Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL Draft 2022: Final 32-pick Round 1 mock with trades

By Jeremy Wohlfart

"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
"THE PICK IS IN" for the San Francisco 49ers during the 2018 NFL Draft (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Wolverines
Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Wolverines (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

1. player. 811. . EDGE. Wolverines . Aidan Hutchinson

NFL Draft Pick No 1: Jacksonville Jaguars – Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

It’s not out of the question that the Jacksonville Jaguars trade this pick to someone else in need of an EDGE or perhaps quarterback, but the issue facing the team is, short of a franchise quarterback, there isn’t going to be the right market for the pick.

And franchise quarterbacks aren’t exactly a feature of this NFL Draft class.

A tackle has been a popular mock, but the Jags franchise tagged Cam Robinson and have recent second-round selections Walker Little and Jawaan Taylor on the roster, so a tackle would be unlikely at this point.

Jacksonville could use an EDGE opposite Josh Allen, as former 49er Arden Key is a stopgap player only. The Jaguars like Georgia EDGE Travon Walker and even scheduled a private workout with him, but right now it still sounds as though Hutchinson is the favorite.

Hutchinson had an excellent season with 14 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss for Michigan as the Wolverines made it into the College Football Playoff before falling to eventual champions, Georgia.

Hutchinson is a much better pass-rusher than a run defender, but he can easily improve his skills in the latter. The important thing is Hutchinson looks like a safe bet to be a double-digit sack artist in the NFL.