Detroit Lions 2022 Season Preview

All Lions provides its primer for the Detroit Lions' 2022 season.

With the 2022 NFL season set to begin this week, the Detroit Lions have increased expectations in year two under general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. 

After a relatively uneventful free-agency period, the Lions didn’t lose any big names, while adding a few players on one-year deals to help improve the roster. 

However, the NFL Draft is where the Lions decided to get a majority of their new pieces. During a rebuild, constructing the core of the roster via young talent is vitally important.

The main goal of this season is to obviously win more games than a season ago, but also to see growth from younger players. In order for the rebuild to be a success, there is going to need to be plenty of draft picks that pan out and prove they can be cornerstone players for the future. 

It’s fair as a fan to want a playoff win in 2022, yet realistically, the Lions are not quite at that point in terms of talent. Full rebuilds require patience. 

At the very least, the Lions do have some intriguing prospects and exciting players to watch, while the team is constructed into a winner.

OFFENSE

The Lions will have a well-balanced attack on offense. 

With one of the better offensive lines in all of football (even with Halapoulivaati Vaitai out, due to injury, to start the season), the running backs will have no problems finding running lanes. Given the talent in the backfield, as well, the biggest concern for the Lions' rushing attack will be situational football. As long as the defense can keep the Lions in games, it will provide the running game with an ample amount of opportunities to impose its will on opponents. Controlling the clock will be paramount for this team.

In terms of passing the football, quarterback Jared Goff improved as the season went on last year, and continued where he left off in the preseason. Looking at Goff’s weapons, he may not have any elite pass-catchers, but he sure has plenty of “really good” options.

Whether it be out of the backfield or at tight end, with D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson, respectively, or one of the many other receiving options, Goff is in a much better spot to succeed. If Goff can distribute the ball well, there may be a few different top targets, from week to week, depending on the matchup.

In short, this offense will go as far as Goff takes it. The lack of surrounding talent can’t be an excuse for the Lions' signal-caller this season.

DEFENSE

Despite spending high draft capital on the defensive side of the ball, a weak defense from a year ago still remains a work-in-progress.

Outside of safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Mike Hughes, both of whom are on one-year, prove-it contracts, there weren’t any major improvements. Rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson looks to be the real deal, but the defense still needs much more to be among the league’s best.

Perhaps the best chance for a defensive turnaround is via defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He has demonstrated an ability to set up players in positions to succeed and get the most out of each individual. There is a reason he has some head coaching “buzz.” 

Add young, developing players with a good teacher, and this defense could overperform. If players like Hutchinson, CB Jeff Okudah, LB Derrick Barnes, LB Malcolm Rodriguez and DT Alim McNeill can all quickly progress, it will not only be advantageous for this season, but for the future core of the defense, as well.

RECORD PREDICTION: 6-11

Yes, the Lions no doubt improved their roster that only won three games a season ago. It's also unlikely that the Lions will have worse injury luck than last year.

Looking at the trajectory the Lions finished on in 2021, it’s easy to see why there is optimism, given their relatively easy schedule. 

Still, there are plenty of question marks on this roster – mostly on defense and at the ever-so-important quarterback position. The Lions also don’t have enough of the high-end players that some of the NFL’s best possess.

It’s possible that younger players will develop, and there will be some surprises in the Lions' favor.

No matter the case, assuming that every weak position will be vastly improved is unrealistic. 

At quarterback, Goff has had a better preseason, and has better weapons at his disposal. He will still need to carry the team at times when the defense can’t hang with opposing offenses. 

Goff hasn’t shown he can be that type of player consistently, however. 

Overall, this team has the potential to win nine or maybe even 10 games, if everything goes right. With average luck, and a few disappointing games while sneaking a game or two from a better team, the Lions should land right around six wins.

Kirthmon F. Dozier, USA TODAY NETWORK

DEPTH CHART

Quarterbacks: Jared Goff, Nate Sudfeld

Running backs: D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Craig Reynolds, Jason Cabinda (PUP)

Wide receivers: DJ Chark, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond, Quintez Cephus, Jameson Williams (NFI)

Tight ends: T.J. Hockenson, Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra, James Mitchell

Offensive linemen: Taylor Decker, Jonah Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Tommy Kraemer, Penei Sewell, Halapoulivaati Vaitai (injured reserve), Matt Nelson, Evan Brown, Logan Stenberg, Drew Forbes 

Defensive tackles: Alim McNeill, Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike, Isaiah Buggs, Demetrius Taylor, Benito Jones

EDGEs: Aidan Hutchinson, Charles Harris, Austin Bryant, Julian Okwara, John Cominsky, Romeo Okwara (PUP), Josh Paschal (PUP)

Linebackers: Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes, Chris Board, Josh Woods

Cornerbacks: Amani Oruwariye, Jeff Okudah, Mike Hughes, Will Harris, Chase Lucas, Bobby Price, Jerry Jacobs (PUP)

Safeties: Tracy Walker, DeShon Elliott, Kerby Joseph, JuJu Hughes, Ifeatu Melifonwu

Specialists: P Jack Fox, LS Scott Daly, K Austin Seibert