Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Nfl Mock Draft

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORKThe 2021 NFL season is moving quickly and that means it's time for our latest 2022 NFL mock draft. With some of the top quarterbacks in college football struggling, the door opens for defensive players to dominate the draft board. This Steelers pick will likely be a common landing spot for quarterbacks in other mock drafts, but I believe the team will look to acquire a veteran instead of a rookie.

And with expected holes along the interior offensive line in 2022, Green could be a strong option. He has been a stalwart for the Aggies this season, playing more than 85 snaps apiece at left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle. There are few pass-catchers in college better at separating from defensive backs and creating a window for quarterbacks to target than Wilson. Pickett entered this season as a projected mid- or late-round pick. But, over the past few months, he played like one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football.

His 92.7 passing grade is the third-highest in the FBS and highest among draft-eligible quarterbacks. His arm isn't the strongest, and you'll hear about potential hand-size concerns, but the confidence with which he played gave him a command of Pitt's offense that was rarely outmatched. With the college football regular season finished and the 2021 NFL regular season having only five weeks left, the 2022 NFL Draft will be here sooner than you think. For many pro teams, the process of adding promising prospects already has come into focus with fading or gone playoff hopes. Thibodeaux stands out as one of the most talented edge rushers to play college football in recent years. He is a lengthy, freakishly athletic, high-motored, diverse pass-rusher whose sky-high ceiling projects him as arguably the best pure prospect in the 2022 draft.

With a void on the interior lineman, enter Heisman Trophy candidate Jordan Davis. One of the most dominant defensive players in college football is going to be an outstanding gap stuffer in the NFL. With college football bowl games in full effect and the playoffs just around the corner, it's time to dive deep into these mock drafts. The NFL Draft order at the top will be solidified soon enough and we can start predicting the early portion of the first round.

Let's dive into the first round of the latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft. As a result, this should be where they focus their attention in the early part of the 2022 NFL Draft. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in the class. At 6'4″ and 214 pounds, he has uncommon size at the safety position. Hamilton has the football intelligence and ball skills to be devastatingly impactful in coverage. He also possesses the athletic ability to patrol the entire field, and the physicality to come downhill in the run game.

Williams would be an exciting addition for the Jets, who will likely be looking to add a wide receiver. Williams has been arguably the best wide receiver in all of college football this year. He also provides a solid frame, reliable hands, and can win in numerous ways aside from his speed. Pairing Williams up with Elijah Moore for Zach Wilson would give the Jets a fun, young offense.

Karlaftis and Williams would be a great haul early on for the Jets. No one should ever complain about adding a talented edge rusher. Outside of quarterback, no position is more valuable in today's game. If there was a betting line being set on which side of the ball the Cowboys would address in the first round, defense would be the favorite. A top edge rusher, defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback or safety all make some sense.

With the college football regular season all wrapped up and the NFL through 14 weeks, we have a lot of entertaining football to look forward to. It seems like football season always flies by, and the draft process will be upon us soon, so now is a good time for a 2022 NFL mock draft. One of the most underrated and undervalued receivers in college football, Burks will explode at the professional level.

His strength and size (6-3, 225 pounds) eliminates defensive backs' attempts to jam him at the line of scrimmage. Burks also possesses that special burst to go deep and stretch defensive coverages that underestimate his long speed. In addition, the Patriots would undoubtedly appreciate Burks' willingness to block downfield.

Raimann was born in Austria and only started playing football when he came to America on an exchange program. He initially played wide receiver and tight end before packing on some pounds at Central Michigan to transition to offensive tackle. He's still relatively green to the game but shows a good understanding and already good consistency with blocks in space and when left one-on-one. Pickens' best quality is his big-play ability because of his very elite tracking skills on deep balls and his ability to high-point balls while making contested catches. Pickens in addition to having elite ball skills has yards after the catch potential because of the physicality he adds to his 6'3 frame.

It's safe to say that Pickens will always be a tough tackle in open space and will be a great asset to Justin Fields who has gotten very minimal help from his wide receivers after the catch in his rookie season. The Lions add two of Michigan's top defensive players in this mock draft. Hill is a promising talent coming off a strong season, helping lead the Wolverines to a successful year.

He can provide great versatility to the Lions' defensive backfield. Hill can play slot corner or either safety position in the secondary. Hutchinson and Hill would be quite a first-round for the Lions. With one week left in the 2021 regular season, the 2022 draft order is close to official. It could be interesting if any potential surprises this weekend drastically change picks towards the top.

