karlaftis
31. Cincinnati Bengals: Iowa C Tyler Linderbaum
32. Detroit Lions (via LA Rams): Georgia LB Quay Walker

Three quarterbacks go in Zierlein’s first NFL mock

At the top of Zierlein’s NFL mock draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars opt to add protection for young quarterback Trevor Lawrence, adding Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal. The Lions then take Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, and the first trade of this mock comes at third overall.

Zierlein projects the New York Giants to trade up to third overall, moving up to select NC State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu. The Jets then take Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton at No. 4, and the Texans take LSU corner Derek Stingley Jr. at No. 5. Carolina then selects Charles Cross to solidify the offensive line, and the Giants snag Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, once viewed as the top prospect in this draft class, at No. 7.

At 11th overall, the Washington Commanders take the first shot at a quarterback with Kenny Pickett. No other quarterback went until pick 17. At 17th overall, Zierlein projects that the Pittsburgh Steelers will trade up to select Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. The Chargers, after moving down to No. 20, then select more offensive line help in Trevor Penning.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also took a quarterback, opting to go with Matt Corral out of Ole Miss as Tom Brady’s replacement.

Ultimately, Zierlein has an even 16/16 split between offensive and defensive players being selected in his NFL mock draft.