Who Will Be Drafted First in the 2022 NFL Draft?
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The 2022 NFL Draft is still a ways off, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start speculating who will be the top pick. Here are our early predictions for who will be drafted first in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Trevor Lawrence is considered by many to be the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. He has the size, arm strength, accuracy, and mobility that NFL teams covet in a franchise quarterback. Lawrence also has the intangibles that scouts love, such as leadership and poise in the pocket. He has led Clemson to two national championships, and he is widely expected to be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Why he will be the first pick
The way Trevor Lawrence has played the last two years, it is hard to imagine anyone else being the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has all of the physical tools that you want in a quarterback, he is a leader on and off the field, and he has shown the ability to make plays in big moments.
In his two years as a starter, Lawrence has thrown for nearly 7000 yards and 60 touchdowns. He has also shown the ability to run when needed, totaling 744 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground. Perhaps most importantly, he has only thrown 8 interceptions in his career.
One of the things that sets Lawrence apart is his competitiveness. He hates to lose and wants to be the best player on the field at all times. This was on display in Clemson’s come-from-behind win over Ohio State in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. After throwing an interception that gave Ohio State a 28-20 lead, Lawrence responded by leading Clemson on five straight scoring drives to win the game.
There is no doubt that Trevor Lawrence is one of the best players in college football and will be one of the best players in the NFL for many years to come. That is why he will be the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
His NFL potential
There is no doubting Trevor Lawrence’s talent. The Clemson quarterback has NFL size, a strong arm, and the ability to make all the throws. He also has the mobility to extend plays and pick up yards with his feet. Lawrence has the potential to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL.
The one concern with Lawrence is that he has only started two years in college. He has not faced the same level of competition as some of the other top quarterback prospects in recent years. There are also questions about his ability to read defenses and make quick decisions. These are things that can be improved with more experience.
Lawrence is still considered the favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. If he declaring for the draft, he will likely be a high first-round pick.
Justin Fields, Ohio State
Justin Fields will be drafted first in the 2022 NFL draft. The Ohio State quarterback is a dual-threat with a strong arm and the ability to make plays with his feet. He led the Buckeyes to the College Football Playoff this season and is considered the best quarterback in the draft.
Why he will be a top pick
Justin Fields will be a top pick in the 2022 NFL draft because of his impressive physical abilities and his skill as a quarterback. He is 6’3” and 221 pounds, which is the ideal size for an NFL quarterback. His arm is strong and accurate, and he is also a very mobile quarterback who can make plays with his feet. He led Ohio State to the National Championship game in 2020, and he is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football.
His NFL potential
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields is one of the most polarizing prospects in the lead up to the 2022 NFL draft. Some see him as a can’t-miss franchise quarterback, while others view him as a high-risk prospect with significant bust potential.
There are plenty of reasons to be bullish on Fields’ NFL potential. He has superb athleticism and arm strength, and he’s shown the ability to make plays in the pocket and outside of it. He also improved his decision-making and ball placement in 2021, which should quell some of the concerns about his field vision and ability to process information quickly.
At the same time, there are reasons for caution with Fields. He didn’t face a ton of elite competition in college, and he benefited from playing behind one of the best offensive lines in college football. There are also questions about his ability to deal with pressure, as he tends to get happy feet when things break down around him.
Ultimately, Fields’ NFL potential will come down to how well he adjusts to playing against better competition and how quickly he develops as a pocket passer. If he can do those things, then he has a chance to be a special player at the next level. If not, then he could end up being a bust.
Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Trey Lance is a redshirt sophomore from North Dakota State. He has only started one full season, but he has already shown a lot of potential. In his one full season, he threw for 28 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. He also rushed for 10 touchdowns. He has good size and a strong arm. He is also a very accurate passer.
Why he will be a top pick
In his redshirt sophomore season, Lance completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns with zero interceptions in 15 games. He also rushed 162 times for 1,130 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Lance was named the Walter Payton Award winner as the most outstanding player in the FCS and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He led North Dakota State to an undefeated season and a second consecutive national championship.
Lance has all of the physical tools NFL teams covet in a franchise quarterback. He stands 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds with a strong arm and good mobility. He has the size, arm strength and athleticism that NFL teams are looking for in a quarterback prospect.
In addition to his physical tools, Lance is very accurate and has good ball placement. He does a great job of putting the ball where only his receiver can catch it. He also has very good touch on his passes, which is important for quarterbacks who will be throwing to NFL receivers.
Lance is also a very good decision-maker. He doesn’t force throws into tight coverage and he doesn’t make many mistakes. In 15 games, he threw just one interception. That’s an impressive feat, especially for a young quarterback who was playing in his first full season as a starter.
The biggest concern with Lance is that he didn’t play against top competition in college. The majority of his starts came against FCS opponents, so there are questions about how he’ll fare against better competition in the NFL.
That being said, Lance has all of the physical tools and mental makeup that you want in a franchise quarterback. When you couple that with his production on the field, it’s easy to see why he’s considered one of the top prospects in the 2022 NFL draft class.
His NFL potential
Lance has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He has the size, arm strength and athleticism that scouts look for in a franchise quarterback.
Lance played in only one game in 2020 due to the pandemic, but he was extremely impressive in that game, throwing for 435 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
In his career at North Dakota State, Lance has thrown for 5,182 yards and 42 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 1,186 yards and 23 touchdowns.