One of the great “what ifs” of the 2022 NFL draft involved the Detroit Lions and the No. 2 overall pick. The Lions landed who they coveted in Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, of course, but what if Hutchinson had gone No. 1 to the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Albert Brees of Sports Illustrated believes he has the answer. Breer reported that the Lions would have taken Georgia DL Travon Walker, who the Jaguars took at the top spot.
Here’s what Breer wrote on Friday,
One more note I have for you this week: Had the Jaguars taken Aidan Hutchinson with the first overall pick, I’m told that the Lions’ pick at 2 would have been Georgia edge Travon Walker. No word on whether or not the card would’ve gone in as quick as it did on Hutchinson, though.
It’s an interesting report given the amount of attention the Lions paid to Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux in the pre-draft process. Thibodeaux wound up going No. 5 overall to the New York Giants. Walker is more athletic and positionally versatile than Thibodeaux but didn’t have the production in college to match.
