The Lions will be using one of their final pre-draft visits on one of this year’s top quarterback prospects. Detroit is scheduled to meet with former Pitt passer Kenny Pickett next week (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). 
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As Pelissero notes, this will be the first known sit-down the Lions have with a signal-caller. Much of their pre-draft homework has been done on the class’ top defensive prospects, though some of speculated that a quarterback could be the team’s ultimate target. Head coach Dan Campbell and his staff were able to work closely with Malik Willis and Sam Howell at the Senior Bowl, so they presumably have a good deal of familiarity with those two already.
Pickett, meanwhile, has drawn plenty of interest from a number of teams expected to be eyeing a QB later this month. Over the course of five years with the Panthers, he threw 81 touchdowns and 32 interceptions, adding just over 800 rushing yards in the process. The 2021 campaign was by far his most productive, as he set new career-highs in completion percentage (67.2), passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (47 in total). As a result, he was a finalist for the Heisman trophy.
The six-foot-three, 220-pound passer – like all other top QB options this year – is not seen as being worth a top-two pick, though the Lions have have said they would be willing to trade down; the team also owns the 32nd and 34th selections. That, coupled with general manager Brad Holmes recently stating an openness to draft a quarterback (despite supporting Jared Goff, who has three more years on his contract), leaves the door open to the Lions adding a developmental passer.
There is still a great deal of uncertainty at the very top of the board with less than two weeks to go until the first round. If Detroit were to use their top selection on a quarterback, it would add even more intrigue to the rest of the first round, and have a sizeable impact on the rest of the QB board.
it just seems like this is where hes gonna end up
Can’t remember the last time I saw a prospect with such a wide projection range. One updated mock I looked at this morning has him at #6, the other has him at #43.
Did anybody cross the PICKETT line?
Shut up nerd.
This is where the NFL is weird.
Jared Goff was a first overall pick and took his team to a Super Bowl.
Until last year, Kenny Pickett was considered a guy with a future in insurance or car sales.
The pace at which teams sour on young QB’s who don’t get to learn from their mistakes before doing the same thing with a new guy and then another new guy, etc. seems counterproductive as a whole.
Goff has had plenty of opportunity man. DC’s don’t fear him at all.
Kenny had i believe a 5th round projection last year. Pretty much your entire post is inaccurate.
“Do you have any verifiable evidence that said chicken did, in fact, cross that road?”
Oh, a fifth round grade…well, if he had a fifth round grade, I guess my whole point about giving up on first overall picks who take teams to Super Bowls is moot, right?
I believe you said a guy with a future in furniture sales. Now were pivoting to talking about first overall picks. Yikes you are all over the place. Surely you didnt just change directions.
Google the word “pedant”.
Also, “This is where the NFL is weird.
Jared Goff was a first overall pick…”
No pivot, you just can’t read accurately and/or comprehend properly.
So, you are both pedantic and wrong.
Yeah… yikes man. You, do you.
That’s what I do, Pedant.
If Detroit wants to take a swing on a QB with their end of the round pick knowing they can swing again next year, fine, but I wouldn’t pin my hopes on Pickett. He isn’t just a one year wonder with small hands from a weak conference. He was also a really old breakout. He’s three months younger than Herbert and Tua. His one great season happened when those other guys were already in their second NFL season, and he was in the ACC. He should look like a man among boys, since he literally was one.
Not disagreeing with you, but Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, Baker Mayfield, Mitchell Trubisky, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, Derek Carr, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning, etc were all 23 going on 24 when they were drafted. Kirk Cousins was 24 already.
23 years old is a man, but 22 is a boy?
Fair point on that last thing, but those guys were some combination of better throughout college, better when they broke out, and playing against better competition. Burrow, for example, was a late breakout, but he may have had the best college QB season ever in the SEC.
You’re not wrong. I honestly know very little about Pickett beyond that run and his hand size. I hope the Saints do not draft him.
But its cool of burrow does it right?
Joe Burrow played almost that whole year at 22 and had an all time great season in the toughest conference in college football. Pickett didn’t do that.
One guy no one is actually paying any attention to @ the moment…Bailey Zappe (QB-Western Kentucky).Can be had in the later rds, if still available by then.Possible backup then maybe starter in the near future,whenever they decide to move on from Goff.Very intrigued by this prospect.Would be a good grab for my Lions.
“Can be had in the later rds, if still available by then”
Isn’t that true of everyone? :-p
Depending on the players value.Like for instance,I would grade Malik Willis as a( high 2nd rd grade)33-37 range … But other teams may value him as a first rd grade- for example just throwing these teams out there.Atl,Car.,Wash.,NYG.Those teams who are in desperate need of a QB could draft Willis.Zappe could be valued @ maybe,I say a early 4th rd pick or higher.An unknown QB no one really talked about could be a steal in the draft bc the so called experts(Kiper, McShay) not really talking about the guy. So no one really knows whose gonna rise or fall.Another example,Jordan Davis could be a high first rd pick but I value him a mid range pick somewhere between 15-25.Those several teams I just mentioned could draft Davis or he could go as high as number 2 pick.Pair Davis with Grady Jarrett from Atlanta that would be the best run stopping team.U never know.Depending on the teams draft needs.
My picks for the Lions…u can agree or disagree my friend we all have our own opinions there are no right or wrong answers.1st rd-(Thibodeaux).say what u want about his attitude but the kid can ball tape dont lie.32nd pick from Rams-(DrakeJackson)..2nd rd pick 34-Kyle Hamilton- and again that’s if he drops that far..or I could go LIneBAcker- ChanningTindall.I could package the 34th pick plus 66 and move back up in first rd then select Jordan Davis.Thats if he’s still available.
Once I make my draft selections.Then comes the roster cuts for all 31 teams.Waiting for teams to drop unwanted players filling out the rest of my roster.Not overspending.