Solid Starter
Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan – Round 1 
New Lions general manager Brad Holmes had his second phenomenal draft to help jumpstart the rebuilding project in Detroit. Entering the 2022 NFL Draft, the franchise had some big needs, including a difference maker for the defensive front seven and a playmaker for the offense. Hutchinson was an easy selection to fill the first need and give the Lions a dependable edge rusher for many years to come.
Hutchinson was phenomenal in 2021, leading one of the best defenses in the nation and pushing Michigan to a Big Ten championship. In his final season with the Wolverines, Hutchinson totaled 62 tackles, 14 sacks, three passes batted, a fumble recovered and two forced fumble – another one was mistakenly given to a teammate.
As a pass rusher, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound Hutchinson is a beast. Off the ball, he has solid quickness to fire out of his stance to get upfield, but what makes him really special is his ability to get off blocks. Hutchinson has excellent hands and upper body strength to get offensive linemen hands off of him and push them away to get free of blockers. When he’s free, Hutchinson has a burst to close, and with his big frame, he is an imposing figure who rattles quarterbacks.
Hutchinson’s length keeps blockers from getting into his chest, and he has quick feet to cut to the inside or outside. With some developed moves, Hutchinson has a nice rush plan and sets up tackles well. He also has good vision, intelligence, and recognition skills that in combination led to him batting down a lot of passes or redirecting to chase a scrambling quarterback. Even though Hutchinson did not produce big sack totals prior to his senior year, it would not surprise if puts up good sack totals consistently during his NFL career.
In the ground game, Hutchinson is sufficient. He wants to win with suddenness and athletic ability to knife through with moving and slanting. As a run defender, he can find the ball and use his quickness and athletic ability to make plays. However, he can struggle when runs come downhill straight at him, and that is the major area for improvement for Hutchinson in the NFL.
With Hutchinson as the featured defender, Lions have a good rush group with Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara and Charles Harris. Those veterans could help Hutchinson develop, but by the end of his rookie season, Hutchinson could be a solid starter for Detroit.
2021: Levi Onwuzurike, DT
2020: D’Andre Swift, RB
2019: Austin Bryant, DE
2018: Frank Ragnow, C
2017: Jalen Tabor, CB
2016: Taylor Decker, OT
2015: Laken Tomlinson, G
2014: Travis Swanson, C
2013: Darius Slay, CB
Most Likely To Bust
Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State – Round 6 
The Lions had four selections in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, and they made excellent choices. This is a rare instance where I do not believe any of their early-round picks has bust potential. I think Aidan Hutchinson is going to be a solid pro end and pass rusher. I think, at a minimum, Jameson Williams will be a good starting receiver and deep threat. His god-given speed can’t be coached. Second-round pick Joshua Paschal is a tough defensive lineman, leader and fighter. Third-round pick Kerby Joseph is a dynamic ball hawk with big upside. Hence, I really don’t see an early-round player who is most likely to bust for Detroit.
Projecting a sixth-round pick not to work out is not a true bust because the vast majority of sixth-rounders don’t stick in the NFL. I think Rodriguez (5-11, 232) is undersized, not fast enough to make up for it, and could be better as a fullback. He probably is a backup linebacker and special teams contributor at best. Of Detroit’s draft class, he was the only pick that I could see having a hard time sticking on an NFL roster.
2021: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB
2020: Jonah Jackson, G
2019: Will Harris, S
2018: Tracy Walker, S
2017: Michael Roberts, TE
2016: A’Shawn Robinson, DT
2015: Alex Carter, CB
2014: Eric Ebron, TE
2013: Ezekiel Ansah, DE
Potential Boom Pick
Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama – Round 1 
If it weren’t for a late-season ACL tear, Williams probably would have been a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and could have been the first receiver selected. He dominated the SEC and college football in 2021, showing elite speed and playmaking ability. The Lions have needed a No. 1 receiver for their offense, and Williams could be a dynamic game-changer who emerges as one of the best speed receivers in the NFL.
In 2021, Williams averaged 19.9 yards per catch for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns on 79 catches. He could have produced even more, but Alabama spread the ball around with a lot of passes to John Metchie as well. Metchie was expected to be the No. 1 receiver, but Williams was too good to keep down. Williams also is known to love football, and he was a phenomenal gunner on special teams who would dish out some bone-rattling hits on punt returners. The scary part is Williams was only scratching the surface given that 2021 was his first season of consistent playing time.
There is a lot to like about Williams (6-1, 180) for the NFL. He is extremely fast at separating from defensive backs over the top and stretching the field vertically. He is a home run hitter who has a second gear to run by defensive backs and get open deep down the field. Off the snap, Williams is seriously explosive and has a second gear to accelerate through the defense. While Williams is extremely fast, he possesses quality height and length that will make him an effective downfield receiver in the pros.
