ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has been synonymous with the NFL Draft since it became a thing, and while people often disagree with his analysis, there’s no doubt that few people in the world of media scouting are more plugged in with what teams look for. So, when he posts a draft it’s really worth diving into.
On Wednesday we got a new mock from Kiper Jr, and there are some real surprises.
“Sauce” Gardner rising to No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft, while Derek Stingley falls
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner has more or less settled into being the No. 1 cornerback in the draft due to his rare physical and athletic traits. That said, Kiper is the first person to put him No. 2 overall to the Lions.
This would make Gardner the highest selected cornerback ever. While this is a critical position, and Detroit would be fearsome with Gardner and Jeff Odukah (if he can get healthy), I’m really struggling to see investing a pick that high on a cornerback here.
The flipside is that Kiper has Derek Stingley Jr. falling all the way to No. 12 to the Vikings. This was a guy being projected in the Top 5. I know fans in Minnesota will salivate for this, but I would be stunned if we see either Sauce go this high, or Stingley Jr. go this low.
If it happened this would definitely shake up the Top 10, and it’ll be something to watch for sure.
The pass rush run in the Top 10
There’s a ton of talent at pass rusher in the draft, but Kiper is the first to go so all-in on how much teams like these players. Four edge rushers are being selected in the Top 10, with Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson being the name sneaking in that others haven’t projected so far.
This comes at the expense of the offensive tackles, who fall lower than people have projected. I could potentially see this happening, but the idea of getting the third or fourth best pass rusher over an Evan Neal or Charles Cross really doesn’t vibe with me too well.
Breece Hall in the second
There is only one running back in my mind worth of a first round pick, and I think he’s a hell of a player. Kiper has Iowa State’s Breece Hall falling to No. 38 to the Jets, which floors me.
Hall is an ideal mix of speed and power, with rare traits. I cannot fathom the Buffalo Bills passing on him at No. 26, considering a do-everything back is really the only thing that offense is missing. Hell, for that matter I can’t believe the Texans would pass on him either.
I think people are going to be shocked by how high Hall goes. I could honestly see him in the teens if a team believes enough.
The Bengals do what?!
I’m not objecting to the idea of Cincinnati trading out of the first round for future assets, it’s more that Kiper has the Jets FLEECING the Bengals in a trade. At No. 31 he proposes the Jets move up to draft Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum, who is sliding for God knows what reason.
In exchange, he has New York giving Cincinnati the No. 35 pick and a Day 3 selection. That is laughable. On no planet can I imagine the Bengals shifting from Day 1 to Day 2, where they could get jumped in trade discussions happening overnight, and all they come away with is a mid-late round pick who probably won’t make the team.
This scenario also has the Bengals missing out on OG Kenyon Green because of this trade, who would be a natural fit on their new-look offensive line.
No receiver for the Chiefs
There’s a justification here that Kansas City has second and third round picks to address the position, but I hate it. This team’s bread and butter is Patrick Mahomes, and with Tyreek Hill gone they HAVE to support him with more weapons.
Part of this is how WR happy Mel’s draft is early, leading to a major drain where the Chiefs are picking, which I don’t see happening either. There are a lot of good receivers this year, but I don’t see seven coming off the board before Kansas City picks.
Also, Kiper has the Chiefs picking up Skyy Moore with the No. 50 pick. He will not last that long, and should be the pick in the first.
Yes, there is a draft in here. In fact, there are several.
This year, any number of scenarios could unfold in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft. With no surefire No. 1 overall pick (unlike in recent years), few analysts and experts agree on who could be the top selection.
With that in mind, these five prospects are near-locks to go in the top five: Michigan edge Aidan Hutchinson, Alabama tackle Evan Neal, Oregon edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and N.C. State tackle Ikem Ekwonu.
BIG BOARD: Ranking the top 100 prospects for 2022 NFL Draft
After that, it's a total crapshoot. With the NFL Combine underway, prospects will rise and fall, as is the case in the month leading up to the draft.
