As teams finalize their 2022 NFL Draft boards and bolster their rosters through free agency and trades, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper went back and forth this week to formulate a mock draft 3.5 projection showcasing the first 10 picks and possible picks for each team.
Heisman Trophy finalist Aidan Hutchinson from Michigan and Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux are expected to be the first pass rushers off the board unless Georgia’s Travon Walker continues his surge, but there are questions if either will go No. 1 considering the offensive line talent that’s stacked at the top.
Hutchinson turned heads at the combine and in his three seasons at Oregon, Thibodeaux racked up 126 tackles, 19 sacks, 35.5 tackles for loss, seven passes deflected, and three forced fumbles.
NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu and Alabama’s Evan Neal are also in the mix for that coveted No. 1 selection, McShay said.Some analysts believe the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to go with offensive line help for Trevor Lawrence with the top pick, leaving the Lions on the clock with their choice of various pass rushers.
However, McShay and Kiper are rolling with Aidan Hutchinson in this spot. Hutchinson previously admitted that he grew up a New England Patriots fan and did not follow Detroit as close as he should have being from Michigan.
