NFL mock draft 2022 - Mel Kiper's predictions for all 32 first-round picks, teams for Aidan Hutchinson, Malik Willis, Nakobe Dean

One round of the NFL playoffs in the books, just 10 days away from Senior Bowl practices and the underclassmen declaration day behind us… let's roll out my first mock draft for the 2022 class.

You know the routine by now: 1-32 early projections for the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, starting with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 1 — again. I didn't project any trades in this Round 1 mock; let's wait until we get closer to free agency to determine what teams really need. This is just an exercise to show everyone what I'm thinking right now, based on my prospect rankings and what I'm hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league, who are doing a lot of prep to get ready for the NFL combine in March.

The good thing about the 2022 cycle is that there will be a combine this year. That was a crucial part of the pre-draft process that was lost to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. And as for the Senior Bowl, which begins practices on Feb. 1, it should be a doozy. Six of the top seven quarterbacks in the class are expected to compete — Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Carson Strong and Bailey Zappe — along with several other potential top-50 picks.

OK, let's start with the Jags at No. 1. The draft order for picks 1-24 is set, and we're using ESPN's Football Power Index to project picks 25-32, so don't yell at me if you don't like which team is at No. 32. Check out the one-hour SportsCenter Special on ESPN+ to see Todd McShay and me talk through every pick.

More NFL draft coverage:Rankings | Meet the QB classFirst Draft podcast | Latest news

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan

At this time last year, the Jags were starting a rebuild under a new coach and… they're back at the same spot. Urban Meyer didn't