CommRadio 2022 NFL Mock Draft 1.0

Story posted April 7, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Alex Rocco, Logan Bourandas

It’s officially time for CommRadio Mock Draft season with the NFL Draft fast approaching.

For this first edition, we ruled out any potential trades as sports staff members Alex Rocco and Logan Bourandas simply go back and forth with draft selections to fill out the first round.

Here is how those 32 picks transpired.

1. Jags: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

Aidan Hutchinson is the No. 1 pick here. Josh Allen has been as good as advertises while K'Lavon Chaisson is still looking to put it all together in the NFL. Hutchinson is probably the safest pick in this entire class. - Alex Rocco 

2. Lions: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon

The Lions go with one of the best players in terms of talent on the board to shore up what was one of the worst defenses in the NFL a season ago. - Logan Bourandas

3. Texans: Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State

Houston will need to protect quarterback Davis Mills. Ekwonu is OT1 and had the Jags not addressed their OL needs in free agency, Ekwonu would remain our first-overall selection. - Alex Rocco

4. Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati

Secondary has always been a major need for the Jets and Gardner can be plugged in alongside sneaky free agency signing D.J Reed. - Logan Bourandas

5. Giants: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama

An offensive tackle pairing of Neal and Andrew Thomas gives quarterback Daniel Jones the protection he needs. Neal gave up just one sack last season, and he has 40 career starts under his belt. - Alex Rocco

6. Panthers: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty

The Panthers were one of the few QB needy teams to fail to address the position in free agency and waste no time getting the top QB talent on the board. - Logan Bourandas

7. Giants via Bears: Travon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Walker's combine workout was tremendous, but production inconsistency with him only 9.5 sacks over 36 career games is concerning. - Alex Rocco

8. Falcons: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State

Losing Calvin Ridley for a year and Russell Gage in free agency left a huge hole at receiver, as much as they need a QB for the future the Falcons need to throw the ball to someone not named Kyle Pitts. - Logan Bourandas

9. Seattle via Denver: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State

Cross allowed six pressures on 683 pass-block snaps last season. The offensive line is a critical need for the Seahawks. - Alex Rocco

10. Jets via Seahawks: Drake London, WR, USC

If the Jets don’t trade for a top-tier receiver pre-draft, look for them to address their biggest need with their second first-round pick. - Logan Bourandas

11. Commanders: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame

Hamilton has rare versatility and traits for a safety, and he'd be an instant impact player on the back end. - Alex Rocco

12. Vikings: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU

Despite re-signing Patrick Peterson, the secondary has been a big need for the Vikings for the past few years, and go with the best remaining cornerback on the board. - Logan Bourandas

13. Texans via Browns: Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State

After selecting Ekwonu at No. 3, Johnson will provide an immediate impact after he had 12 sacks last year at Florida State. He's a physical edge setter. - Alex Rocco

14. Baltimore: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama

For years, the Ravens have tried and failed to sign a top receiver in free agency and therefore are stuck trying to fill that need via the draft. - Logan Bourandas

15. Eagles via Dolphins: Jordan Davis, IDL, Georgia

His combine workout was legendary, and if he stays in the 340-pound range, he will be a dominant defensive tackle in the NFL for a long time. - Alex Rocco

16. Eagles via Colts: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah

With the team's top linebacker arguably being free agent pickup Haason Reddick, going with back-to-back defensive players may be the best move for the Eagles here. - Logan Bourandas

17. Chargers: Zion Johnson, IOL, Boston College

Johnson can be a Day 1 starter at guard or offensive tackle, and he could potentially develop into a center. Johnson has 34-inch arms and didn't allow a single pressure or sack in 2021. - Alex Rocco

18. Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State

The Saints are another team with major questions at receiver with potentially a healthy Michael Thomas and a whole lot of question marks. With Jameis Winston resigned for the next two years, the Saints can afford to wait on drafting a potential successor for now. - Logan Bourandas

19. Eagles: George Karlaftis, EDGE, Purdue

Karlaftis has extreme power and size and that will help the Eagles generate more pressure. - Alex Rocco

20. Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt

It’s very unlikely that Pickett falls to this point but if he does, the Steelers should waste no time drafting the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger. - Logan Bourandas

21. Patriots: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington

Cornerback is a position of need for the Patriots. Savvy, smart and fluid. McDuffie has impressed many an evaluator. - Alex Rocco

22. Packers via Raiders: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas

Following the Davante Adams trade and the loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the Chiefs, it’s no secret that receiver is the biggest need for the Packers and they address it here. - Logan Bourandas

23. Cardinals: David Ojabo, EDGE, Michigan 

Yes, Ojabo's Achilles injury at Michigan's pro day could cause him to fall into Day 2 of the draft, but the Cardinals need to replace Chandler Jones. - Alex Rocco

24. Cowboys: Tyler Linderbaum, OL, Iowa

Linderbaum is without question the best center in the draft and he should help a Cowboys offensive line that struggled last year. - Logan Bourandas

25. Bills: Kenyon Green, IOL, Texas A&M

Strong and physical at the point of attack, Green gives the Bills a potential all-star on the O-line. - Alex Rocco

26. Titans: Bernhard Raimann, OL, Central Michigan

The Titans are another team with holes at the offensive line and go best available at this spot. - Logan Bourandas

27. Buccaneers: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan

Hill is a hybrid safety/nickel with an outstanding blend of speed, explosiveness and coverage versatility. - Alex Rocco

28. Packers: Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

Za'Darius Smith was another big loss for the Packers in free agency and with not much cap space to replace him in free agency, they can do so in the draft. - Logan Bourandas

29. Chiefs via 49ers: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida

Elam is the next up in a long line of talented Florida cornerbacks, but he failed to play his best football in his final collegiate season. - Alex Rocco

30. Chiefs: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State

Like the Packers, the Chiefs made a big move by trading top receiver Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins and waste no time by replacing him with another big-play receiver. - Logan Bourandas

31. Bengals: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa

Penning plays with a level of disgust for anyone lining up against him and seeks out violent block finishes when possible. - Alex Rocco

32. Lions via Rams: Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss

While they shouldn’t be in a rush to replace Jared Goff, the Lions find themselves in the perfect spot to draft his potential successor with the rest of the roster starting to come along. - Logan Bourandas

Alex Rocco is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email afr5646@psu.edu

Logan Bourandas is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.

About the Contributors

Logan Bourandas's photo

Logan Bourandas

Third-Year / Broadcast Journalism

Logan Bourandas is a third-year broadcast journalism major from Long Island, NY. He is a the news director for CommRadio and the host of Ducks on the Pond, which is an all-baseball talk show on CommRadio. He is also a sports writer, broadcaster and podcaster for CommRadio. He got his start as the station manager for his high school radio station WPOB in his hometown of Plainview, NY, where he hosted numerous radio shows and was involved in sports broadcasts. You can contact him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Alex Rocco's photo

Alex Rocco

Third-Year / Broadcast Journalism

Alex Rocco is a third-year student from Long Island, New York majoring in broadcast journalism. Rocco is a general manager, football reporter and broadcaster for CommRadio. Along with covering football for CommRadio, he’s a women’s soccer reporter for The Daily Collegian. Rocco got his start as the president of his high school sports media department, where he wrote numerous articles and broadcasted many games. If you would like to contact him, his email is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).