Feb 5, 2022; Mobile, AL, USA; National Squad quarterback Carson Strong of Nevada (12) drops back to pas in the second half against the American squad at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Pro Football Focus has early and late draft fits for each NFL team, so who are tabbed as the best fits for the Detroit Lions?
With the 2022 NFL Draft finally close, team needs have become clearer through free agency. That said, the Detroit Lions could look to reinforce multiple spots in this draft and not be wrong. Getting down to it, only offensive line and running back have little or no room for improvement from top to bottom on the depth chart.
Michael Renner of Pro Football Focus has a snap shot preview for all 32 NFL teams ahead of the draft. He tabbed three positional needs for each team, with early and late draft fits for each.
Here’s what Renner had as fits for the Lions, with their biggest needs at quarterback, linebacker and wide receiver.
Pro Football Focus offers early and late draft fits for the Detroit Lions
Biggest needs
3 Biggest Needs
QB
Early Fit: Sam Howell
Late Fit: Carson Strong
LB
Early Fit: Nakobe Dean
Late Fit: Brian Asamoah
WR
Early Fit: Christian Watson
Late Fit: Danny Gray
Howell, Dean and Watson all look like viable options for the Lions at the first/second-round turn, where they have picks No. 32 and No. 34. Getting any two of them with those two picks within three overall selections would be widely regarded as a win.
Among the late fits from PFF the Lions had a top-30 pre-draft visit with Asamoah, the athletic linebacker out of Oklahoma.
It’s odd to think of Strong as a “late fit” at quarterback, given that he once looked like a first or second-round pick. But I saw im in the fifth round of a mock draft on Wednesday, so there’s something to that placement.
Gray averaged over 16 yards per catch with nine touchdowns last season for SMU. He looks like the kind of deep threat the Lions could use, possibly to replace Josh Reynolds down the road beyond 2022.