The Detroit Lions will own two first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. They will have their own selection with the second overall pick. Detroit will also have the Los Angeles Rams first-round selection which will be 32nd
I would highly anticipate the Lions selecting Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan, with the second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. It makes the most sense in the world. Other than that, what should Detroit do with the other first-round selection they acquired?
Draft a Wide Receiver
Wide receiver could be the weakest link on the offensive side of the football. Amon-Ra St. Brown broke out as the number one wide receiver as a rookie last year. He was a fourth-round selection out of USC and St. Brown is only going to get better.
They need to draft a number two receiver to go on the opposite side of him to help out Jared Goff. Some of the names that could potentially be available on the board at that spot are Drake London, USC, Jahan Dotson, Penn State, and John Metchie III, Alabama.
London is 6’5” and weighs 210 lbs. He caught 88 passes for 1,084 yards receiving and seven touchdowns.
Dotson is 5’11” and weighs 184 lbs. He caught 91 passes for 1,182 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.
Metchie III is 6’0” and weighs 195 lbs. He caught 96 passes for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
If all three of those players are on the board they should select Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State.
Draft an Offensive Lineman
They need to fix up the offensive line. Penei Sewell played well as a rookie at right tackle. They need to find some other pieces on the offensive line.
Three potential options for this position could be Kenyon Green, Texas A & M, Bernhard Raimann, Central Michigan, and Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa.
Green is 6’4” and weighs 325 lbs. He can play both guard positions and right tackle. Kenyon Green started over 30 games at Texas A & M and will be a starter in the NFL from day one.
Rainmann is 6’5” and weighs 305 lbs. He came over from Austria and was originally a tight end and converted to left tackle and has all of the raw physical tools to be a left tackle in today’s NFL.
Penning is 6’6” and weighs 330 lbs. He could potentially play his way into the first round of the NFL Draft. Trevor Penning is playing his way into the first round of the NFL Draft because of his senior bowl workouts and is potentially the next FCS offensive lineman stud to play left tackle.
If all three of these players are on the board the Detroit Lions should select Trevor Penning.
Draft the Best Defensive Player Available
The Detroit Lions were not very good on the defensive side of the football last season and lacked talent on it. Detroit needs playmakers on this side of the football in order to stop the other team from scoring. The Lions have tons of avenues they can go with.
Jordan Davis, DL, Georgia, Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State, and Jermaine Johnson II, EDGE, Florida State could be three of the players still available on the board for Detroit on that side of the football.
Davis is 6’6” and weighs 340 lbs. He played on the National Championship Georgia team that was elite defensively. He has tremendous speed for his body weight but is a little threat to get to the quarterback in the pass rush.
Thomas is 6’4” and weighs 264 lbs. He is a powerful athlete and is one of the better pass rushers in this class. Cameron Thomas never takes a play-off.