NFL MOCK DRAFT 2022- A LOOK AT THE POTENTIAL FIRST PICKS FOR EVERY TEAM IN THE AFC SOUTH

NFL / Football

Written by Joel Lefevre

For a second straight year, a team from the AFC South will get the first overall selection in the NFL entry draft on April 28. The Jacksonville Jaguars are once again on the clock, although unlike a year ago, their top choice this time out is not a slam dunk selection like Trevor Lawrence was.

Two teams in this division will have a top-three pick, which shows how poor the AFC South was statistically speaking in 2021. The Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts combined for 28 wins last season, the fewest of any division. There is plenty of room to grow for these clubs, some of which are in the early stages of a rebuild. With that being said, here is a look at each AFC South squad, their most pressing need and who I believe fits best with what they’re each trying to build.

Evan Neal | Source (Background Photo): Getty Images

Jacksonville Jaguars- Round 1- Pick #1- Aidan Hutchinson, edge rusher

As a former quarterback himself, Jags head coach Doug Pederson knows the value of Trevor Lawrence and how he needs to do everything to build around him. They have already tried to fill some of those gaps by spending over $175 million in guaranteed money on the likes of Christian Kirk, Brandon Scherff, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. Pass protection is an area that I believe they addressed with the signing of Scherff, and while there are plenty of other good blockers available in this year’s draft, I think the Jags will have their eye on some of the talented edge rushers with their top pick this time around.

Aidan Hutchinson could help them become a defence that is feared like they were in 2017 when they were known as Sacksonville. Defensively last season the Jags struggled to pressure opposing QBs, averaging a mere 1.9 sacks per game. Hutchinson is one of the best players available, and his potential will be hard to pass up.

There are plenty of defensive players with more flair and intrigue, such as Kayvon Thibodeaux, but I believe the Michigan Wolverines star is more of a sure bet. I don’t think there is any doubt that he will be a great player in this league, while there is a lot of unpredictability with a guy like Thibodeaux. The Jags took their share of gambles last year, which blew up in their face. Tim Tebow seemed like nothing more than a peculiar distraction in pre-season, and Urban Meyer was a disaster as head coach. I believe they will want to make safe choices on talented players, who are likely to pan out, and Hutchinson has a lot more reward potential than he does risk.

Houston Texans- Round 1- Pick #3- Evan Neal, offensive lineman

I expect pass protection to be a focal point for Lovie Smith in his first season as Texans head coach. Houston was third from the bottom in passing statistics a season ago with just over 16 points per game on average. Moving the ball was a struggle as they found themselves in second or third and long situations often, and they led the NFL in punts with 88. They failed to protect their QB and could not open up enough holes for their running game.

Neal is an incredible specimen, well-rounded at 6-foot-7, 337 pounds, who can move incredibly well for a big man. He can play inside or outside and could be an ideal choice to go third in the draft. Given that the Jags are building around Lawrence, I would not be surprised to see him off the board by the time the Texans are on the clock, though Jacksonville have many holes that need to be filled, so I believe Neal will still be out there at #3.

Tennessee Titans- Round 1- Pick #26 Nakobe Dean, linebacker

The Titans are in a win-now scenario and failed to deliver again last postseason. They are solid on the defensive line and capable of getting to quarterbacks, but it is over the middle between the d-line and safety spots where they struggled in 2021.

Having a linebacker like Nakobe Dean would allow them to be more aggressive at the line, as he can quickly close on opposing running backs, so they don’t hit that second gear. He has shown that he can stay with any player in the open field, while also possessing excellent footballing instincts. As a former linebacker during his playing days, head coach Mike Vrabel will recognize the kind of asset that Dean could be. There is a lot to like about this 2021 Butkus Award winner, who helped the Georgia Bulldogs capture their first national championship in over four decades.

Indianapolis Colts- Bernhard Raimann, offensive tackle

Matt Ryan is called ice because he never gets rattled when the going gets tough, but it would help for him to have better blocking with his new team. Indy was a game away from making the playoffs last season, but their o-line let them down when they needed it the most. Allowing six sacks in their regular-season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars is not what anyone would have expected. Unfortunately protecting their QB was an ongoing issue for Frank Reich’s squad in 2021.

In Bernhard Raimann, the Colts will be getting an athletic blocker with an impressive set of hands who can learn quickly. Austria is not known for producing football talents, but Raimann is undoubtedly capable of breaking that mould. He can make clean work-up blocks to linebackers and has natural quickness; plus, he used to be a tight end, so the Colts might be able to surprise some teams by using him for some pass-catching situations in the red zone. Rainman grew up in a country known for producing incredible skiers, so it’s probably not a surprise that he can make some sharp turns to go along with his solid footing and weight distribution.