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Detroit Lions 2022 NFL Draft: 5 Players To Consider With No. 2 Pick

By Kyle Edmond

TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during warm-ups before the start of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Fighting Irish defeated the Seminoles 41 to 38 OT. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - SEPTEMBER 5: Safety Kyle Hamilton #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during warm-ups before the start of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium on Bobby Bowden Field on September 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Florida. The Fighting Irish defeated the Seminoles 41 to 38 OT. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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Malik Willis, 2022 NFL Draft
2022 NFL Draft prospect Malik Willis #7 of the Liberty Flames (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions First Round Target #3: Malik Willis, QB

I know I just said that the Detroit Lions should put off quarterback until the rest of the roster is up to speed, but it’s hard to look past the options that are on the table with the second overall pick here. If there is a quarterback that separates from the pack in the last month of the draft process, the Lions could have first dibs at taking them.

The question also has to be asked, how often can you have a top 10, or better yet top five, pick and pass on a quarterback? In 2020 the Lions took Okudah over Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. In 2021 they turned away from Justin Fields and Mac Jones. Now, Matthew Stafford was still in the picture in 2020 and during the 2021 draft, Sewell made sense. However, at some point the Lions are going to have to select a quarterback and it’s better to do it early in the draft.

Malik Willis is arguably the best quarterback in this class. Is he number two overall pick good? No. But we’ve learned in the past that doesn’t necessarily matter with quarterbacks. After the 2022 season the Lions can cut or trade Jared Goff with only $10 million in dead cap. Perhaps taking and sitting a quarterback for a year is the right option.

We’ve watched the Kansas City Chiefs do just that with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes. The San Francisco 49ers just did so with Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. Goff and Willis in Detroit could be next. With the Lions in this draft position, it’s a route they have to at least consider taking.

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