Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett takes a position-by-position look at the top prospects and biggest Detroit Lions needs in the 2022 NFL draft. This is the fifth in an eight-part series.
The Lions are in better shape at the receiver position than they were a season ago, but the unit lacks high-end No. 1 talent most teams are looking for.
Amon-Ra St. Brown is the player on the Lions roster that has the best chance to become that type of player. He had a fantastic rookie season, catching 90 passes for 912 yards and five touchdowns, but most of his production came in the final six weeks of the season. If he can sustain that success next season and improve his yards per catch, he could enter the upper echelon of NFL pass catchers.
DAVE’S NEW MOCK DRAFT: Detroit Lions land next best talent at No. 2
The Lions added DJ Chark to play the X receiver position this offseason. Chark battled injuries during his four seasons in Jacksonville, but gives the team the type of deep threat it lacked last fall. Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus and Josh Reynolds are competing for supporting roles, but only St. Brown and Cephus are signed beyond this year so the Lions have substantial long-term needs at the position.
Assuming they don’t do the unexpected and trade for a Deebo Samuel type, there’s a good chance the Lions take a receiver in the draft.
At tight end, the Lions are in similar shape with T.J. Hockenson returning from an effective but injury shortened season and little depth off the bench. The Lions signed Garrett Griffin to help in the run game and Brock Wright played in 10 games as an undrafted rookie, but there is room to add to the position.
SHAWN WINDSOR: Elite WRs rule the NFL. Lions should do whatever it takes to pursue one, like Deebo Samuel
WRs on the roster: Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark, Josh Reynolds, Quintez Cephus, Kalif Raymond, Trinity Benson, Tom Kennedy, Javon McKinley. TEs on the roster: T.J. Hockenson, Garrett Griffin, Brock Wright, Jordan Thomas, Matt Sokol, Jared Pinkney, Hunter Bryant, Shane Zylstra.
Top 3 WR prospects: 1. Jameson Williams, Alabama; 2. Drake London, USC; 3. Garrett Wilson, Ohio State. Top 3 TE prospects: 1. Trey McBride, Colorado State; 2. Greg Dulcich, UCLA; 3. Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State.
[ EMU’s Thomas Odukoya on showing out in front of Lions: I’m ‘a kneecap guy, too’ ]
Other players with Michigan ties: WR: Skyy Moore, Western Michigan; Jalen Nailor, Michigan State; Daylen Baldwin, Michigan; Jalen Martin, Pitt State (Chandler Park HS); Chad Gailliard, Saginaw Valley State; Jared Bernhardt, Ferris State; Kalil Pimpleton, Central Michigan. TE: Thomas Odukoya, Eastern Michigan.
Day 3 sleeper: WR: Isaiah Weston, Northern Iowa. TE: Chase Allen, Iowa State.
Recent Lions draft picks at WR: 2021-Amon-Ra St. Brown (4th round). 2020-Quintez Cephus (5th round). 2019-Travis Fulgham (6th round). 2018-None. 2017-Kenny Golladay (3rd round). Recent Lions draft picks at TE: 2019-T.J. Hockenson (1st round); Isaac Nauta (7th round). 2017-Michael Roberts (4th round).
Draft dish
The draft is loaded at receiver for the third straight year, with ESPN analyst Todd McShay saying 20 could come off the board in the first three rounds. This class does not appear to have as much top talent as last year’s group, when three receivers (and one tight end) went in the first 10 picks, and some of the best prospects have significant injury concerns.
Jameson Williams is the best deep threat in the class. He had 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns in his only season at Alabama after transferring from Ohio State, but tore his ACL in the national championship game and could miss the season’s first two months. Drake London is another top-15 talent capable of overpowering defensive backs, but he, too, is coming off a season-ending injury. London worked out for teams in April, but did not run a 40-yard dash.
Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave are likely first-round picks. Wilson offers explosive run-after-the-catch ability; Olave is one of the best route runners in class. Treylon Burks of Arkansas, Jahan Dotson of Penn State and Christian Watson of North Dakota State all could find their way in Round 1, while Alabama’s John Metchie and Georgia’s George Pickens will likely land in Day 2 given their injury history.
DAVE BIRKETT: 3 scenarios for Lions’ early picks: How NFL draft could play out
NFL DRAFT: Lions in good shape at RB despite intrigue of Kenneth Walker III
Of the local prospects, Moore is a top-50 talent as an undersized deep threat, and Nailor is a Day 3 prospect. Bernhardt played quarterback at Ferris State after a star-studded college lacrosse career at Maryland. He probably won’t get drafted after running a disappointing 40 time at his pro day, but should land in a camp somewhere.
There is no tight end in this year’s draft comparable to last year’s No. 1 player at the position, Kyle Pitts, but McBride earned a comparable grade for his play last season from Pro Football Focus. He is well-rounded and caught 90 passes last season but had just one touchdown. Dulcich is a better receiver than blocker who could join McBride in the Day 2 mix, but the tight end class is average overall.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.