As it stands through Week 12 of the 2021 NFL season, our Detroit Lions (God bless them) currently hold the No. 1 pick and the No. 23 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Following this weekend’s college football games, Michigan EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson has been climbing up draft boards and many (including us a couple of months ago) have suggested that the Lions select him No. 1 overall.
One person who seems to agree with that thought is Dan Brugler of The Athletic, who just put out his first 2022 NFL Mock Draft of the season.
Here is some of what Brugler has to say about the Lions taking Hutchinson No. 1 overall and then selecting WR Treylon Burks out of Arkansas at No. 23.
No. 1: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan
Athleticism? Hutchinson was No. 2 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List for a reason and will test well at the combine. Production? Hutchinson set the Michigan single-season sack record (13 sacks and counting) and currently ranks No. 2 in college football with 68 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. Intangibles? This is what truly sets Hutchinson apart. His competitive makeup is rare and raises the level of his teammates. If you included the players from this past April’s draft in the 2022 class, Hutchinson might not be drafted in the top 10. But he embodies a lot of the traits that head coach Dan Campbell craves and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a team like Detroit settles on Hutchinson at the top of its board.
23. Detroit Lions (from Los Angeles) — Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas*
The Lions’ most productive wide receiver is Kalif Raymond, who currently ranks 79th in the NFL in receiving yards. Burks is a unique talent who creates mismatches with his combination of size and athleticism. Detroit could address quarterback here with Liberty’s Malik Willis or Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder if it evaluates either as a worthy long-term option.
Nation, would you be happy with these picks?
