Major players at the top and bottom of Round 1, the Detroit Lions will ultimately change the course of NFL history in the 2022 NFL Draft. As we go through our final mock draft for the Lions, where they go at No. 2 overall will dictate the 2022 QB class as a whole. Let’s jump right in.
Detroit Lions 2022 7-Round Mock Draft
Here are projections of every pick the Detroit Lions could make within a 7-Round 2022 NFL Mock Draft, with the Pro Football Network staff as the general manager. This is what we would do with the picks after the board shook out while doing a full 7-round, 32-team mock draft.
Round 1, Pick 2: Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
You could call it a surprise. And sure, it may be, but the Detroit Lions need an answer at the quarterback position. There are a handful of players at the position that I’d be confident enough to build my franchise around in this draft, and Malik Willis is absolutely one of them. However, as part of this plan, Willis is sitting behind Jared Goff for the 2022 season and learning the offense. Then, we’ll deploy him in 2023 and beyond.
Other players in consideration: Kayvon Thibodeaux, EDGE, Oregon; Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan
Round 1, Pick 32 (from LAR): John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
After grabbing their quarterback of the future at pick No. 2, the Lions grab their receiver of the future to pair with Willis. John Metchie III may not have much impact as the season rolls around while he rehabs an injury sustained in the SEC Championship Game. But when he’s ready, he has the potential to lock down the WR1 role for years to come.
As talented as he is on the field, Metchie is a student of the game and has perhaps the best mental evaluation among the wide receiver class this year. He’ll be ready from Day 1 mentally, and once his physical game catches up, the sky is the limit.
Other players in consideration: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas; Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
Round 2, Pick 34: Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
Detroit needs some defensive help under head coach Dan Campbell. What they get in Nakobe Dean is a cerebral linebacker who routinely calls out the offensive play call ahead of the snap.
Other players in consideration: Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor; Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
Round 3, Pick 66: Cameron Thomas, EDGE, San Diego State
After passing on this talented EDGE class through their first three picks, the Lions grab Cameron Thomas at the top of Round 3. Thomas is a powerful player with a menacing few pass-rush moves. He’s quick up the field and talented in space against the run. There’s a versatility to his game as well — he can use power or speed moves depending on who’s in front of him on any down.
Other players in consideration: Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota; Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
Round 3, Pick 97 (compensatory selection): Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
The Lions hit the defensive side of the ball again here, this time around picking Illinois S Kerby Joseph. An underrated prospect, Joseph had a great showing during the Senior Bowl, and his athleticism shined during the pre-draft process. Used correctly, Joseph can be a ball hawk in coverage and has no lapse against the run either.
Other players in consideration: Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia; JT Woods, S, Baylor
Round 5, Pick 177 (compensatory selection): Danny Gray, WR, SMU
They may have grabbed a few wide receivers in free agency, but few have the speed of Danny Gray. The best part about Gray’s game is that he understands where and how to use his speed. Whether it’s beating defenders off the line or separating along route breaks, Gray becomes a valuable weapon for the new regime in Detroit.
Other players in consideration: Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska; Josh Johnson, WR, Tulsa
Round 6, Pick 217 (compensatory selection): Josh Ross, LB, Michigan
Criminally underrated, Josh Ross had a quiet-yet-productive career at Michigan. He’s a tackling machine who comes equipped with a skill set for today’s NFL. Ross has shown he can rush the passer and drop back in coverage all the same.
Other players in consideration: James Houston IV, LB, Jackson State; Jeffrey Gunter, EDGE, Coastal Carolina
Round 7, Pick 224 (mock trade from HOU via NE, BAL, and MIA): Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
Mock Trade: The Dolphins sent pick Nos. 224 and 247 in 2022, as well as a 2023 seventh-round pick, in exchange for Detroit’s pick No. 181.
With their newly-acquired pick from Miami, the Lions start a run on cornerbacks by selecting Joshua Williams from Fayetteville State. Williams has size and athleticism in spades, checking in at 6’3″ and leaping through the roof. He also has plenty of ball skills, and his length allows him to close space with or without top speed.
Other players in consideration: Arron Mosby, EDGE, Fresno State; Shaun Jolly, CB, Appalachian State
Round 7, Pick 234 (from CLE): Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
Another cornerback because, well, let’s face it, they need help there. This time, a big cornerback with a bigger game heads to Detroit as Jaylen Watson joins the Lions’ secondary. At 6’2″, 197 pounds, Watson comes with terrific size and more than enough speed to stay with receivers from a variety of alignments. Honing in on his fundamentals while adjusting to the NFL speed will be critical, but he could quickly become a valuable fourth cornerback in Detroit.
Other players in consideration: Arron Mosby, EDGE, Fresno State; Shaun Jolly, CB, Appalachian State
Round 7, Pick 247 (mock trade from TEN via MIA): Dylan Parham, G, Memphis
Mock Trade: The Dolphins sent pick Nos. 224 and 247 in 2022, as well as a 2023 seventh-round pick, in exchange for Detroit’s pick No. 181.
With their final pick of the draft, the Lions finally return to the offensive side of the ball. They grab Dylan Parham, a big man on the interior, to help improve depth and eventually the starting lineup. The Lions are set on the edge and at center, so Parham improves the depth behind Jonah Jackson and Halapoulivaati Vaitai.
Other players in consideration: Percy Butler, S, Louisiana; Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State