Scouts say Williams is more linear like former Alabama receiver Henry Ruggs. They don’t see the lateral quickness and agility of Jaylen Waddle. They do not anticipate Williams offering as much as an underneath receiver and in the quick passing game. They see Williams as a shot guy to attack defenses vertically. Immediately in his NFL career, Williams could be a dangerous home run hitter who produces a lot of points deep down the field.
General manager Brad Holmes found a steal for the Lions in 2021 fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown. Williams could form a tremendous tandem with St. Brown, giving Detroit explosive speed and playmaking ability. The Lions could have a few boom picks come out of this draft class, and it would not surprise me if Williams is one of the most dangerous receivers in the NFL early in his pro career.
2021: Penei Sewell, OT
2020: Jeff Okudah, CB
2019: T.J. Hockenson, TE
2018: Kerryon Johnson, RB
2017: Jarrad Davis, LB
2016: Graham Glasgow, C
2015: Ameer Abdullah, RB
2014: Kyle Van Noy, LB
2013: Larry Warford, G
Future Depth Player
James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech – Round 5 
The Lions were in need of a backup tight end behind T.J. Hockenson, and they landed a quality value in Mitchell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder flashed receiving ability in 2019 and 2020 before missing almost all of the 2021 season with an injury. Mitchell also showed blocking ability to contribute in the ground game. With his head coach Dan Campbell being a former pro tight end, he also will be coached up well to make the most of his talent. While Mitchell is blocked on the depth chart by Hockenson, Mitchell could be a solid No. 2 tight end who is valuable in double-tight end sets.
2021: Alim McNeill, DT
2020: Julian Okwara, OLB
2019: Amani Oruwariye, CB
2018: Da’Shawn Hand, DE
2017: Brad Kaaya, QB
2016: Miles Killebrew, S
2015: Quandre Diggs, CB
2014: Larry Webster, DE
2013: Devin Taylor, DE
Walt’s 2022 NFL Draft Grades:
2. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan – B+ Grade
The Lions did not expect to land Aidan Hutchinson a couple of weeks ago. Hutchinson was chalk to go to the Jaguars back then, but things changed since then. Jacksonville selected Travon Walker, allowing Hutchinson to fall to Detroit. Hutchinson is not an elite pass-rushing prospect like Chase Young or the Bosa brothers, but he’s just a notch below. He’s the best player available for the Lions, so this is the right choice. It would’ve been better had Detroit been able to trade down, but that wasn’t really a possibility.
12. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama – B Grade
The Lions traded up from No. 32 to 12 for a quarterb- no, wait, that’s not right. These are the Lions we’re talking about. They’ve moved up for a receiver. The Lions using mulitple resources on a receiver… where have we seen that before? Look, I love Jameson Williams as a prospect, minus the torn ACL, but surrendering resources to a divisional opponent for a non-quarterback is irresponsible. That said, the Lions aren’t giving up as much as initially expected, so I don’t hate this move at all! I don’t know what the Vikings are thinking here.
46. Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky – C Grade
I don’t hate this pick, but I think it could’ve been better. The Lions already addressed their edge rush with Aidan Hutchinson, and I thought Josh Paschal would go toward the end of the second round, so I don’t love this value. There were better players available who filled bigger needs.
97. Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois – C+ Grade
I wonder if the Nick Cross pick influenced this because I think Kerby Joseph was a slight reach, though not really an egregious one. Joseph is talented, but is a one-year wonder, so there’s some concern in that regard. Still, the Lions needed help in the secondary, and Joseph could help.
177. James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech – A- Grade
The Lions are concerned about not being able to retain T.J. Hockenson past the 2022 season, so this pick makes sense from that regard. It’s also a solid value choice, as James Mitchell could’ve gone in the fourth round with no complaints.
188. Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State – B+ Grade
The Lions had tons of neds entering the 2022 NFL Draft, and linebacker was one of them. Malcolm Rodriguez was someone I had in the fifth- or sixth-round range, so this seems like another solid choice for Detroit.
217. James Houston, DE/OLB, Jackson State – A- Grade
The Lions know they need as many pass rushers as possible to consistently beat Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. James Houston is a quality edge rusher I mocked in the fifth round, so I like this value Detroit is getting toward the end of the sixth frame.
237. Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State – A Grade
Chase Lucas was in the second round of my 2022 NFL Mock Draft once upon a time. He doesn’t have big upside, but he was a productive player at Arizona State, and I thought he would be chosen in the fifth frame. This seems like a good value at a position of need.
2022 NFL Draft Team Grade: B+. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.
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