3 Late-Round Quarterbacks for Lions to Target in 2022 NFL Draft

As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, it seems less and less likely that the Lions will take a quarterback at No. 2 overall. It also doesn't seem extremely likely that Detroit general manager Brad Holmes will select a QB at No. 32 overall.

However, the organization could decide to take a signal-caller as the draft progresses and gets into the later rounds.

With that said, here are three late-round quarterback prospects Holmes & Co. could target in this year's draft.

Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky

Zappe is far from the biggest guy in this year's quarterback class (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), and he doesn't offer a high degree of athleticism.

However, he did prove to be a game-changer at the collegiate level, albeit at a non-Power Five school in Western Kentucky.

He finished the 2021 season with FBS all-time single-season high marks in both passing yards (5,987) and passing touchdowns (62). He also threw just 11 interceptions, and completed 69.2 percent of his passes.

He was nothing short of spectacular, and for his efforts, he was named first-team All-Conference USA, and was awarded the conference's Most Valuable Player award.

Despite all the success and accolades, there is question regarding whether his game will translate to the next level. For that reason, he is a late-round prospect.

However, it still wouldn't hurt the Lions to give the prolific college passer a look on Day 3 of the draft.

Kaleb Eleby, Western Michigan

The 6-foot-1, 210-pound signal-caller is the definition of a developmental prospect.

He has the knack for delivering an incredibly strong ball, but also fails to consistently go through all of his progressions. It's what makes him a late-round-type QB in this year's draft class.

Despite all of that, Eleby did throw for 21 touchdowns and 3,115 yards in 12 regular season games in 2021.

He'd be worth a look for the Lions' front-office brass on Day 3.

Carson Strong, Nevada

The strong-armed Strong -- no pun intended -- would be good value for the Lions in the third round.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound pocket passer threw for 36 touchdowns and 4,175 yards in 12 regular season games in 2021. He also was named first-team All-Mountain West, and was selected the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year.

According to The Draft Network's Drae Harris,

"One of his best assets is his ability to take care of the football. Nevada’s offense calls for big shots down the field, and he has been judicious in this regard. Some of his turnovers in the exposures I’ve graded were situations where his receivers let him down. Although the league seems to be trending away from this type of QB, this is someone who would thrive with an effective running game, good protection, and a sure-handed tight end."

As Harris indicates, Strong is going to need a quality roster of offensive linemen and skill players to succeed at the next level. Detroit might be trending in that direction, which would make Strong an interesting selection for the organization.