The latest Detroit Lions mock draft here features a commitment to building the skill positions and the secondary, with a top player in the class as well.
The Detroit Lions have yet to get into the win column through eight games, and it won’t get much easier down the stretch. Their division is a tough out, the AFC North is no joke, and neither is the NFC West. Still, it’s hard to look at the season as a whole and determine the fate of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell believes and supports his players big time, and Holmes and company did a good job early this year in the 2021 NFL Draft.
They’ve built a very good unit in the trenches in the last couple drafts. Jonah Jackson and Logan Stenberg are becoming solid guards, and Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell should become a great bookend duo once Sewell continues to gain reps. The defensive line got boosted with quick interior rusher Levi Onwuzurike and space-eater Alim McNeill.
Detroit Lions Mock Draft
Now, the Lions need to use their picks in the 2022 NFL Draft to continue to boost the roster. The wide receiver room and secondary need some help. They shouldn’t necessarily reach at the positions, and with the top pick, adding a blue chip prospect or a quarterback makes sense. They have the draft capital and are building a good foundation, but now it’s time to get closer to completing the rebuild. Let’s look at the latest Detroit Lions mock draft here that adds help at the skill positions and in the secondary and also gets a potential starter at quarterback to work behind Jared Goff.
Round 1, 1st Overall: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon
If the Detroit Lions do indeed end up with the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, it will be an interesting debate. Obviously, the need is there at the quarterback position, but with a blue chip edge rusher on the board, it’s hard to pass on him.
Kayvon Thibodeaux can ignite a Lions pass rush that leaves a little to be desired in terms of top tier athleticism. Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara are fine at best, and Thibodeaux brings the tools to be effective as a pass rusher and a run defender. His ability to play with good leverage and hand placement, disengage from blocks, and use his athleticism to win quickly on the edge make him a top tier prospect.
Round 1, 28th Overall: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
The safety room needs plenty of help in Detroit, and luckily this safety class has a chance to be a great one. Having a player who can make an impact on the back end and help out their young corners would be huge.
Daxton Hill is a hard player to pass on if he ends up reaching the end of the first round. While he can play on the roof of a defense with his recognition skills, he has the versatility to play in the box and in man coverage in the slot. He has good ball skills and has been more impressive at the catch point this season for the Wolverines.
Round 2, 33rd Overall: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
Ah, the quarterback. It’s going to be an interesting decision to see if the Detroit Lions roll with Jared Goff in 2022 and wait for a better option while building a good team for their eventual franchise, or opt for the quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Kenny Pickett has been the biggest riser so far this season at the position, and could end up a first round pick based on the demand not meeting supply. Pickett has taken a leap with his aggressiveness, ball placement to every level, and poise in the pocket. He’s making good decisions while also embracing the deep shots.
Round 3, 65th Overall: Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
It’s likely that the Lions will have a chance to sign a WR1 in the offseason, as there’s a good chance Michael Gallup will hit free agency, but building through the draft is another option. The Lions brought in a couple big-bodied receivers who can win down the field, so if they stick with that approach, Romeo Doubs would make sense.
Doubs has good twitch at the line of scrimmage, and can use his frame and short area burst to stack corners quickly. He can generate quick separation as well, and is getting better in contested spots and tracking downfield in 2021. He has a ton of potential to be, at the very least, a high-end WR2 in Detroit.
Round 3, 98th Overall: Noah Daniels, CB, TCU
Yes, the Lions have thrown heavy draft capital at the corner position, but the jury is still out with Jeffery Okudah missing his entire sophomore season and the bet on the development of Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Noah Daniels has been bitten by the injury bug in his time at TCU, but his athleticism landed him on Bruce Feldman’s freaks list heading into the season. He’s strong in man coverage and can recover quickly with his speed and acceleration. His transitions are smooth and he’s good at the catch point.
Round 5, 143rd Overall: Nick Broeker, OT, Mississippi
Yes, the Detroit Lions have invested heavily in the offensive line in the last two drafts, but to stay complacent in that area would be a fool’s errand, especially if the plan is to have a rookie get snaps at quarterback in 2022. Decker has missed time already in 2021, and having more depth at that spot is crucial.
Nick Broeker had 22 starts for Ole Miss heading into the 2021 season, and he’s done well against SEC competition. Broeker has quick feet to handle speed rushers with vertical sets, and his ability to recovery with good footwork and agility is crucial in pass protection. He isn’t afraid to finish either, and could eventually be a great third tackle to have on the roster.
Round 5, 176th Overall: Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
The linebacker position was a bit of a disaster under the last regime in Detroit, and there’s already been improvement with rookie Derrick Barnes. Adding someone who can operate more in space and make plays would complement Barnes well.
Terrel Bernard is going to impress many fans when they lay eyes on him, and he’s a perfect fit to stay off the ball and in space. He’s quick to fill downhill, but he has the range and quickness to cover ground in zone, and is fast enough to handle the slot and carry skill players up the seam.
Round 6, 180th Overall: Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
If the Lions make a committed effort to double-tight end sets, adding a running mate behind T.J. Hockenson is a good idea. Greg Dulcich is the type of receiving tight end quarterbacks will love in the NFL. He stretches the seam well, has good burst after the catch, and can be a receiving threat from day one.
Round 6, 218th Overall: Tyree Johnson, EDGE, Texas A&M
Is this a bit too much of an investment on the edge when there’s so much money committed there already? Maybe, but as the saying goes, having too many pass rushers isn’t a thing. Detroit can get creative with Thibodeaux and Flowers, and allow Tyree Johnson to come in as a rotational guy.
Johnson has gained some steam in 2022 NFL Draft circles recently, as he possesses quick twitch, impressive explosion, and has produced big time in recent weeks (eight sacks total in 2021). As he refines his hand usage and works on counters, he can be dynamite in a rotation.
Round 7, 235th Overall: Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
Another big “X” type of receiver here in the later rounds is a good idea for the Detroit Lions, as the receiver cupboard is bare and their best young talent operates really well in the slot.
Alec Pierce is a big, strong receiver who also can win vertically down the field. He’s dynamite in contested spots, and has great body control and ball skills to make late adjustments at the catch point.
Round 7, 240th Overall: Xavier Henderson, S, Michigan State
A double dip at safety rounds out this Detroit Lions mock draft, as they get yet another one from the state of Michigan. Xavier Henderson is another versatile safety who is strong as a tackler in space and always finds himself with a chance to make a play on the football. He’s almost acrobatic in the air and could find a role on the back end of this defense.