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Washington’s Brandon Scherff will significantly influence the first pick in this year’s 2022 NFL draft according to the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah.
Jeremiah unveiled his 3.0 2022 NFL mock draft Tuesday, explaining that the Jacksonville Jaguars having tagged T Cam Robinson and signed Scherff as an unrestricted free agent, will now change their focus from going offensive line to Michigan’s edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
After a flurry of free-agent activity last week, Jeremiah’s draft saw big changes leading to Washington having a great prospect available at No. 11. Edge rushers are now projected to go 1, 2, 3 by Jeremiah, as he has Georgia’s Travon Walker going No. 2 to the Lions and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux to the Texans at No. 3.
With Jeremiah vaulting FSU edge Jeremiah Johnson and Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson up to No. 7 and 8 respectively, this leaves Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton going to Washington at No. 11. Hamilton has been evaluated very highly, and if he were available for Washington, they may not be able to pass over his 6-foot-4, 220-pound safety that would provide them more “position flex” that Ron Rivera loves.
Interestingly, Jeremiah has the quarterbacks sliding down in his mock draft. Kenny Pickett (Pitt) is the first QB drafted at No. 18 to New Orleans. Even more surprising, is Jeremiah then does not have another quarterback selected at all in the first round. He is certainly confirming his belief that this quarterback class in 2022 is much weaker than last year’s 2021 class when five quarterbacks were drafted in the first round.