While it’s still early days when it comes to the draft process for 2022, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has made it clear that he’s not leaving out any options during the offseason, even with regards to the team’s second overall pick in April. He stated the team is “definitely open for business” when asked about the availability of that selection (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). 
During an interview with Pelissero at the Senior Bowl, Holmes said “I’m never scared to move around” during the draft. In a year without a consensus top choice, not to mention one where Detroit has another first round pick (as a result of the Jared Goff trade), moving down the board would make a good degree of sense.
The two highest-rated prospects in this year’s class, according to most, are edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Aidan Hutchinson. While the Lions would be guaranteed at least one of them by remaining at No. 2, they could end up with both being on the board if the Jaguars use the first pick on Alabama tackle Evan Neal, as some believe they will.
Prioritizing the defense in the draft would certainly make sense for the Lions, as they finished 31st in the league in points allowed in 2021. That could still be accomplished with the likes of cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. or safety Kyle Hamilton, though, if the team moved down slightly.
With plenty of holes to fill this offseason, Detroit has a number of decisions to make to rebound from the first season of the Dan Campbell era. Flexibility in the draft would certainly go a long way to helping rebuild the roster, even if it were to mean moving out of a top-two draft slot.
They have a “ hole” to fill in the Head Coach. Guy is pure clown
We get it, Campbell is a clown. You still haven’t told us why you’re so committed to that, but trust me, we know what you think of him.
True story. Campbell is an emotionally unstable maniac. Pretty much the definition of what you don’t want in a head coach. Perfect for Detroit. Pure gold for everyone else to enjoy the weekly meltdowns.
And “mute”. You literally bring nothing to the table ever.
Apparently you’re not a Dan Campbell fan?
It would be the right move, i think. This draft has a lot of seemingly solid players, but I’m not sure who the generational talent is here that will not be seen in a decade. The Lions have a TON of holes and it will take time to fill them all. Anything that gives them more opportunities to do that-or more capitol for a trade-is the right move.
If you don’t do it, and you take a players, you need to be able to believe that he’ll be worth more than the opportunity to acquire that ammunition. In a division that may not feature Rodgers again, and two other completely new organizational staffs, the Lions have a wide open field to build a better foundation that could, if done right, compete long term. There’s no rush to do it by next season with the way their roster is-they still have a lot of work to do.
Problem is there’s no franchise changing picks on the surface in this draft. Hutch and Thibs will likely go 1-2 but neither of them are going to bring what a marquee QB could.
I’m not sure there will be a huge desire to move up and if there is, I don’t see a team giving up multiple firsts to do it.
They might be stuck with the pick, which they def need defensive help and should go with which ever one of previous 2 is left at 2.
Eagles should go all in they already have 3 first round picks, why not go for a 4th? The New York Jets were the last team to have 4 first round picks in 2000.
interesting a number 2 for both 15 and 16 the Eagles have..Lions are looking for picks not players…Eagles need a QB so maybe they will bite. Hurt can’t throw but might make a heck of a running back.
Hurts is at least a viable backup QB and could be turned into a marquee QB in the right scheme. The Ravens managed to do it with Lamar Jackson, who has a similar skillset.
What I mean is that they should trade there 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th rounder for that Lions pick. Then the Eagles would own the 2nd 15th 16th and 19th picks. Poker chips all in for them next year.
Nobody gives up #2 for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th.
If the Lions did that the fans would burn down the stadium… No draft is that deep… you eagle fans are funny… Hurts can’t throw and he is not the runner Jackson is… Oh well enjoy 2022 with Jalen.
as in…trade for Goff or trade up when you dont need to in this QB class? yeah no.
I see Yep is back on his clown tangents again without any explanation… nothing changes.
If the Lions do give up #2, I have faith in Holmes to do the right thing for the franchise moving forward. As much I think Thibodeaux could be that generational talent you are talking about @ak185, I don’t know if he will be there for the Lions at 2. I think he is the #1 pick after the combine numbers come out.
Thibodeaux may be the closest, which occurred to me, but I don’t know enough to say for sure. The Lions could use help at that position, so it wouldn’t be a bad use of the pick necessarily I don’t think. I think overall, though, trading down could give them some more help to grab other players they could use as well.
100% agree with you but it has to be worth the squeeze. The Stafford deal was in my opinion highway robbery for a GM. Two 1st round picks for a QB that wanted to leave. I see Holmes looking in the same mold of a deal for the #2 pick or even higher(most likely higher).
Also wanted to point out that the holes are not as plentiful as you may think. They have some good pieces on the board but the main piece, QB, is weak. I think with these 5 picks in the first 3 rounds they can fill a couple of them with some quality players. This draft is not filled with the homerun hitters but there sure is alot of double and single hitters( sorry for the baseball anology).
No offense taken…..
Lol…highway robbery…..Who is playing in the super bowl next weekend? I forgot….
Rams are plenty fine making that trade. Goff sure as F wasn’t takin them there.
Goff is not bad enough that the Lions should shut him down at this point. I.e. the Lions should spend their energy filling real holes rather than wish lists.
Highway robbery . who is in the super bowl… The only guy that seems to appreciate Stafford is Aaron Rodgers who has gone on record as saying Stafford is the guy the other QB’s marvel at the throws he makes but no one talks about. Rodgers is right Mathew is NOT getting the credit he deserves… If they win the Super Bowl Cupp will likely get MVP…
2 1st round picks for a QB everyone knows wanted to leave is amazing. Teams should have known to not give the Lions that much. I get it was to give Goff in the deal but 2 firsts is crazy.
Highway robbery is a little far stretched I apologize. It was a overpay when a lot of other teams didn’t come close to that offer.
No team plays harder for their coach than the Lions. If that makes him a clown then that’s ok with me. He has an excellent coaching staff and the team is on the rise. But the popular and cool thing to do by the perpetual naysayers is to call him a clown. Very comical.
Agreed. The current clown is in Ann Arbor.
Just to recap, 3-13-1 and getting the team to “play the hardest” is the criteria to meet for all fans? Well mission accomplished Dan Campbell lol
We did the 12-2 and a playoff berth.. It has no place in the mitten for us fans!
It might sound silly, but based on Okudah producing nothing so far, I can’t imagine the Lions spending another high draft pick on a corner (Stingley), maybe not even a safety (Hamilton). They just spent a high pick on the secondary, I would see them being gunshy to do it again.
The Lions will set the market value for a center but when it comes to extending proven performers at impact positions they always balk at putting up the money. You need to hit the jackpot with every draft pick to actually make that kind of approach work.