The day has finally arrived! Finally, after all the months of tape analysis and interviews, teams are about to embark on injecting youth into their roster by adding some of these young men in hopes of turning their franchise around or getting over the hump through the 2022 NFL Draft.
With all of the speculation and possible team fits, mock drafts have been coming by the boatload, with analysts and experts trying to do their best to figure out which team might do what with the draft looming ever so closer.
Tapping into 100 random mock drafts from the NFL Mock Draft database, we analyzed the players everyone believes to be selected at the 2nd overall spot for the Detroit Lions, and below is the breakdown of those mock drafts.
Aidan Hutchinson – 73
Kayvon Thibodeaux – 17
Travon Walker – 6
Malik Willis – 1
Ahmad Gardner – 1
Derek Stingley Jr – 1
Jermaine Johnson – 1
As you can see, this one was not even close, with local Michigan product Aidan Hutchinson being the runaway favorite amongst analysts to be the Lions pick when they are on the clock. He fits everything the Lions look for in a player and will instantly become a leader on defense as a cornerstone franchise player.
Due to the amount of smoke and fire surrounding Travon Walker possibly being the favorite to be the first selection in the draft, Hutchinson has been dropping to the Lions. Most wouldn’t put up a fight, all things considering.
Kayvon Thibodeaux takes second place, with 17 mock drafts going in his favor. To say the Lions are enamored by him is an understatement after Detroit sent multiple team personnel to watch his Pro Day. Even to a point in an interview, Thibodeaux mentioned he has been in constant communication with Dan Campbell and joked around that he has him on speed dial.
As mentioned, Walker has seen his draft stock rise, and most expect to hear his name first, but if the Jaguars pass, the Lions could take a shot. Walker has been a player many individuals have kept their eyes on due to his freakish athleticism and high motor. He might need some refinement, but he is a player you bet on with the uncoachable traits he processes.
Honestly, I was expecting to see Malik Willis’ name more in these mock drafts, but the heat has died down on the front, with most having the Lions taking a quarterback later in the draft. Sauce Garder and Derek Stingley Jr will surely upgrade the cornerback room, but the Lions have several other holes that need plugging and maybe a luxury pick. Jermaine Johnson is another edge rusher who could hear his name called due to his production, but the second pick maybe to high considering the players available.
Mock drafts are fun critical thinking exercises that bring out numerous scenarios, but anything could happen with this draft being all over the place. So it’ll be interesting to see how everything plays out within the next few days.
