The first set of 2022 NFL draft projections from The Ringer are fresh off the presses. Veteran analyst Danny Kelly goes through the first round with a mock that strikes a familiar note for the Lions at the top before going in a very new direction at the bottom of the first round.
After slotting Alabama OT Evan Neal to Jacksonville at No. 1, Kelly projects the Lions to take Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson. That’s the most common 1-2 projection in current mocks, and it makes sense to roll with the consensus until the scouting combine at the beginning of March.
It’s the selection at No. 32 overall, the one acquired from the Rams, where Kelly steps in a new direction. His projection for Detroit’s second selection is Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder.
