2022 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: Arizona Cardinals Trade Up for a Wide Receiver

The NFL draft is less than a week away, but it’s still a giant mystery how the first round will play out.

It seems inevitable that trades will shake things up, so in Mock Draft 3.0, I’m giving myself the latitude to make deals between teams. Here are 1.0 and 2.0 for those who missed them.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Edge Aidan Hutchinson

Odds Hutchinson goes No. 1, via BetMGM: -175

Last time: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan

The No. 1 pick can often be coveted by other teams, but there is no generational quarterback prospect in the draft, so Jacksonville will likely stay put. The Jaguars need a lot of things, including another pass-rusher, and Hutchinson seems like a safe pick.

2. Detroit Lions: Edge Kayvon Thibodeuax, Oregon

Odds Thibodeaux goes No. 2: +100

Last time: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia

The Lions are good at offensive tackle, so pass-rusher makes sense. Thibodeaux’s odds to go No. 2 have shot up recently, and I will follow the betting market’s advice.

3. Houston Texans: CB Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati

Odds Gardner goes No. 3: +350

Last time: Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, Oregon

The Texans have some nice options at premium defensive positions, so it comes down to their preference, and Gardner is reportedly in the mix.

4. New York Jets: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

Odds Wilson is the first receiver selected: +115

Last time: CB Sauce Gardner, Cincinnati

The Jets have been working like crazy to add a premium wide receiver, and maybe Deebo Samuel becomes that guy. But if not, New York could have its pick in a deep wide receiver class.

5. New York Giants: OT Evan Neal, Alabama

Odds Neal is the first offensive lineman selected: +150

Last time: OT Evan Neal, Alabama

Neal still makes sense here for the Giants, who would love to have a pair of talented young protectors at tackle.

6. New Orleans Saints: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Trade Details: Saints trade No. 16 and No. 19 to the Panthers for the No. 6 pick and a 2023 third-rounder

Odds Pickett is the first quarterback selected: +130

Last time: T Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State

The Saints need a long-term answer at quarterback, and Pickett’s rookie deal would allow them to get into better salary cap shape over the next few years. It’s a risk, but the Saints can remain competitive for the foreseeable future if they hit on a quarterback in the draft.

7. New York Giants: Edge Travon Walker, Georgia

Last time: WR Drake London, USC

This would be good value for the Giants at No. 7, as Walker is in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. He would immediately upgrade the defensive front.

8. Atlanta Falcons: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama

Last time: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

Williams could still be recovering from a torn ACL early in the season, but the Falcons won’t be winning much this year, anyway. A Kyle Pitts-Jameson Williams pairing is tempting for the future.

9. Seattle Seahawks: T Ikem Ekwonu, North Carolina State

Last time: QB Malik Willis, Liberty 

Malik Willis still seems like a possibility here, but if the Seahawks decide to trade for Baker Mayfield, they may want to give him a legitimate shot at becoming their long-term starter. Ekwonu would be a nice value grab for a team that could use help on the offensive line.

10. New York Jets: CB Derek Stingley, LSU

Last time: WR Garrett Wilson, Ohio State

The Jets could go with upside here, hoping that Stingley puts everything together and becomes the star cornerback that was evident at times during his college career.

11. Washington Commanders: S Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame

Last time: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State 

Hamilton’s stock has seemingly fallen in recent weeks, after many wondered if he could go as high as No. 2 in the draft. If he slides out of the top-10, Washington would likely take a close look.

12. Minnesota Vikings: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington

Last time: CB Derek Stingley, Jr., LSU

Stingley would probably be the preferred choice, but Minnesota may still go cornerback if he is off the board. McDuffie is a talented player coming from a school that has a strong tradition of sending upper-tier defensive backs to the NFL.

13. Arizona Cardinals: WR Drake London, USC

Trade Details: Cardinals trade No. 23 and No. 55 overall to the Texans for No. 13

Last time: OT Charles Cross, Mississippi State

London is a projected top-10 pick in many mock drafts, and if he slips a little, several teams could consider moving up for him. In this scenario, Arizona deals its first- and second-round picks to grab the 6-foot-4 wideout with exceptional ball skills. Kyler Murray has elite accuracy, and London’s contested-catch ability could make for a special long-term pairing. Houston has a lot of holes and would be well-served to pick up an extra second-round pick through this trade.

14. Baltimore Ravens: DT Jordan Davis

Last time: DT Jordan Davis, Georgia

No change here. The Ravens need help on the interior and Davis would fill that void in a major way, instantly improving the run defense.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: WR Chris Olave, Ohio State

Last time: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State

The Eagles seem almost certain to grab a wide receiver with either this pick or No. 18. Olave would be a nice addition to pair with DeVonta Smith as targets for Jalen Hurts.

