
Detroit Lions must wait on Jaguars at No. 1 in NFL draft. So what’s the plan?
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett and Florida Times-Union writer John Reid break down what the Jaguars and Lions should do in the NFL draft.
Dave Birkett and John Reid, Detroit Free Press
When the Detroit Lions were losing every game they played for the first three months of the 2021 season, it seemed area native and Michigan football star Aidan Hutchinson was destined to be picked No. 1 in the 2022 NFL draft by his hometown team.
Then the winter happened.
The Lions won three games in a month-plus as the Jacksonville Jaguars claimed the top pick and franchise-tagged their starting left tackle, dousing the once-popular idea that the Jags would draft an offensive lineman. (They signed him to a three-year, nearly $54 million extension Wednesday.) Hutchinson, a Heisman finalist who’s topped draft boards for months, to Jacksonville seemed like a no-brainer.
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Now, with the draft days away, the “old” idea that Hutchinson is going to the Lions is again popular, according to several reporters, analysts and insiders.
We looked at dozens of mock drafts to see what writers think the Lions will do at No. 2. The consensus seems to be general manager Brad Holmes selecting a defensive player, specifically an edge rusher. The more recent mocks — often citing intel that Jaguars general manager Tim Baalke is enamored with Georgia’s Travon Walker — favor Hutchinson or Walker to the Lions.
Many think the Lions will be left to pick one after the Jaguars pick the other, while some still believe Jacksonville go for an offensive lineman, giving Detroit its pick of the class’s top pass rushers
The third-most popular Lions pick among these writers was Oregon standout Kayvon Thibodeaux, who has been linked to Detroit since the winter projections; before Walker used the combine to shoot up draft boards. Thibodeaux finished his career with 19 sacks in 30 games (seven sacks in 2021) while Hutchinson had 18.5 sacks in 36 games (14 in 2021). Walker didn’t have that production (six sacks in 2021, 9.5 total in three seasons) but is 275 pounds, runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, has a 35½-inch vertical leap and flashed a relentless motor.
[ Super 6: Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux among most likely Lions picks at No. 2 ]
More than one prognosticator had the Lions taking a quarterback with the second pick and another analyst predicted a defensive back (gasp).
Below is a breakdown followed by links to the mocks. In 2021, the 40-plus predictions we looked at were chiefly split among three players (Penei Sewell was the choice on 12 mocks followed by Micah Parsons at nine and Jaylen Waddell at nine), and the most popular pick turned out to be the Lions’ selection at No. 7.
Detroit Lions’ most popular 2022 NFL mock draft pick
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50 mock drafts
1. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
2. Nate Davis, USA TODAY: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
3. Luke Easterling, Draftwire: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
4. Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
5. Jordan Reid, ESPN: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
6. Todd McShay, ESPN: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
7. Dane Brugler, The Athletic: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
‘BE PATIENT’: Lions GM Brad Holmes learned valuable lesson in 2021 NFL draft
8. The Athletic NFL writers mock draft: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
9. Peter King, Pro Football Talk: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
10. Austin Gayle, Pro Football Focus: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
11. Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
12. Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
13. Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: Aidan Hutchinson, WR, Michigan
14. Dave Richard, CBS Sports: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
15. Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
16. Patrik Walker, CBS Sports: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
17. Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
18. Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
19. Jacob Camenker, The Sporting News: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
20. Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
21. Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
22. Zack Patraw, Sports Illustrated: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
23. Bucky Brooks, NFL Network: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
24. Charles Davis, NFL Network: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
25. Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
26. Rhett Lewis, NFL Network: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
27. Peter Schrager, NFL Network: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
28. Bob Rang, Fox Sports: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
29. Jason McIntyre, Fox Sports: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
30. Eric Edholm, Yahoo Sports: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
31. Eric Froton, NBC Sports: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
32. Chris Simms, NBC Sports: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
33. Tankathon: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
34. Bleacher Report scouting department: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
35. Danny Kelly, The Ringer: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
36. Seth Tractman, Yardbarker: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
37. SB Nation writers: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
38. Walter Cherepinsky, Walter Football: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
39. Charlie Campbell, Walter Football: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
40. Maurice Jones-Drew, NFL.com: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
41. Chad Reuter, NFL.com: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pitt
42. Mike O’Hara, Lions.com: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
43. Jaime Eisner, The Draft Network: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
44. Ryan Fowler, The Draft Network: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
45. Barry Wilner, Associated Press: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
46. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune: Aidan Hutchinson, edge, Michigan
47. Ben Arthur, Tennessean: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
48. Bob McManaman, Arizona Republic: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
49. Drafttek: Kayvon Thibodeaux, edge, Oregon
50. Logan Ulrich, NFL Trade Rumors: Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
Follow the Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Tyler Davis can be contacted at tjdavis@freepress.com or on Twitter @TDavisFreep.
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