Sporting News

When the NFL calendar hits December, there develops a key separation of teams with something for which to play in 2021 from those who need to start looking ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft. The Jets, Giants and Eagles won't be making the playoffs, but they can look forward most to next year with two first-round picks each. At the moment, based on their respective past trade partners — Seahawks, Bears and Dolphins — also looking like also-rans — those three marquee East Coast teams all would pick twice in the top 10. With the fluctuating value of prospects before the college playoffs, bowls and all-star games ahead, there's also a shakeup of where the best players, including the quarterbacks, might go. Based on the updated draft order, plus keeping in mind the structure of the current NFL playoff picture, here are the latest projections for the first-round picks in 2022, from 1-32: