The wait for who the Detroit Lions will select with the second overall pick in the NFL draft is almost over. And the selection is…
The Detroit Lions are almost on the clock with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After the Jacksonville Jaguars make the first pick, general manager Brad Holmes and the Lions will be on the clock.
There has been a lot of conjecture about who the Lions will select at No. 2. The candidates have ranged from Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson to Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker to Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux to Liberty quarterback Malik Willis.
It’s an obvious, even though only one player will be off the board, who the Lions select will be affected by who the Jaguars us the No. 1 pick on. It;s not inconceivable that who Holmes covets the most could be scooped up by Jacksonville, leading to Detroit having to explore option ‘B’.
That option could involve the Lions going with their second choice, or maybe trading back if the right deal is on the table. Holmes could go several different ways.
So as we are left with time for one last speculation, let’s do just that. Starting with Jacksonville. The popular choice has been Hutchinson until very recently, when Walker has become the betting favorite.
After some additions and retentions, many have decided to look the other way and say “all is well” with the Jaguars’ offensive line. The truth is that they still need more help to protect Lawrence, so Iken Ekwonu or Evan Neal are certainly still in play.
With the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select…
A prediction Jacksonville will go offensive line is hardly foolproof, as their front office has proven to be as incompetent as prior regimes in Detroit. But I’m going with it.
That would leave the Lions with their choice of defensive players to choose from. Holmes may still want to trade back and gather extra draft capital if possible. But assuming staying put at No. 2 and Jacksonville goes offensive tackle or takes Walker, Hutchinson would be the presumed and easy pick.
Walker and Thibodeaux may have higher ceilings than Hutchinson. But what seperates Hutchinson are exactly the things that make him a fit for Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
Should Holmes select Hutchinson he will make an immediate impact on the Lions. But there aren’t many ways Detroit can go wrong with the second overall pick. At roughly 5:30 p.m local time in Las Vegas Thursday night, we’ll see how Holmes casts the dice for the Lions.