This offseason in the NFL has been like no other. There have been huge moves and guys getting traded all over the place. So, heading into the draft this Thursday, I thought it would be fun to use all the rumors and continue the crazy offseason. So, I am calling this my 2022 NFL Offseason of Chaos Mock Draft.
Where to begin? A few weeks ago, everyone wondered if a DK Metcalf trade would occur. That buzz has all died down since Deebo Samuel requested a trade. Now, if San Francisco decides to trade Deebo, they will try to get a maximum value. The NY Jets have been aggressively trying to add a high-end wide receiver. So the Jets make a big offer of the 10th, 35th, and 111th overall picks to the 49ers for Deebo Samuel. However, in an attempt to milk the Jets for even more, the 49ers say they do not think they could trade him for that.
This brings up our first trade. The Jets call the Seahawks and tell them their offer to the 49ers. Ten minutes later, the Seahawks call back and say they will take that for DK.
TRADE ALERT
The NY Jets trade the 10th, 35th, and 111th pick to the Seattle Seahawks for DK Metcalf.
Now, the 49ers feel like they should have just accepted the Jet’s offer. Instead, they are looking at a potentially toxic situation with Deebo Samuel. They plan to roll with a new starting QB, so avoiding a toxic situation will be important. Luckily the Houston Texans pick up the phone following the news of the DK Metcalf trade. The 49ers do not play coy this time and accept the Texans’ offer.
TRADE ALERT
The Houston Texans trade the 13th, 37th, and 108th picks to the San Francisco 49ers for Deebo Samuel.
Deebo is especially happy about this trade because Texas does not have a state income tax.
Both of these deals take place on Wednesday before the draft begins. But we are not done with WRs on the move.
TRADE ALERT
The Green Bay Packers trade the 28th pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Chase Claypool.
Okay, so the Green Bay Packers do not draft wide receivers in the 1st round. That does not mean they would not trade a first-round pick for one. But wait, the Packers are not done.
TRADE ALERT
The Green Bay Packers trade the 22nd and 92nd pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for Darren Waller.
Okay, look. I realize this is getting crazy. But after everything that has happened so far, is this really that crazy? However, we are not done dealing. There is one more giant domino to fall before we even begin projecting the draft.
On Thursday morning, a rumor drops that Kyler Murray’s agent has opened conversations with the Oakland A’s about the possibility of Kyler returning to baseball.
TRADE ALERT
The Carolina Panthers trade the 6th pick, their 2023 and 2024 1st rounders, and Brian Burns for Kyler Murray. The Panthers immediately sign Kyler to a deal that makes the Deshawn Watson deal seem sensible. And the Oakland A’s trade his baseball rights to the New York Yankees for a bag of baseballs.
Wow, that was a lot of fun. I cannot wait to see if the mock draft has more fun surprises. Well, here we go.
TRADE ALERT
Okay, just before the draft begins, there is one more trade. The Arizona Cardinals trade the 6th and 23rd pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 1st overall pick.
Pick #1 – Arizona Cardinals
With concerns that the Detroit Pistons may actually take Malik Willis with the 2nd pick, the Cardinals make the play to draft their new QB. After all the talk about no QB being worth someone trading into the first spot, the Jaguars find a suitor.
Malik Willis – QB
Even in an offseason of Chaos, if the Arizona Cardinals take Malik Willis number one overall, I will look like an absolute genius. Pretty sure no one else has predicted those moves.
Pick #2 – Detroit Lions
There have been many predictions that the Jaguars will take Aidan Hutchinson first overall. Now, not expecting Hutchinson to be available, the Lions have been looking closer and closer at Tavon Walker and have convinced themselves that is who they want anyway. So, despite Hutchinson being available, the Lions select Walker.
Tavon Walker – DE
Pick #3 – Houston Texans
Wait, Aidan Hutchinson is available? This development also catches the Texans off guard. They planned to select an offensive tackle, either Ikem Ekwonu or Evan Neal. They already secured a weapon in Deebo, and now they want to lock down their offensive line behind the very underrated Davis Mills. So the Texans stick to the plan.
Ikem Ekwonu – OT
Pick #4 – NY Jets
Wait, Aidan Hutchinson is available? With all the surprises to this point of the offseason, Aidan Hutchinson sliding becomes another fascinating story. The Jets had targeted Sauce Gardner with this pick. The Jets understand the value of a lockdown corner, and just like the Lions and Texans, they stick to their plan.
Sauce Gardner – CB
Pick #5 – NY Giants
The Giants absolutely must address their offensive line. PFF had them as the 30th ranked line last year, and they have suffered losses since the season ended. Fortunately, the number one player on their board is available and is an offensive tackle.
Evan Neal – OT
Pick #6 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Wait, Aidan Hutchinson is available? Okay. The Jaguars trade back and still get Hutchinson. Better lucky than good.
Aidan Hutchinson – Edge
TRADE ALERT
The Minnesota Vikings trade the 12th and 46th picks for the 7th and 112th.
Pick #7 – Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings may need to draft a few cornerbacks in this draft. The Giants will be looking to move down and accumulate draft capital.
Derek Stingley – CB
Pick #8 – Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were dead last in the NFL last year in sacks. And they lost the player that had the most sacks for them.
Kayvon Thibodeaux – Edge
Pick #9 and #10 – Seattle Seahawks
We are going to throw these two picks together. One of Russell Wilson’s big issues with the Seahawks was that they had a terrible offensive line and were not committing assets to fix it. How ticked off will Russ be when this happens? Pete Carroll wants to run the ball and play defense. So the Seahawks trade Russ, and now they pick not one but two offensive tackles.
Charles Cross – OT
Trevor Penning – OT
The irony is delicious. Plus, I think someone built Trevor Penning in a secret laboratory to Pete Carroll’s specifications. This guy was built to anchor a running game.
Pick #11 – Washington Commodores
I will take the Commanders’ name seriously if they ever start winning. Until then, my brain will continue to process Commodores every time I think of the Washington Football Team. Speaking of the commodores, trying to build a Brick House defense would be helped by,
Kyle Hamilton – Safety
TRADE ALERT
The Baltimore Ravens trade the 14th and 100th picks for the 12th.
Pick #12 – Baltimore Ravens
Shockingly, the mock draft of Chaos has only had one trade since it began. Well, that counts the trade for the 1st pick as happening before the draft started. The Ravens will not pass up on the opportunity to add a second stud pass rusher to Oweh.
Jermaine Johnson – Edge
TRADE ALERT
The Buffalo Bills trade the 25th and 57th pick to the San Francisco 49ers for the 13th.
Pick #13 – Buffalo Bills
Look, this is an emotional trade and pick. In a previous mock, I had Buffalo selecting Davis with their 25th pick based upon their emotional reaction to their home loss to the Patriots last year. Do you remember that game when the Patriots threw the ball four times? That cannot happen. After the awesome combine workout by Davis, the Bills will need to trade up to reclaim their man card.
Jordan Davis – DT
TRADE ALERT
The Las Vegas Raiders trade the 22nd, 86th, and a 3rd rounder next year to the NY Giants for the 14th pick.
Pick #14 – Las Vegas Raiders
Wait, I thought they got rid of Mike Mayock? Oh, that’s right, their new GM came from New England, so he probably overvalues Alabama players as well. But, in this case, it may work. Taking the top off the defense with speed will give Davante Adams more room to work.
Jameson Williams – WR
Pick #15 – Philadelphia Eagles
Wait, Drake London is still available? I do not believe the Eagles plan to take yet another 1st round wide receiver. But, when Drake London slides, he presents the perfect complement to the, well, let us say slight Devonta Smith. The Eagles will not pass.
Drake London – WR
Pick #16 – New Orleans Saints
I love it when a plan comes together. In an offseason of Chaos, New Orleans seems to be right on track. They get the WR they need in the perfect spot.
Garrett Wilson – WR
Pick #17 – Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers hit an absolute home run last year when they drafted left tackle Rashawn Slater. Now, they go and get the bookend to protect their franchise QB.
Bernhard Raimann – OT
TRADE ALERT
Pittsburgh trades the 20th and 138th pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 18th pick.
Pick #18 – Pittsburgh Steelers
As soon as they announce the trade, all the talking heads say the Steelers traded ahead of the Saints for a QB. Yeah, not so much. They traded ahead of the Saints to draft a tackle. Talk about a Pittsburgh Steelers kind of player. This guy plays like the guys across from him are bad people who need punishment.
Tyler Smith – OT
TRADE ALERT
Well, damn, I hate it when a plan falls apart. The Saints were completely expecting to get Raimann or Smith at this spot to fill their need for a left tackle. But this is the offseason of Chaos, so not so much. So in the fog of Chaos, the Saints trade the 19th pick to the Seattle Seahawks for the 35th and the 72nd.
