The 2022 NFL season is in the books. Congratulations to Andy Reid & the Kansas City Chiefs on winning their second Super Bowl in 4 years.

Mock drafts before free agency are purely speculation, I’m not going to add to that speculation by trying to predict who goes where, I’m basing needs on what they currently are.

Barring any trades, this will be my only first round mock until after free agency frenzy.

Let’s kick this pig!

*TRADE*

Indianapolis receives the #1 overall pick. Chicago receives #4 & #35 this year & Indy’s first & second round picks in 2024.

1. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS- Bryce Young, QB, Alabama: Colts pay a steep price to move up 3 spots, but they’re going to have to to get their guy, because there’s plenty of competition. With the hiring of Shane Steichen as head coach, I believe Young is their guy.

2. HOUSTON TEXANS- CJ Stroud, QB, Ohio State: Davis Mills hasn’t been terrible, but new head coach, Demeco Ryans is going to want to build around his guy, that guy should be Stroud.

3. ARIZONA CARDINALS- Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama: Cardinals don’t have a head coach, yet, but Anderson should be firmly on their radar, regardless.

4. CHICAGO BEARS- Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia: An absolute win for Da’ Bears. They get a tremendous haul from Indy and still land the guy they’re probably targeting at #1. Anderson & Carter are the premier defensive players in this draft, but the 3 tech is the key to Eberflus’ defense. Mission accomplished.

*TRADE*

Carolina receives #5 pick. Seattle receives #9 & #39 this year plus Carolina’s second rounder in 2024.

5. CAROLINA PANTHERS- Will Levis, QB, Kentucky: Frank Reich isn’t going to make the same mistake he made in Indy, he won’t roll with veteran also rans at QB. Sitting at #9, they will have to move up to thwart other QB needy teams, but they can’t afford not to.

6. DETROIT LIONS- Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois: Jared Goff was good enough that Detroit shouldn’t be looking for a QB, instead they should be looking defense to take that next step and make the playoffs in ‘24.

7. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS- Paris Johnson Jr, OT, Ohio State: Raiders will reportedly release Derek Carr, so they’re firmly in the QB market, but I think they’ll land a veteran through free agency or a trade. Protection for their new QB becomes their priority.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech: I think Atlanta will give Desmond Ridder a chance to take over the QB job in ‘23. They may think about receiver or O-line here, but the value pick is pass rusher.

9. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Calijah Kancey, IDL, Pittsburgh: Seattle trades down to add some picks and makes the first real surprise pick of this mock. Kancey has been shooting up draft boards since the end of the season.

10. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas: Philly will lose some guys in free agency, including, possibly their top two RBs. This might seem high for RB, but Robinson is a top ten talent in this class. Imagine the Eagles offense with a bell cow RB.

11. TENNESSEE TITANS- Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern: I think Tennessee will move on from Ryan Tannehill at QB, Malik Willis has tons of potential so I don’t think they’ll draft one, even though he’s not quite ready to be the starter. Here, they shore up the offensive line.

12. HOUSTON TEXANS- Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU: Houston got their new franchise QB earlier, now they get him a number one WR.

*TRADE*

Tampa Bay receives pick #13. NY Jets receive picks #19, 50 & 155 this year & Tampa’s third rounder in ‘24.

13. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS- Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida: The GOAT’s retirement leaves Tampa at a crossroads. They have an expensive, aging roster and no successor at QB. It’s time to hit the reset button. They can’t afford to wait too long on Richardson, who is raw but has exciting potential.

14. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS- Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa: Receiver might be a bigger need, especially if Jakobi Myers leaves, but I feel Belichick will prioritize defense and let’s face it, Lukas Van Ness sounds like a Patriot.

*TRADE*

LA Chargers receive pick #15. Green Bay receives picks #21 & 124 this year & LA’s second rounder in 2024.

15. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS- Jordan Addison, WR, USC: Rumor is Keenan Allen may be a cap casualty, here the Chargers move up to replace him.

16. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS- Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia: Washington can go in many directions with this pick, I don’t think they’ll be in the QB market, though. Offensive line or defensive back is my thinking, Jones is the top player, at either, still on the board.

17. PITTSBURGH STEELERS- Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon: Been mocking cornerbacks to Pittsburgh pretty consistently, at this point in time it’s Gonzalez.

18. DETROIT LIONS- Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson: I’ve seen some mock drafts where Detroit takes Bresee with their first pick, getting him here is a steal.

19. NEW YORK JETS- Brian Branch, S, Alabama: When the Jets were on the clock at #13, I was leaning towards Branch until Tampa called. Jets add picks and still get him.

20. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS- Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson: Much like Detroit, Seattle gets a guy many are mocking to them with their first pick with their second. That’s a win.

21. GREEN BAY PACKERS- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State: As a Chicago Bears fan my strategy for mocking Green Bay is ‘what would tick me off the most’? This is it.

22. BALTIMORE RAVENS- Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College: Baltimore needs to get better, more reliable receivers for Lamar Jackson. Flowers could be dynamic.

23. MINNESOTA VIKINGS- Joey Porter Jr, CB, Penn State: Minnesota should be singularly focused on pass defense this offseason.

24. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS- Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland: Jacksonville could go in several directions, the value is at corner.

25. NEW YORK GIANTS- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah: Giants need pass catchers, including a go to tight end.

26. DALLAS COWBOYS- Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame: Dallas may lose Dalton Schultz in free agency, Dak Prescott needs more weapons.

27. BUFFALO BILLS- Anton Harrison, OT, Oklahoma: Improving Josh Allen’s protection is never a bad idea.

28. CINCINNATI BENGALS- Andre Carter II, EDGE, Army: Cincy adds a top notch athlete to its pass rush.

29. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS- Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford: New Orleans has been in cap purgatory for years, they need to reset the clock with a rookie QB.

30. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES- Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M: Pretty much best player available & he’ll help the Eagles secondary.

31. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS- Mazi Smith, IDL, Michigan: Super Bowl champs add a run stuffer to the defensive line.