Now that the 2022 NFL draft is in the books, it’s time to project who the winners and losers were for the Detroit Lions.
Winner: Jared Goff
With the addition of Alabama receiver Jameson Williams, the quarterback now has plenty of weapons at his disposal to move the offense and reach elite Pro Bowl-level play again.
Loser: Jared Goff
With Williams, DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown and a healthy T.J. Hockenson this year, Goff has no excuse to not put up very good numbers and win more games.
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Winner: Brad Holmes
The general manager avoids starting the rebuild — and really feeling the heat — one more year by not drafting a quarterback.
Loser: Brad Holmes
If Goff has a mediocre season and the Lions struggle to win again this year — two likely scenarios — Holmes has no choice but to draft a quarterback next year, even if he doesn’t have the draft capital to take Alabama’s Bryce Young.
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Winners: Lions fans
They finally saw Holmes spend a high draft pick on a receiver and will get to see if the Lions’ offense can reach its potential now that Goff has weapons.
Losers: Lions fans
Whenever any of the quarterbacks the Lions passed on do something of note, Lions fans will be haunted by Eric Ebron-levels of regret.
Winners: Drafted quarterbacks
You know their chances of being Pro Bowlers went up dramatically after the Lions passed on them.
Winner: T.J. Hockenson
Thanks to the arrival of Virginia Tech blocking tight end James Mitchell, Hockenson can be freed up to catch a lot more passes.
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Winner: Brad Holmes’ mom
Apparently, Mrs. Holmes likes to needle her son about not drafting more players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. After taking edge rusher James Houston from Jackson State, maybe the Lions’ HBCU-graduate GM will get some peace. Sheesh, mom!
Winner: Aaron Glenn
The Lions; defensive coordinator got plenty of help, with six of the team’s eight draft picks coming on defense, including No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson. That makes 10 of 15 picks devoted to defense in Holmes’ two drafts. Either Holmes is playing favorites, lost a bet (“Sure, Aaron, you can make the picks when Matthew Stafford beats Tom Brady in the playoffs.”) or Glenn has Jedi mind-trick control over Holmes.
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Loser: Ben Johnson
The Lions offensive coordinator gets a receiver with a torn ACL and a blocking tight end with a torn ACL. Um … thanks?
Winners: Lions medical staffers
Here’s their chance to shine!
Winner: Jeff Okudah
The perpetually injured cornerback and the No. 3 pick in the 2020 draft didn’t see his replacement drafted despite three corners going in the first round.
Winner: Levi Onwuzurike
The Lions defensive tackle had a disappointing rookie season after he was a second-round pick last year, but the Lions didn’t draft his replacement either.
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.