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Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst
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2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

2022 NFL Draft Week Rumors Thursday

Updated April 28, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

Draft day is finally here! With the 2022 NFL Draft just hours days away, here are some the rumors and chatter that WalterFootball.com is hearing from team sources.

One of the pivot points of the first round is the Houston Texans with the third-overall pick. The franchise has been a mystery around the league and in the media, with new general manager Nick Caserio having kept things close to the vest. In surveying team sources as to what Houston would do at No. 3, there was a wide split across the league. Roughly 40 percent thought the Texans would take LSU cornerback Derek Stingley. Another 40 percent thought Houston would grab Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal, and 20 percent predicted the organization would take N.C. State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu. The Texans are a true mystery around the league, and no one definitely knoes what Caserio and head coach Love Smith are going to do.

The New Orleans Saints will be active on the opening night of the 2022 NFL Draft thanks to having two first-round picks. From speaking with sources, the Saints are looking for players who can start and contribute quickly because they feel they are capable of being a serious playoff contender this season. In the early rounds, New Orleans would want to address some needs at wide receiver, offensive tackle, linebacker, and safety.

Sources shared the Saints like Ohio State wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, although Wilson probably won't fall low enough. The organization likes other first-round wideouts, but it sounds like Arkansas' Treylon Burks is not a fit. New Orleans also is interested in first-round offensive tackles like Mississippi State's Charles Cross, Northern Iowa's Trevor Penning and Tulsa's Tyler Smith. The team also likes some second-round options, including Ohio State's Nick Petit-Frere and Central Michigan's Bernhard Raimann.

Defensively, the Saints are high on Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton. On Day 2, they feel Georgia's Lewis Cine and Penn State's Jaquan Brisker will be good pros. First-round linebackers New Orleans would consider include Utah's Devin Lloyd and Georgia's Quay Walker. Thus, the organization is keeping its options open, including trading up or down. By the sound of it, however, the Saints will be addressing a few of their key positions in the first and second rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In following up with some second-hand rumors of where team interests lie, Philadelphia is said to like Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson. He could be a fit for the Eagles if he gets to pick No. 15. The Bills are said to be interested in Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth and view him as a good fit for their scheme.

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