After the regular season, it will be fun to see which prospects in the class will see their stock go up. The closer we get to draft day, the more I attempt to match what teams will actually do with their draft picks as opposed to what I believe they should do. Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY SportsRounding out our defensive selections with the Eagles' first-round picks, they add a pass rusher to solidify the front. With prototypical size (6-foot-5) and a lightning-quick first step off the snap, Walker just needs NFL coaching to become an eight-plus sack player at the next level. With the college football regular season all wrapped up, we now have almost all the tape we'll need to sharpen up our draft rankings and big boards. The strength of this draft class lies in the trenches, as offensive and defensive linemen will likely dictate most of the first round.

With the 2021 NFL regular season now starting to wind down, it's slowly becoming mock draft season once again, and that means it's time to start passing along the early predictions from the major media draftniks. The Chiefs are going to have to add a wide receiver to their offense. London is an exciting prospect who just had a great season before a tough injury. From a talent perspective, London has a big frame with his height and weight.

Wilson is a gifted wide receiver prospect who would give the Browns a spark in the passing game. He would work well alongside other young wide receivers, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz. With the football in his hands, he is very dynamic and elusive in space. Karlaftis is a talented prospect who would improve a position of need for the Jets.

He possesses size and strength, but also some good athleticism on the edge. Pairing him up with a healthy Carl Lawson and having Bryce Huff would give the Jets a good pass rush on the outside. Thibodeaux is the best player in the class and would help the Jaguars improve on defense. Jacksonville desperately needs an elite talent like Thibodeaux. He provides all the traits that one could ask for in an edge pass rusher.

As a prospect, he is young and still has the potential to continue to get even better. With some quarterback and wide receiver options still available, the Lions punt on those spots and go with another defensive player here. Now, Dallas needs to put the finishing touches on its secondary to create the best NFL defense.

Ahmad Gardner plays with physicality and it's part of the reason why he dominated at Cincinnati for so many years. After playing only one game in 2020, Ojabo erupted for an 11-sack season this year with five forced fumbles. This could just be a hint of what he is able to accomplish as this athlete becomes an even better football player. Safety isn't the most pressing need for the New York Giants, but there isn't an edge rusher worth taking at this spot in our NFL mock draft.

Kyle Hamilton is one of the best safety prospects to enter the NFL Draft in years and if Patrick Graham remains the Giants' defensive coordinator, he'll help Hamilton become a perennial Pro Bowl selection. An ideal boundary cornerback, Stingley's prototypical size (6-1, 190 pounds) and rare blend of athleticism with elite football I.Q., make him a top five draft prospect. A former receiver himself (six career touchdown receptions at Dunham H.S ), Stingley's enhanced ability to track passes makes him difficult to beat in coverage. Checking in at 6'4″ and 270 pounds, the "Grecian Goliath" is a fascinating mixture of size, speed, and strength. While he has the athletic ability to win outside, he can punish opposing offensive lines from the interior, too. His stats might not be as gaudy as some of the other pass rushers in the class, but his best work often comes outside of the box score.

Williams could go much higher than this, but just based on team needs inside the top ten, he may drop a few spots. With Calvin Ridley away from football indefinitely, it is vital that the Falcons add a premier talent at wide receiver. Williams was the most dangerous deep threat in the country this season, averaging over 20 yards per reception. I thought about mocking Kenny Pickett here, but the value of Williams is just too good to pass up. Although the Steelers are talked about as a quarterback-needy team, there are many other positions that could be in play as well. The Steelers do have some money to work with in free agency, but the offensive line is in shambles, the cupboard at cornerback is looking bare, and the defensive line is not getting any younger.

The Steelers also have to decide on whether Terrell Edmunds, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and James Washington are worth bringing back. That puts wide receiver and safety on the list of potential needs as well. While the Bills had one of the best offenses in the NFL in 2021, there could be some significant changes this offseason at wide receiver as well as some questions at running back. With that in mind, this latest mock draft that was run with The Mock Draft Machine on The Draft Network looks to ensure Josh Allen still has a good group of playmakers in 2022 and beyond. He brings top-tier positional flexibility across the offensive line. He also possesses a strong frame and can win as a blocker with power.

