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Lance Zierlein 2022 NFL mock draft 4.0: Steelers trade up for lone Round 1 QB

With 2022 NFL Draft just hours away, here's my final mock before Round 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. As always, I am projecting where I believe players will go, not necessarily where I think they should go.

Pick
1
Travon Walker
Georgia · DL · Junior

There are some wild whispers out there about how this one could play out, but Walker ends up as the top dog in my final mock.

Pick
2
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Oregon · Edge · Junior

A bit of a surprise here, as the Lions opt for explosiveness and upside for Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn's defense.

Pick
3
Derek Stingley Jr.
LSU · CB · Junior

Houston has done extensive work on Stingley, and head coach Lovie Smith recently commented on the Texans' desperate need to get better at CB.

Pick
4
Ickey Ekwonu
N.C. State · OT · Junior

What a tough call for New York with Aidan Hutchinson still on the board. The Jets could hear trade offers here, but they stick and pick Ekwonu. The N.C. State product has guard/tackle value and gives Gang Green insurance against Mekhi Becton's injury history.

Pick
5
Aidan Hutchinson
Michigan · Edge · Senior

I'm sure the Giants will race this card up to the podium, as they take home one of the top players at a major position of need.

Pick
6
Evan Neal
Alabama · OT · Junior

Big win for the Panthers. In Neal, they get a Day 1 starter at left tackle upon which to build a foundation for success.

Pick
7
New York Giants
(from CHI)
Sauce Gardner
Cincinnati · CB · Junior

The Giants already grabbed a pass rusher at No. 5. Now they get the best cornerback in the draft.

Pick
8
Jermaine Johnson II
Florida State · Edge · Senior (RS)

Sure, the Falcons need help at receiver, but have you seen their pass rush? Atlanta opts for the talented edge here, choosing to target wideout later in the draft.

Pick
9
Seattle Seahawks
(from DEN)
Charles Cross
Mississippi State · OT · Sophomore (RS)

Seattle will be pleased to find a quality tackle still on the board at No. 9.

Pick
10
New York Jets
(from SEA)
Garrett Wilson
Ohio State · WR · Junior

After boosting the offensive line at No. 4, the Jets get first dibs on the WR crop here, ultimately pairing Wilson with (Zach) Wilson.

Pick
11
Drake London
USC · WR · Junior

London gives Carson Wentz a big, possession target while also taking some of the defense's attention away from Terry McLaurin.

Pick
12
Jameson Williams
Alabama · WR · Senior

The Vikings can draft and stash the talented Williams -- who's recovering from an ACL tear -- as the future replacement for Adam Thielen.

Pick
13
Houston Texans
(from CLE)
Kenyon Green
Texas A&M · IOL · Junior

If the Texans go cornerback at No. 3, they would be wise to bolster their offensive line with a body-moving guard who boasts start-now talent.

Pick
14
Jordan Davis
Georgia · DT · Senior

Baltimore gets a plug-and-play space-eater to shut down opposing running games within the division.

Pick
15
Philadelphia Eagles
(from MIA)
Kyle Hamilton
Notre Dame · S · Junior

This is quite a fall from where I first mocked Hamilton, but the talented defender's slide down the board ends up being the Eagles' good fortune.

Pick
16
New Orleans Saints
(from IND through PHI)
Trevor Penning
Northern Iowa · OT · Senior (RS)

The Saints, in desperate need of a left tackle after Terron Armstead's departure in free agency, get the best one still on the board while passing on receiver (for the time being).

Pick
17
Malik Willis
Liberty · QB · Senior (RS)

PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES CHARGERS


In his final draft as Steelers GM, Kevin Colbert moves up for the dual-threat quarterback who has upside but will need additional seasoning before he's ready to start.

Pick
18
Kaiir Elam
Florida · CB · Junior

Philadelphia has an obvious void at one cornerback spot. Elam has been a riser in the draft process, thanks to strong interviews and a solid showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Pick
19
New Orleans Saints
(from PHI)
Chris Olave
Ohio State · WR · Senior

New Orleans takes one of the most polished wideouts in this year's class to pair with Michael Thomas.

Pick
20
Lewis Cine
Georgia · S · Junior

PROJECTED TRADE WITH PITTSBURGH STEELERS


The Chargers move down three spots and take a high-IQ quarterback on the back end who allows L.A. to align with a talented nickel defense in a pass-happy division.

Pick
21
Devin Lloyd
Utah · LB · Senior (RS)

There are always a few players who just feel like Patriots, and this speedy, physical linebacker is one of them.

Pick
22
Green Bay Packers
(from LV)
Treylon Burks
Arkansas · WR · Junior

Green Bay adds a big wideout who can play inside or outside and has loads of talent with the ball in his hands. He's not Deebo, but is Deebo-esque.

Pick
23
Devonte Wyatt
Georgia · DT · Senior

Arizona takes the talented three-down lineman who will be ready to learn from J.J. Watt and slide into a starting role by 2023.

Pick
24
Zion Johnson
Boston College · IOL · Senior

Dallas could go in a variety of directions at this spot, including trading up. But finding a guard is a must, and Johnson is a good one.

Pick
25
Trent McDuffie
Washington · CB · Junior

McDuffie's relatively short arms may be a turn-off for some teams, but Buffalo lands a scheme-versatile cornerback with excellent instincts and toughness.

Pick
26
Bernhard Raimann
Central Michigan · OT · Senior

Raimann has only played tackle for two years, so he's bound to get much better. It's also worth noting that he could bump inside if tackle becomes too much for him.

Pick
27
Tyler Smith
Tulsa · OT · Sophomore (RS)

Tampa, in need of a guard in the worst way, takes a talented drive blocker with guard/tackle flexibility and loads of upside -- if he can learn to play with better discipline.

Pick
28
George Karlaftis
Purdue · Edge · Junior

This physical edge defender with excellent bull-rush talent gives the Packers a play-now prospect with limited upside.

Pick
29
Kansas City Chiefs
(from SF through MIA)
Boye Mafe
Minnesota · Edge · Senior (RS)

The Chiefs need an edge defender and Mafe fits the their profile: He's a tough, explosive pass rusher with upside traits.

Pick
30
Jahan Dotson
Penn State · WR · Senior

The Chiefs add another talented weapon with speed and great hands to their arsenal to keep pace with the loaded AFC West.

Pick
31
Kyler Gordon
Washington · CB · Junior (RS)

Gordon didn't run as fast as expected at the combine (4.52 40-yard dash), but he's a physical specimen with twitch and toughness and a good deal of improvement still to come.

Pick
32
Detroit Lions
(from LAR)
Quay Walker
Georgia · LB · Senior

One of the hotter names on the board at linebacker, Walker is dependable, smart and athletic. The Lions get mocked a QB here often, but this might be the better fit.

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