Detroit Lions: Early look at projected 2022 NFL Draft picks
The Detroit Lions are coming for kneecaps and they are loading up on future NFL Draft picks. The Lions made one of the major blockbuster trades of the 2021 NFL offseason when they sent former number one overall pick Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and a bounty of draft picks.
The Detroit Lions reshuffled their front office and coaching staff in the 2021 offseason and the brain trust moved on from Stafford as the team’s franchise QB. New general manager Brad Holmes was able to strike a deal with the Rams, the team he came to the Lions from, and head coach Dan Campbell will now try to establish the culture he wants with the foundation of players put into place through the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Lions opted to pass on Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields with their top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, so they are obviously content to stick with Jared Goff for at least the next two seasons provided they are not able to land an immediate replacement in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Speaking of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions are setting up quite well to be one of the teams that really dominates the draft in terms of total selections.
Let’s take an early look at their impressive 2022 NFL Draft capital hoard.
Detroit Lions 2022 NFL Draft capital
- 1st round
- 1st round (from Rams)
- 2nd round
- 3rd round
- 3rd round (projected compensatory pick)
- 5th round
- 5th round (projected compensatory pick)
- 6th round
- 6th round (projected compensatory pick)
- 7th round (from Patriots)
- 7th round (from Browns)
The Detroit Lions potentially having five picks in the top 100 is going to be huge for this roster getting back on track sooner rather than later.
If the Lions really believe in Jared Goff as a game manager and someone who could possibly keep the ship afloat and lead them to the postseason, then landing instant impact starters with those picks is going to be absolutely critical.
We saw a clear strategy to go after players in the trenches early for Brad Holmes with the top two selections of Penei Sewell and Levi Onwuzurike.
It will be fascinating to see if the Lions are in the quarterback market in the 2022 NFL Draft depending on how this team does in year one of the Dan Campbell/Jared Goff era.