16. Carolina Panthers: QB Malik Willis, Liberty

Last time: WR Jameson Williams, Alabama

This would be a pretty ideal scenario for the Panthers. They trade down to secure an extra first-round pick, and then still have their choice between Willis and tackle Charles Cross. This seems like solid value for Willis, considering the upside, and Carolina would likely pull the trigger.

17. Los Angeles Chargers: T Charles Cross, Mississippi State

Last time: OT Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

The Chargers would likely be happy if the draft unfolded this way. They need an upgrade at tackle and Cross would help fill that void. He has top-10 buzz so this would be great value.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Devin Lloyd, Utah

Last time: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

The Eagles secured this pick in a trade with the Saints, and Lloyd would be a potential impact addition in the middle of the defense.

19. Carolina Panthers: T Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa

Last time:  LB Devin Lloyd, Utah

The Panthers are widely expected to go with a quarterback or offensive lineman at No. 6. Well, now that they have traded down in my mock draft, they get both. Penning is a polarizing prospect but if Carolina likes what it sees, it’s a natural pairing.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati

Last time: CB Trent McDuffie, Washington

The Steelers didn’t make a big splash at quarterback in free agency, choosing to sign Mitchell Trubisky. Ridder is getting some first-round buzz heading into the draft, and if the Steelers are keen on him, they could draft their quarterback of the future.

21. New England Patriots: Edge Jermaine Johnson, Florida State 

Last time: LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia

The Patriots love value, and grabbing Johnson in the back half of the first round would be a high-upside choice. He could go earlier than this, but if not, New England would have to take a long look.

22. Green Bay Packers: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas

Last time: WR Treylon Burks, Arkansas

This pick just makes too much sense. The Packers need weapons for Aaron Rodgers, and Burks would be an intriguing piece for that offense.

23. Houston Texans: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue

Last time: DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

The Texans get more bites at the apple by trading down, and secure an intriguing pass-rushing prospect with the Cardinals’ pick. Houston needs to keep adding impact players at key positions, and coming away with Gardner and Karlaftis in the first round would be solid.

24. Dallas Cowboys: LB Nakobe Dean, Georgia

Last time: G Zion Johnson, Boston College

Dean can take over at middle linebacker, allowing Micah Parsons to terrorize quarterbacks on the edge. The Cowboys’ defense has some elite young talent and Dean could add to it.

25. Buffalo Bills: RB Breece Hall, Iowa State

Last time: CB Andrew Booth, Jr., Clemson

It’s not ideal to take a running back early in the first round, but it can make sense as the round comes to a close. Football Outsiders believes Hall has Jonathan Taylor-like potential, which is a scary thing to think about in an already-electric Bills offense. Running backs can make a quick impact, which would fit the timeline because Buffalo is Super Bowl-ready.

26. Tennessee Titans: G Zion Johnson, Boston College

Last time: G/T Kenyon Green, Texas A&M

The Titans need to continue bolstering the interior of their offensive line, and can do so with Johnson, who seems like a good scheme fit. Johnson is a good run-blocker and Tennessee wants to play a smash-mouth style.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Kyler Gordon, Washington

Last time: Edge George Karlaftis, Purdue

Gordon seems to fit the mold of a Todd Bowles cornerback, and he would be a talented addition to an already-stacked defense. The Bucs don’t have many needs so they can truly go best-player-available.

28. Green Bay Packers: DT Devonte Wyatt, Georgia

Last time: G/T Tyler Smith, Tulsa

The Packers could add some explosiveness to their pass-rush by grabbing Wyatt, whose stock is beginning to slip for reported character issues. It’s hard to know which teams will consider taking Wyatt, but from a football perspective, he would make sense for Green Bay in this spot.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State

Last time: DE Boye Mafe, Minnesota

It doesn’t sound like the Chiefs will deal for Deebo Samuel because his contract would put them in the same spot as they were with Tyreek Hill. Dotson would be a cheaper option, and while he’s obviously not a sure thing, Kansas City should look to re-stock the weaponry around Patrick Mahomes.

30. Kansas City Chiefs: DE Boye Mafe, Minnesota

Last time:  WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State

The defense was very up-and-down last season, and adding a gifted pass-rushing prospect makes sense. Mafe has some refinement needed, but Kansas City can bring him along slowly as a rookie before expecting big things down the line.

31. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Andrew Booth, Clemson

Last time: CB Kaiir Elam, Florida

The Bengals don’t have very many glaring weaknesses heading into 2022. The cornerback group could be upgraded, and Booth is an intriguing prospect who has the tools to play as a cover man on the outside. Cincinnati would likely be tempted if he is still on the board.

32. Detroit Lions: S Lewis Cine, Georgia 

Last time: QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss

The Lions could use another safety to pair with Tracy Walker, and Cine has a the type of athletic skillset that may intrigue Detroit.