It’s not F-22 vs NGAD, it’s F-22 vs Skyborg, the unmanned NGAD/B-21 wingman, as the qualified LM engineers working on Skyborg would have to be pulled to work on any F-22 upgrade programme.
And it appears the USAF prefers Skyborg.
(And when you look at the time it takes to repair or work on an F-22 with its bespoke ADA software and toxic 1st generation stealth coatings, Skyborg is also now probably least risk and faster to deliver.)
Article is a year old, but I don’t think anything has changed.
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022...s-hunter-says/
Unmanned program could suffer if Congress blocks F-22 retirements, Hunter says