2022 NFL Draft: KC Chiefs trade up in final first-round mock
By Grant Tuttle
Alabama. Evan Neal. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. 4. 30
Finally, the top offensive lineman is off the board. Zach Wilson looked the part at times in his rookie year but was under duress too frequently to settle into a rhythm. Alabama’s Evan Neal can turn things around in a hurry. Not only is he incredibly athletic, his intelligence is also off the charts. Neal could play any position along the offensive line and excel at it. The Jets will likely make him their right tackle in this case with Mekhi Becton on the left.
New York could go with a wide receiver here and take their top choice. With a deep wide receiver class, solidifying the offensive line seems more logical. Neal and Becton would make for an excellent tandem for the next decade.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. EDGE. player. 31. Ohio State. Travon Walker. 5
Travon Walker has been projected in some mock drafts as a top-four selection. For the Giants, this value at seven can’t be passed up. While the Giants have a few nice pieces on the defensive side of the ball, Travon Walker on one side and Leonard Williams on the other make for a very talented duo. Walker provides a very high ceiling with some very good traits as a pass-rusher. Walker needs some work on technique and hand counters, but could very well be a top ten EDGE in the NFL when it is all said and done.
The Giants could make a multitude of picks at seven, but if the board falls in this manner, it would seem difficult to take anyone else here. Under new leadership, the Giants will be hoping to build the core on both sides of the ball.
Pick Analysis. 6. 87. Scouting Report. QB. Liberty Univerity. Malik Willis. player
Malik Willis is all over the place in most mock drafts. Is he sliding out of the top ten? Could he still be there at 15? No. Malik Willis is not (or at least should not) make it past pick-six when Carolina picks. Matt Rhule spent last season with Sam Darnold and the corpse of Cam Newton. With his job on the line, it seems unlikely that he will be willing to pass on a guy like Malik Willis. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
Willis is as physically gifted as they come. With blazing speed and good acceleration, Willis is difficult to deal with in the run game. While his competition was not top-level in college, Willis’s ability as a passer is also very good. With a cannon for an arm and solid mechanics, Willis could truly develop into one of the top 5-10 quarterbacks in the NFL.
Ikem Ekwonu. 31. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. North Carolina State. 7. player. OT
(From Chicago Bears)
Another lineman is off the board. Ikem Ekwonu is well-liked in NFL circles and could be the first lineman taken. With a powerful first step and good length, Ekwonu has all the makings of a top-tier offensive lineman. While the Giants have missed a number of times on offensive linemen, this is a can’t miss.
The Giants would solidify their bookends and give Daniel Jones every chance to succeed. The Giants could be in a two or three-year rebuild and adding Ekwonu is a very smart pick to start it all off. Ekwonu could help revitalize Saquon Barkley’s shaky start to his career and make the offense more consistent.