Green would improve the Raiders' offensive line from the jump, and projects to line up on the right side at guard or potentially tackle. Of course, there are a million moving parts to be shaken out with the draft almost five full months away. Quarterbacks, no matter the talk about whether they are a part of subpar class, tend to rise toward the top. You'd have to go back to 2013 to find a draft that didn't feature a quarterback selected in the top six picks, as is the case for Brugler's first mock.

And who knows where the Broncos will be selecting after the final month of the season shakes out. Dane Brugler, The Athletic's NFL Draft expert, has released his first mock draft for 2022. It's a draft cycle that's light on elite quarterbacks but deep along the offensive and defensive lines. Dane is answering questions today from readers about the best prospects, where they are needed most, and how the 2022 class looks as a whole. John Reed-USA TODAY SportsPro Football Focus' highest-rated cornerback in coverage this season, Roger McCreary faced the best wide receivers in the SEC and contained them better than anyone. The 6-foot defensive back brings all the qualities of a lockdown corner and would fit nicely in Brandon Staley's defense.

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY SportsA consensus top-three pick in 2022 NFL mock drafts before the season, Sam Howell didn't play up to expectations this year. But in a season without all of his top offensive weapons that went to the NFL, Howell still scored 34 total touchdowns with 2,851 passing yards and 825 rushing yards. Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY SportsGeorge Karlaftis doesn't have the stats of an elite pass rush, recording just 4.5 sacks in 2021. But at 6-foot-4, a player who earned a spot on Bruce Feldman's 2021 college football freaks list and draws immense praise for his work ethic, Karlaftis can be a top-5 pick. For the Texans, who will likely emphasize specific qualities and draft based on value, Karlaftis fits. Olave isn't an oversized wideout and doesn't display the elite, quick twitch, explosiveness several other receivers in this draft class exhibit.

However, he is arguably the most precise route runner and sure-handed pass catcher among his peers. In the span of three weeks, the Bucs went from fielding a deep and talented receiving corps, to dealing with a depleted unit. Drafting Olave could improve Tampa's dearth in talent and offer a more cap-friendly option for several seasons. Neal continues to impress, helping Alabama rush for 301 yards against Cincinnati in the College Football Playoff semifinal last week.

Despite his enormous frame (6-foot-7, 350 pounds), Neal's natural athleticism enhances his ability to play either tackle position and dominate. A downhill blocker with balanced footwork, his nimble movements neutralize speed and power rushers alike. Without question, Neal is an instant plug and play starter at the next level. Foot-4, 270-pound Karlaftis brings a power profile to edge play that many NFL teams will covet.

His hands are heavy, violent and fast, and his relentless motor makes it a long day at the office for any offensive tackle in front of him. Neal has a really good chance to be the top offensive tackle in this year's class purely because of his rare combination of size, speed and athleticism. Neal is listed at 6-foot-7 and 360 pounds, yet he's a smooth and explosive mover. Of his 879 snaps at left tackle this season, he yielded just 14 pressures and one sack. While Hutchinson is the hot name for the No. 1 overall pick right now, Thibodeaux shouldn't be far behind if he doesn't end up going No. 1 himself. Though he was banged up this season, he still produced one of the highest pass-rush win rates in college football at the edge position.

Every draft analyst seems to have a different opinion on Cross. Some project him as a top-ten pick, while others say he is just a fringe first-round prospect. I currently have Cross rated as the 20th best prospect in this year's class, but his athletic upside could push him up draft boards as we get closer to April. Arizona will need a new left tackle in the near future, and Cross' fluidity and footwork in pass protection make him a worthwhile choice for the pass-happy Cardinals. Little more than halfway through the 2021 season, it's already clear that one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' top needs in the 2022 NFL Draft will be along the offensive line.

2022 Nfl Mock Draft Steelers So, it's no surprise that Pro Football Focus has Pittsburgh using its first-round pick (No. 23 overall) on a fast-rising offensive tackle in its new mock draft, published Monday November 22. Addressing the offensive line does not make sense given what is available for the Titans here. Defensively, they have a ton of talent and would address their secondary with tremendous value at this point in Brisker.

He has good size that he will use to his advantage, and has also proven the ability to make plays on the football. The Buccaneers have had a ton of players fill-in at cornerback this season and will probably need to replace Carlton Davis in the offseason. Over the last two years, McCreary has been very productive making plays on the football in coverage.