Though the Detroit Lions have been playing much better as of late, it is difficult to not look ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft, where the Lions currently hold the No. 2 overall pick.
Most believe the Lions will select either Kayvon Thibodeaux or Aidan Hutchinson if they end up with the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick but in the latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft put out by Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports, the Lions will trade down.
In his latest mock draft, Wilson has the Lions trading down to No. 5 (New York Giants) and selecting stud CB Derek Stingley Jr. out of LSU.
Here is what Wilson has to say about the pick. (Note: He does not say what the return package would be for the Lions if this trade went down but it cost the Jets three second-rounders to go from No. 6 to No. 3 back in 2018 to go get Sam Darnold.)
From CBS Sports:
“Jeff Okudah’s career has been marred by injuries and while we liked Ifeatu Melifonwu coming out of Syracuse, the Lions need to continue to beef up their secondary. Stingley missed the final half of the season because of injury but that will have zero impact on his draft stock.”
With their second first-round pick (via Rams), Wilson has the Lions grabbing QB Carson Strong out of Nevada.
“Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy tweeted this last week about Strong, who officially declared for the NFL: “Plenty speculation on here about status of … Strong’s knee. He had surgery Feb. 21 and rushed back to play this fall despite normal 10-month recovery time. Recently saw an NFL team doc who told him there was zero cause for long-term concern after clean MRI.” If that proves to be the case with team docs for QB-needy teams, Strong will be a first-round pick, and could go much higher than this. The Lions stockpiled second-round picks by trading down earlier, landed Stingley, and now get a franchise QB here. Not a bad day’s work for new GM Brad Holmes, should it play out this way.”
Nation, would you like this draft haul for the Lions?
You have to weigh out the option of the recent failure of development of Okudah and if the Lions brass are willing to draft a CB again in the top 5 vs. taking a potentially franchise changing DE. Granted you have to take in consideration there’s a new staff in town with Holmbell and Co. Does a haul of 3 2nd rounders (guessing for compensation) is worth it? On paper, yes, but Gettleman is not a GM (presuming he’s still with the Giants after the season) who typically trades up.