2-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft: Pre-Combine Mock Has Trades Galore!

After the Cowboys passed on Linderbaum, the AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals decide that they have seen enough. The Bengals jump up to No. 25 to grab one of the most talented players in the entire draft in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.

He was a standout amateur wrestler, even making former Hawkeye Tristan Wirfs look human on the mat. I shudder to compare players to someone with the stature of Quenton Nelson, but Linderbaum fits the mold of transcending his position.

The team doesn’t just need impact players on the offensive line, they MUST find them — and quick. Quarterback Joe Burrow won in spite of a lackluster line, but as was proven by his MCL sprain in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, he will not hold up for the long haul at this rate. This move will increase the shelf life of Burrow’s career, making it worth including any extra draft capital to lock the superstar center up.

The Titans draft room is undoubtedly throwing around some NSFW words after seeing Tyler Linderbaum go the pick before them. Tennessee finished as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, despite battling injuries all season long. They are a team built primarily on the run, so keeping a stout offensive line is crucial to the success of the team as a whole. They have questions all over the offensive line, from tackle to guard to even center.

Due to the need at multiple spots on the offensive line, Boston College Golden Eagle Zion Johnson is a better fit than the center-only prospect Linderbaum anyway. Johnson is raw and is relatively new to the sport, starting his high school career as a golfer before growing into his frame and becoming a beast on the gridiron. He played tackle and guard during his college career, then worked out (and thrived) as a center during Senior Bowl week. He is a high-character guy that has a yearning to improve and to be coached.