The 2022 NFL Draft is right around the corner and there has been plenty of talk about the chances the Detroit Lions are able to trade their No. 2 overall pick.
But what if the Lions hold on to the No. 2 pick (they will likely have to) and then decide to trade up from their No. 32 slot?
Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network has suggested the Lions trade the No. 32 pick, a third-round pick, and a fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles to move up to No. 19 to select QB Malik Willis.
Here is what Jeremiah has to say about what would be a bold move.
“(The Lions) are gonna get right up in front of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who pick (No. 20),” Jeremiah said. “Let’s say you’re a Lions fan. Let’s say you get Aidan Hutchinson with the second pick, come back and make this move to get Malik Willis and oh, by the way, you still have pick number 34 at the beginning of the second round. If you want to move back from that slot, you’ll have an opportunity to do so.”
“You’ve got somebody you can dream on with Malik Willis, with that huge upside,” Jeremiah said. “Jared Goff, with his presence, he’s not gonna have to rush onto the field. I think that would be a perfect setup for the Detroit Lions.”
In my opinion, there are a couple of things wrong with what Jeremiah is saying about this scenario.
First of all, I think Aidan Hutchinson will go No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Second, I believe Malik Willis will be selected somewhere in the Top 10 of the 2022 NFL Draft, which means trading up to No. 19 would not help the Lions to select him.
That being said, IF Willis is still available that late in the first round, would you be in favor of the Lions trying to move up to select Willis?