Here's how four of the latest mock drafts — from SN's Vinnie Iyer, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay and NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah — stack up:
Vinnie Iyer's mock draft (The Sporting News)
Iyer's latest mock draft was released March 1:
1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Michigan |
2 | Detroit Lions | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
3 | Houston Texans | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama |
4 | New York Jets | Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | Oregon |
5 | New York Giants | Ikem Ekwonu | OT/G | N.C. State |
6 | Carolina Panthers | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State |
7 | New York Giants (via CHI) | George Karlaftis | EDGE | Purdue |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU |
9 | Denver Broncos | David Ojabo | EDGE | Michigan |
10 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah |
11 | Washington Commanders | Malik Willis | QB | Liberty |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | Tyler Linderbaum | C | Iowa |
13 | Cleveland Browns | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama |
14 | Baltimore Ravens | Andrew Booth Jr. | CB | Clemson |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) | Kenyon Green | G | Texas A&M |
16 | Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) | Nakobe Dean | LB | Georgia |
17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia |
18 | New Orleans Saints | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati |
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Kenny Pickett | QB | Pittsburgh |
21 | New England Patriots | Chris Olave | WR | Ohio State |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | Treylon Burks | WR | Arkansas |
23 | Arizona Cardinals | Roger McCreary | CB | Auburn |
24 | Dallas Cowboys | Travon Walker | DT/DE | Georgia |
25 | Buffalo Bills | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington |
26 | Tennessee Titans | Drake London | WR | USC |
27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Desmond Ridder | QB | Cincinnati |
28 | Green Bay Packers | Jahan Dotson | WR | Penn State |
29 | Miami Dolphins (via SF) | Trey McBride | TE | Colorado State |
30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jermaine Johnson II | EDGE | Florida State |
31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Trevor Penning | OT | Northern Iowa |
32 | Detroit Lions (via LAR) | Matt Corral | QB | Ole Miss |
Noteworthy:
— Quite the slide for Sauce Gardner: While some consider Gardner to be the top corner on the board, competing with Derek Stingley, Iyer has him mocked at No. 19 to the Eagles.
— Drake London, who some believe is the No. 1 wideout in this draft, falls all the way down to the Titans at No. 26.
— The Lions get their passer of the future, thanks in part to Jared Goff: With the No. 32 overall selection (via the Goff trade), Detroit nabs Matt Corral.
Mel Kiper Jr.'s mock draft (ESPN)
Kiper's latest mock draft was released March 1:
1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | N.C. State |
2 | Detroit Lions | Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Michigan |
3 | Houston Texans | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama |
4 | New York Jets | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
5 | New York Giants | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | Oregon |
6 | Carolina Panthers | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State |
7 | New York Giants (via CHI) | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati |
9 | Cleveland Browns (via DEN) | Drake London | WR | USC |
10 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Tyler Linderbaum | C | Iowa |
11 | Washington Commanders | Kenny Pickett | QB | Pittsburgh |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU |
13 | Denver Broncos (via CLE) | Jermaine Johnson II | DE | Florida State |
14 | New Orleans Saints (via BAL) | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington |
16 | Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) | David Ojabo | OLB | Michigan |
17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Travon Walker | DE | Georgia |
18 | Baltimore Ravens (via NO) | Trevor Penning | OT | Northern Iowa |
19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Treylon Burks | WR | Arkansas |
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Malik Willis | QB | Liberty |
21 | New England Patriots | Arnold Ebiketie | DE | Penn State |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | Nakobe Dean | LB | Georgia |
23 | Arizona Cardinals | Chris Olave | WR | Ohio State |
24 | Dallas Cowboys | George Karlaftis | DE | Purdue |
25 | Buffalo Bills | Devonte Wyatt | DT | Georgia |
26 | Tennessee Titans | Jahan Dotson | WR | Penn State |
27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Zion Johnson | IOL | Boston College |
28 | Green Bay Packers | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama |
29 | Miami Dolphins (via SF) | Bernhard Raimann | OT | Central Michigan |
30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Boye Mafe | OLB | Minnesota |
31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Kyler Gordon | CB | Washington |
32 | Detroit Lions (via LAR) | Matt Corral | QB | Ole Miss |
Noteworthy:
— The Steelers find their successor to Ben Roethlisberger, and they don't have to trade up to do it, landing Malik Willis at No. 20 overall.
— The Cowboys may get the steal of the draft, landing George Karlaftis at No. 24 overall.
— The Packers finally draft a first-round wide receiver, getting Alabama's Jameson Williams at No. 28.
