2022 NFL Draft: Commanders seven-round mock using only SEC players

Round 7, Pick No. 230: Texas A&M LB Aaron Hansford

In the seventh round, the Commanders draft Texas A&M linebacker Aaron Hansford, who’s actually from Washington, D.C. A downhill defender who loves setting the tone with physical tackling, Hansford has the speed to cover both sidelines and doesn’t let many tackle opportunities fall by the wayside.

Like most late-round linebackers, the former Aggie’s potential in the NFL will be contingent on whether he can properly defend the run and sniff out blocking schemes. That will come with time, but there’s no denying his talent.

Over his last two years in College Station, Hansford racked up 138 tackles, 17.5 of which registered losses, five sacks and five passes defended. With proper coaching, some of Hansford’s weaknesses (recognizing play designs, propensity to bust in coverage, not playing with enough leverage) can be rectified.

Round 7, Pick No. 240: Arkansas DT John Ridgeway

The Commanders have a sudden need for defensive lineman after they lost Matt Ioannidis, who got released and Tim Settle, who signed with Buffalo. While James Smith-Williams and free agent addition Efe Odaba can kick inside, both players are more comfortable lining up outside and pressuring the quarterback.

With Washington in need of DT reinforcements, Arkansas’ John Ridgeway would qualify as exactly that. The former Razorback’s career arc differs in comparison to most NFL prospects, as he has just one season playing at the FBS level after he transferred from Illinois State to get more eyes on his game.

It was a risky gamble for Ridgeway, who also weighed offers from other top-notch programs in Michigan, Texas and USC, but boy did it pay off. When all was said and done, he  parlayed a solid 2021 for Arkansas (39 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks) into an impressive performance at the 2022 Senior Bowl.

At 6-foot-4 and 327 pounds, Ridgeway is a space-eater who projects as a rotational lineman with upside as a likely Day 3 pick.