Pick #19 – Seattle Seahawks
Really? Three offensive linemen in the 1st round. There is no chance that Russell Wilson is not annoyed. But the power running game that Pete Carroll wants is on point.
Kenyon Green – OG
TRADE ALERT
Kansas City finally makes it play. The Chiefs have too many picks and not that many roster spots, so at some point, they need to target the players they want. So Kansas City trades the 29th, 94th, and 103rd pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 20th.
Pick #20 – Kansas City Chiefs
There is always a place for more speed. Plus, speed combined with a silky sweet route runner will be gold for Patrick Mahomes. I think this selection will be everything Mecole Hardman was supposed to be.
Chris Olave – WR
Pick #21 – New England Patriots
In the offseason of Chaos, Bill Bellichick makes the bland move. He sits and picks.
George Karlaftis – Edge
Pick #22 – New York Giants
The Giants traded back from 7th to 12th, 12th to 14th, and 14th to 22nd. Their triple trade back perfectly represents the offseason of Chaos. But now they pick.
Tyler Lindebaum – Center
TRADE ALERT
The Giants trade back three times, collecting extra picks. You know what you do with all that additional value. You use it to trade up to get the player you want. The NY Giants trade the 36th and 67th pick to Jacksonville for the 23rd.
Pick #23 – New York Giants
When you have one of the worst offensive lines in the league and lose four starters, you know what you have. The definitive worst line in the league. How do you fix that? Find a way to draft the top tackle prospect (Evan Neal), the top center prospect (Tyler Lindenbaum), and now the top guard prospect in the draft. That is how to surf the Chaos to an outstanding conclusion.
Zion Johnson – Guard
Pick #24 – Dallas Cowboys
Last year the Cowboys struck absolute gold with Micah Parsons. Now they go back to the well with another guy who can play all over the field. Sometimes, Jerry Jones is lucky, and guys just fall to him. But I guess it is better lucky than good with the Cowboys. They are lucky in the draft and have a lot of talent but are still not good (measured by playoff victories). Anyway,
Devin Lloyd – LB
Pick #25 – San Francisco 49ers
You cannot simply replace a player like Deebo Samuel. And I have read repeatedly that Treylon Burks is not the player Deebo Samuel is. But it sure seems like they replaced Deebo with a guy just like him. And they still have a crap ton of picks.
Treylon Burks – WR
Pick #26 – Tennessee Titans
Were you aware that Titans head coach Mike Vrabel was good friends with Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell? And of course, Ryan Tannehill regressed last year, is 34 years old, and threw three interceptions in a playoff loss.
Desmond Ridder – QB
Pick #27 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ndamukong Suh may be back for a run with Brady this year. But that will most likely be it. The Bucs cover their bases with a new stud D tackle. So what happened to all of the Chaos? No trades recently.
Devonte Wyatt – DT
Pick #28 – Pittsburgh Steelers
You know, I think they already have this guy on their roster. A big guy about 6’3″, 220, good mobility, decent arm. Isn’t that Mitch Trubisky?
Kenny Pickett – QB
Pick #29 – Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles had planned to get this player with one of their two original picks. But then Chaos struck, and here they sit at 29th but somehow, he is still available.
Trent McDuffie – CB
Pick #30 – Kansas City Chiefs
Have you seen all the firepower in the AFC West? The Chiefs can match up offensively, but they better get some help on defense.
Andrew Booth Jr. – CB
TRADE ALERT
Well, it has been seven picks since there was a trade. That does not seem right. The New Orleans Saints trade pick 35th and 98th to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 30th and 174th.
Pick #31 – New Orleans Saints
I am not sure the Saints genuinely want to draft a QB this year. But, in all the Chaos, they realize that the guy they like is still available at a very reasonable cost. Plus, they get the 5th year option.
Matt Corral – QB
Pick #32 – Detroit Lions
I am pretty sure no one thinks there will be five QBs selected in the first round. But, here we go. This selection may not be an upgrade for the Lions over Jared Goff, but it certainly greatly reduces cost.
Sam Howell – QB
Six trades in the 24 hours leading up to the start of the draft, and then nine more trades in the first round. GMs have been more willing than ever to take chances and be aggressive in their dealings this year. And this mock presents many of the possibilities. Let’s face it, this is the kind of activity we all crave.
Overall, this mock saw five quarterbacks drafted, and two different teams selected three offensive linemen in the first round. It may seem crazy and chaotic, but it may be genius. I cannot wait to see if we see any of these fireworks take place over the next few days.
