Best-and-Worst-Case Scenario for Lions at No. 2

Read more on the best-and-worst-case scenario for the Detroit Lions with the No. 2 overall pick.

Author:
Vito Chirco
Publish date:
Apr 27, 2022 9:05 AM EDT

In this story:

The 2022 NFL Draft is a day away, and there is still a bit of uncertainty regarding what the Lions will do at No. 2 overall.

The most likely scenario is that Detroit general manager Brad Holmes will select a pass rusher, whether it be Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux or Georgia EDGE Travon Walker.

There is also a chance, though, that Holmes & Co. will select a defensive back with the No. 2 pick. Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton and Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner have both been bandied about as potential targets for Detroit.

Then, there is the outside shot that the Lions select their quarterback of the future with the pick, with Liberty's Malik Willis being the most likely signal-caller to be taken.

With all that said, let's take a look now at what would be both the best-case scenario and the worst-case scenario for Detroit's front office at No. 2.

Best-case scenario: Lions select Aidan Hutchinson

The hometown kid and University of Michigan product falls into the laps of Detroit at No. 2. This occurs as the result of the Jacksonville Jaguars taking Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick.

Hutchinson would be a home-run pick for the Lions, and not just because of the fact that he's a local kid who played for the Wolverines and attended Dearborn (Mich.) Divine Child High School. Most importantly, he's got the chance to be an elite-level pass rusher, and Holmes & Co. are in need of just that.

For those reasons, he'd be the best-case scenario for the Lions with the No. 2 selection.

Worst-case scenario: Detroit selects Malik Willis

Can you say "reach?"

Willis might very well become a franchise passer one day. Yet, I'm not a fan of taking a developmental prospect that likely needs a year of seasoning at No. 2 overall.

I'd give the dual-threat QB a first-round grade, but he's not worthy of a top-five or even top-10 pick.

Additionally, the Lions have the potential opportunity to draft a generational pass rusher at No. 2 (i.e. Hutchinson). Willis doesn't profile to be that kind of game-changing talent at the next level.

For all the above reasons, the Liberty product would be the worst-case scenario for Detroit with the No. 2 pick.