Aidan Hutchinson, Michigan Wolverines, Detroit Lions. (USA TODAY)
The Detroit Lions have five top-100 picks to get better as a team in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Though wins were hard to come by in Dan Campbell’s first year on the job, the Detroit Lions must crush the upcoming NFL Draft.
The Lions played hard for Campbell, but Detroit cannot waste any of its precious draft capital this spring. They have nine picks to work with, including a pair of first-rounders and five inside of the top-100. In short, they need to get starters with their first five picks, as well as a bona-fide superstar with their No. 1 overall draft selection. Who could the Lions be targeting this spring?
Here is the latest 2022 NFL mock draft for the Lions as they hope to hasten their lengthy rebuild.
Detroit Lions Mock Draft – First Round
2
Aidan Hutchinson
EDGE Michigan Wolverines
There are only a few players worthy of being the Lions’ No. 2 overall pick. While much of what they do will depend on what the Jacksonville Jaguars do with the top overall selection, Detroit will almost certainly end up with one of the two marquee pass-rushers in this draft. For the sake of speaking this thing into existence, let’s get Michigan standout Aidan Hutchinson on the Lions.
Hutchinson was the best player on Michigan’s Big Ten champion and College Football Playoff team. He was a Heisman Trophy finalist and was absolutely sensational in the trenches for the Wolverines. This is the type of franchise cornerstone Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes need to take at No. 2. To be frank, the only way he does not end up in Detroit is if he is goes No. 1.
32
Jahan Dotson
WR Penn State Nittany Lions
The Lions have a second first-round pick this year as part of the Jared Goff/Matthew Stafford trade. This could be a spot where they draft a new franchise quarterback, but it might serve them to go get a player who can help them right away. If Goff is clearly not the guy by the end of his second season in Detroit, then by all means, draft a quarterback next season. Pick Jahan Dotson.
The former Penn State standout projects as the next great Nittany Lions receiver. While taking a receiver in the first round is usually bold because for the value, a wideout taken in the second is better, this is the Lions’ second first-round pick this year. For Dotson to become one of the key pieces emanating from the Stafford trade with the Rams, there are worse decisions to be made.