Mock drafts are all the rage in the NFL offseason, but too often they overlook the big event that precedes the draft: free agency! Veteran additions have the potential to shift teams' draft boards and fill big roster holes in both the short and long term.With that said, we thought it'd be fun to apply the mock draft formula to 2022 NFL free agency, which doesn't get its due. What if the veteran market were conducted like the draft, with all 32 teams picking available players based on their record? What if, instead of bidding with lucrative offers, you could simply "draft" a free agent's rights for the upcoming season? It's nonsensical, yes, but it's also a fun exercise in identifying the year's most valuable free agents, as well as teams' top offseason needs.Check out our 2022 free agency mock draft, featuring the actual first-round draft order, below! A long-term playmaker would be really nice for , but protecting the QB is paramount. With left tackle hitting the market, Armstead could step in and give them an elite upgrade.If a big-name QB were hitting the market, they might consider it. Instead, they beef up the uninspiring offense with this year's top veteran skill player. Even coming off injury, Godwin brings No. 1-level juice out wide.Few defensive backs have been around the ball like Jackson, and Houston desperately needs playmakers on both sides of the ball. GM Nick Caserio knows him from New England, and he'd give new coach Lovie Smith a real cover man. Pick Six Newsletter Crafted By The Best NFL Experts Get the day's big stories + fun stuff you love like mock drafts, JaMychal Green Jersey picks and power rankings. I agree to receive the "Pick Six Newsletter" and marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers), and other information from CBS Sports and the Paramount family of companies. By pre sing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the and acknowledge Paramount's . Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error proce sing your subscription. GM Joe Douglas would rather invest elsewhere, but they've got two first-rounders, and Williams is worth the payday they gave on the 2021 tag. Their secondary would instantly improve with his range.A reach for a tight end? Not when the top priority is making QB comfortable. is due to depart, and rising-star Schultz could all but serve as Jones' No. 1 target in Brian Daboll's restructured offense.QB is the main i sue, but they've botched the O-line, too. Scherff is 30 with an injury history, but he'd represent a monumental upgrade on their interior, paving the way for better results on the ground and through the air. The Bucs would love to keep Jensen, but they can't Quentin Richardson Jersey afford everyone. Daboll, meanwhile, might actually get to make a real evaluation of Jones by giving up a rock-solid blocker to go along with an improved skill group.With Dante Fowler Jr. gone, they still have a major hole to fill off the edge, where they've long struggled to find steady production. Keeping with Arthur Smith's goal to capitalize on closing window, this is a quick-fix play.After dealing Von Miller to stock up on draft picks in Amir Coffey Jersey 2021, they could use a premier edge rusher opposite . Jones may be a shorter-term fix, but he remains a Pro Bowl starter, and they've got eyes on big swings at veteran QBs. Joe Douglas poured money into the position in 2021 with , but still needs a No. 1 target. A-Rob can be that guy coming off a down year with the , giving New York a pair of big-bodied starte
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