Daniel Jeremiah's mock draft (NFL Network)
Jeremiah's latest mock draft was released Feb. 22:
1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama |
2 | Detroit Lions | Aidan Hutchinson | EDGE | Michigan |
3 | Houston Texans | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
4 | New York Jets | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | N.C. State |
5 | New York Giants | Travon Walker | EDGE | Georgia |
6 | Carolina Panthers | Trevor Penning | OT | Northern Iowa |
7 | New York Giants (via CHI) | Drake London | WR | USC |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | Kayvon Thibodeaux | EDGE | Oregon |
9 | Denver Broncos | Jermain Johnson | EDGE | Florida State |
10 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati |
11 | Washington Commanders | Kenyon Green | G | Texas A&M |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington |
13 | Cleveland Browns | George Karlaftis | EDGE | Purdue |
14 | Baltimore Ravens | Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) | David Ojabo | EDGE | Michigan |
16 | Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) | Devonte Wyatt | DT | Georgia |
17 | Los Angeles Chargers | Chris Olave | WR | Ohio State |
18 | New Orleans Saints | Kenny Pickett | QB | Pittsburgh |
19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Malik Willis | QB | Liberty |
21 | New England Patriots | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State |
23 | Arizona Cardinals | Kyle Gordon | CB | Washington |
24 | Dallas Cowboys | Nakobe Dean | LB | Georgia |
25 | Buffalo Bills | Treylon Burks | WR | Arkansas |
26 | Tennessee Titans | Tyler Linderbaum | C | Iowa |
27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama |
28 | Green Bay Packers | Boye Mafe | EDGE | Minnesota |
29 | Miami Dolphins (via SF) | Tyler Smith | OT | Tulsa |
30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Dax Hill | S | Michigan |
31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Bernhard Raimann | OT | Central Michigan |
32 | Detroit Lions (via LAR) | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia |
Noteworthy:
— There could be as many as six first-round tackles according to Jeremiah, with Trevor Penning moving all the way up into the top 10.
— Derek Stingley Jr. makes a short slide, going No. 14 overall. Some consider Stingley a top-10 lock and the best overall cornerback prospect on the board:
— More weaponry for Josh Allen: The Bills take Treylon Burks at No. 25 overall, adding to their already deadly passing attack.
Todd McShay's mock draft (ESPN)
McShay's latest mock draft was released Feb. 16:
1 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Evan Neal | OT | Alabama |
2 | Detroit Lions | Aidan Hutchinson | DE | Michigan |
3 | Houston Texans | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
4 | New York Jets | Ikem Ekwonu | OT | N.C. State |
5 | New York Giants | Kayvon Thibodeaux | DE | Oregon |
6 | Carolina Panthers | Ahmad Gardner | CB | Cincinnati |
7 | New York Giants (via CHI) | Charles Cross | OT | Mississippi State |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | Drake London | WR | USC |
9 | Denver Broncos | Devin Lloyd | LB | Utah |
10 | New York Jets (via SEA) | Derek Stingley Jr. | CB | LSU |
11 | Washington Commanders | Kenny Pickett | QB | Pittsburgh |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | Trent McDuffie | CB | Washington |
13 | Cleveland Browns | Garrett Wilson | WR | Ohio State |
14 | Baltimore Ravens | Tyler Linderbaum | C | Iowa |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles (via MIA) | Nakobe Dean | LB | Georgia |
16 | Philadelphia Eagles (via IND) | Travon Walker | DE | Georgia |
17 | Pittsburgh Steelers (via LAC) | Malik Willis | QB | Liberty |
18 | New Orleans Saints | Matt Corral | QB | Ole Miss |
19 | Philadelphia Eagles | Treylon Burks | WR | Arkansas |
20 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Jordan Davis | DT | Georgia |
21 | New England Patriots | Kyler Gordon | CB | Washington |
22 | Las Vegas Raiders | Chris Olave | WR | Ohio State |
23 | Arizona Cardinals | Jermaine Johnson | DE | Florida State |
24 | Dallas Cowboys | David Ojabo | DE | Michigan |
25 | Buffalo Bills | Andrew Booth Jr. | CB | Clemson |
26 | Tennessee Titans | George Karlaftis | DE | Purdue |
27 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Jameson Williams | WR | Alabama |
28 | Green Bay Packers | Devonte Wyatt | DT | Georgia |
29 | Miami Dolphins (via SF) | Trevor Penning | OT | Northern Iowa |
30 | Kansas City Chiefs | Jahan Dotson | WR | Penn State |
31 | Cincinnati Bengals | Bernhard Raimann | OT | Central Michigan |
32 | Detroit Lions (via LAR) | Sam Howell | QB | North Carolina |
Noteworthy:
— Would the Jets pass on a pass rusher? According to McShay, they might: Kayvon Thibodeaux falls past them and goes to the Gotham City-rival Giants at No. 5.
— In a mock trade with the Chargers, the Steelers move up to select Malik Willis, turning from immobile Ben Roethlisberger to an explosive successor.
— The pass rush in Dallas could be very scary, if the Cowboys opt to take Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo with the No. 24 overall selection.
Author(s)
Joe Rivera is a senior content producer at The Sporting News and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater, Rutgers University.
Pemimpin Statistik Kiper NHL di musim 2022-2023.
Nyr | 27 | 9 | 2.41 | 0.916 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 547 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wsh | 32 | 9 | 2.35 | 0.922 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 536 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Lak | 36 | 9 | 3.26 | 0.889 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 515 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Min | 38 | 9 | 3.41 | 0.888 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 510 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ott | 30 | 9 | 3.58 | 0.898 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 502 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bos | 29 | 9 | 2.17 | 0.929 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 497 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ana | 29 | 9 | 4.58 | 0.882 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 485 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
LAUT | 32 | 9 | 2.69 | 0.893 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 468 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
WPG | 29 | 8 | 2.35 | 0.929 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 486 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tbl | 28 | 8 | 2.87 | 0.911 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 481 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SJS | 34 | 8 | 2.77 | 0.917 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 477 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
VGK | 25 | 8 | 2.01 | 0.934 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 477 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NYI | 27 | 8 | 2.03 | 0.936 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 473 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nsh | 27 | 8 | 3.17 | 0.898 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 473 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MOBIL VAN | 27 | 8 | 4.06 | 0.876 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 473 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MOBIL | 33 | 7 | 2.66 | 0.894 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 428 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Phi | 24 | 7 | 2.10 | 0.943 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 428 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
LUBANG | 27 | 7 | 3.42 | 0.904 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 421 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Buf | 27 | 7 | 3.29 | 0.898 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 419 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Fla | 34 | 7 | 3.03 | 0.901 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 417 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mtl | 32 | 7 | 2.88 | 0.908 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 417 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Tor | 25 | 7 | 2.30 | 0.920 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 417 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ari | 26 | 7 | 3.97 | 0.895 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 408 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
STL | 29 | 7 | 3.40 | 0.879 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 388 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dal | 24 | 7 | 1.40 | 0.952 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 385 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cgy | 32 | 7 | 2.68 | 0.903 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 381 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Edm | 30 | 7 | 3.91 | 0.881 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 369 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
CBJ | 28 | 7 | 4.75 | 0.864 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 366 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
NJD | 26 | 7 | 2.79 | 0.880 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 366 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chi | 35 | 7 | 2.93 | 0.914 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 328 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Col | 26 | 6 | 2.81 | 0.918 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 363 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Det | 27 | 6 | 2.17 | 0.934 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 360 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NJD | 26 | 6 | 2.06 | 0.910 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 291 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Edm | 24 | 5 | 2.11 | 0.944 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 285 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dal | 30 | 5 | 3.29 | 0.903 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 274 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Lak | 28 | 5 | 4.30 | 0.869 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 265 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
CBJ | 23 | 5 | 3.57 | 0.893 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 235 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ana | 28 | 5 | 3.96 | 0.890 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mtl | 26 | 4 | 2.47 | 0.928 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 243 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Det | 26 | 4 | 4.96 | 0.871 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 242 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
LUBANG | 31 | 4 | 3.25 | 0.904 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Fla | 21 | 4 | 2.53 | 0.898 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 237 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
LAUT | 31 | 4 | 3.77 | 0.861 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 191 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bos | 24 | 4 | 3.45 | 0.878 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 174 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MOBIL | 33 | 3 | 2.23 | 0.913 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 188 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
VGK | 26 | 3 | 1.63 | 0.941 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 184 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
MOBIL VAN | 27 | 3 | 3.27 | 0.899 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 183 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SJS | 26 | 3 | 3.30 | 0.905 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Tor | 26 | 3 | 3.62 | 0.875 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Buf | 41 | 3 | 1.66 | 0.946 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Sergei Bobrovsky
Fla
Jake Allen
Mtl
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