2022 NFL Mock draft: Projecting first-round after free agency and trades

Ikem Ekwonu is another pick that isn’t sexy but is necessary for the New York football Giants. Whether Daniel Jones succeeds with the franchise or not, the offensive line needs an overhaul, and Ekwonu could be as good as any player in the NFL draft. Lots of scouts actually like him even more than Neal and when the value matches up with a major need like well, just pull the trigger.

Carolina is one of the most interesting teams picking in the top 10 of the 2022 NFL draft because the Panthers need a quarterback and could go in a number of different directions. The fact that they nearly traded for Watson shows what they think about Sam Darnold. But are they willing to spend this high of a pick on a QB such as Kenny Pickett or Matt Corral? Cross is a no-doubt top-10 talent while the same can’t be said about any of the quarterbacks in this draft class. So the Panthers stand pat and who knows, maybe they find a way to trade for Jimmy G or Baker Mayfield, while determining to take a swing on QB like North Carolina’s Sam Howell a little later.