2022 NFL Draft: Sam Howell on top of NFL preseason mock draft

The Detroit Lions may end up taking a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, but in this scenario, they pass altogether with two first-round picks.

With their top pick, the Lions ended up with pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, who could frankly end up as the top overall player in this entire class.

At the bottom of the first round with the selection they acquired in 2022 from the Los Angeles Rams, the Lions address arguably their biggest and most pressing offensive position need besides quarterback if they continue to roll with Jared Goff.

Wide receiver is a major issue for the Detroit Lions right now, who let go of almost their entire unit from a season ago. Quintez Cephus was the team’s leading returning receiver, and maybe the most substantial additions they made are two guys in Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman with huge injury labels attached.

As wide receivers have been flying off the board in this mock draft scenario, the Detroit Lions have a chance at the top of round two (which we won’t get into here) to go after any number of possible options at the quarterback position that would be worth the risk/reward proposition.

Here, they keep the recent streak of Alabama wide receivers going in round one alive.

John Metchie has an opportunity in 2021 to really make a name for himself after playing behind guys like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith. He actually got to play more in 2020 due to the injury suffered by Waddle and caught 55 passes for 916 yards and six scores.

Metchie is explosive, he is strong at the catch point, and he really does an outstanding job like many of his former teammates as a route runner and getting a clean release off the line of scrimmage.

He will get to be the WR1 in Alabama this season, and in this scenario, he would be the WR1 of the Detroit Lions as well.