Booher: Detroit Lions 2022 Mock Draft 2.0

Check out Christian Booher's second seven-round Detroit Lions mock draft of 2022.

The biggest and brightest stars of the NFL’s 2022 draft class took center stage at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

The week-long event allowed the top draft eligible players to show off their strength and athleticism to a plethora of NFL scouts. This stage of the offseason is a precursor to the draft becoming the dominant conversation in football circles.

The Detroit Lions will pick early and often when the draft commences, but how they utilize those picks remains to be seen. 

I took a stab at a seven-round mock draft for the Lions back in February, and am now once again throwing on my GM hat and stepping into the hypothetical war room.

Below is my second seven-round mock draft of 2022. 

ROUND ONE

No. 2 overall — Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

No changes here, as I have the Lions selecting the top EDGE rusher available with the second selection of the draft. 

I believe Jacksonville, despite franchise-tagging offensive tackle Cam Robinson, will look to solidify its offensive line further by selecting either N.C. State’s Ikem Ekwonu or Alabama’s Evan Neal.

This means Hutchinson will be available for the taking, and Detroit general manager Brad Holmes should do just that. The team parted ways with veteran Trey Flowers, freeing up playing time at the position, too. 

Hutchinson has plenty of ties to the Detroit area, and should be a great fit with the Lions. In addition, he’s full of athleticism and a relentless worker, despite issues regarding his arm size and bend around the edge.

No. 32 overall — Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

This may seem like a little bit of a reach, but there’s reason to believe that Watson’s stock may continue to skyrocket as the draft draws closer. He was one of the combine’s top performers, running a blazing-fast 4.36 40-yard dash, to go along with his 6-foot-5 frame.

The Lions are expected to be players in the wide receiver free-agent market, but the crop of available players lacks a dynamite star. By picking Watson, the Lions secure a prospect with high-level potential who could contribute right away.

ROUND TWO

No. 34 overall — Lewis Cine, S, Georgia

Another major area of need for Detroit is at safety. In my first mock, I had the Lions selecting Daxton Hill. However, I believe it’s looking more likely that Hill will be a first-round selection.

Cine has similar versatility to Hill, as he can play both safety and nickel cornerback. This versatility is something Detroit was missing last year, as it had to turn to Will Harris at corner with the team depleted at the position due to injuries.

Cine, a Georgia product, was part of the nation’s best defense in 2021. So, bringing that mentality into Detroit would be helpful, as the Lions look to rebuild through building up their defense.

ROUND THREE

No. 66 overall — Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati

Early in the offseason, I believed the Lions would not consider taking a quarterback. However, with Ridder falling to the third round, I think he is simply worth a shot with this selection.

Ridder was perhaps one of the top signal-callers at the combine, showing off his arm talent as well as his athletic ability. He ran an impressive 4.52 40-yard dash, and looks the part of a franchise QB at 6-foot-3.

The NFL is becoming a game dominated by athletic quarterbacks with big arms. While Ridder’s arm isn’t at the top of his class, his athleticism may be very close to Liberty’s Malik Willis. 

Taking a chance on a mid-round quarterback allows for the option to sit him a year or two behind incumbent Jared Goff, while gauging his readiness for action in the league.

Kareem Elgazzar, The Enquirer, USA TODAY NETWORK

Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

No. 97 overall (projected compensatory selection for N.Y. Giants signing WR Kenny Golladay) – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati

Back-to-back Cincinnati products for the Lions, as Holmes and company poach a pair of top players from one of last year’s College Football Playoff teams.

The physical Beavers fits the prototype for what Campbell is looking for, as NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein calls him a “phone-booth linebacker who is well-schooled in taking on and slipping blocks between the tackles.”

There is room for polish with Beavers, but he’s another developmental piece. Holmes has said the rebuild will be about developing players the organization believes to be gems, and the former Bearcat may be just that.

ROUND FOUR

No current selections.

ROUND FIVE

No. 177 overall (projected comp. pick) — Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston State

The small-school product in McCollum was one of the biggest winners at his position during the combine. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash and impressed in drills, showing scouts that he has enough athleticism to play with the best competition.

He, like Beavers, needs some polish. There will be a stiff jump in competition between the FCS and the NFL. 

With Detroit dealing with injury issues in the secondary, his time to show he belongs could come sooner rather than later.

There’s also some special teams value to unpack here, as a mainstay on the special teams unit is well worth a fifth-round selection. 

McCollum is currently viewed as an under-the-radar riser on draft boards, and seems like a solid Day 3 option.

ROUND SIX

No. 180 overall — Pierre Strong Jr., RB, South Dakota State

A theme has been developing over the last several picks, as the Lions go with yet another player who hails outside of college football’s Power Five conferences. 

Strong has great open-field instincts, and broke off 10 scoring runs of 50 yards or more while playing for the Jackrabbits.

The Lions have an interesting competition brewing at running back, with D’Andre Swift locked in as the starter but questions behind him. Jamaal Williams is set as the No. 2 RB, but that’s only if he isn’t a cap casualty. I, for one, think Williams will be back with Detroit in 2022.

Outside of those two, the Lions have several young options who are still short on experience. Rookie Jermar Jefferson was a seventh-round pick in 2021, but suited up in just seven games. 

By taking Strong, the Lions snag a potential boom-or-bust prospect to bring competition to the backfield.

No. 218 overall (Projected comp. pick) — Ben Brown, OG, Ole Miss

The Lions will need some offensive line help. However, it’s a need that doesn’t appear to be overly pressing. The team should have its entire starting core coming back for the 2022 season, but adding a little depth never hurts. 

In this case, Holmes and his brass add a physical guard from SEC country. Brown didn’t perform at the combine, due to the fact that he’s still recovering from a torn biceps injury that he suffered during the regular season.

The Lions are the thinnest at guard, with Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai holding the fort down and being backed up by only Tommy Kraemer and Logan Stenberg. The latter has been unimpressive since being drafted in 2020, and could be on his way out if Detroit takes another interior offensive lineman.

ROUND SEVEN

No. 240 overall — Connor Heyward, TE/FB, Michigan State

The Lions wrap it up with another in-state product, as Holmes picks up a tight end/fullback hybrid that played for the organization’s American team at the Senior Bowl. I made this selection in the sixth round of my previous mock, but I believe now there is a good chance Detroit can get Heyward in the seventh.

This pick makes sense for many reasons. First and foremost, there's the fact that he seems to be a player head coach Dan Campbell would love. He’s athletic and tough, showing during his final year at Michigan State that he can do a variety of things to help an offense.

Detroit is certainly set when it comes to the starting tight end spot (with T.J. Hockenson). However, Heyward would be a very good depth piece moving forward.