Jrry32's First 2022 Lions Mock Offseason

[jrry32]

With the NFL season now over, the fun continues! It'll be interesting to see where the Lions go from here. It might just be my joy from the Rams winning it all speaking, but I think the Lions are about to turn the corner. 

Release

EDGE Trey Flowers

Resign

S Tracy Walker

WR Josh Reynolds

OL Evan Brown

S C.J. Moore

All ERFAs (including K Riley Patterson and P Jack Fox)

Free Agency

WR Jarvis Landry

I'm thinking Brad Holmes is going to borrow from his mentor Les Snead's playbook and chase comp picks. With Charles Harris signing elsewhere, the Lions should be in line to get one. Because of that, he'll pursue cap casualties. Due to his high salary, Landry looks likely to be one. He brings leadership and proven play to a young Lions WR corp. Landry is also a physical blocker and a gritty player, which will appeal to Campbell.

ILB Jordan Hicks

With Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins, it appears Jordan Hicks is on his way out of Arizona. He's been a quality and productive starter during his time there. As another cap casualty, he fills a need for the Lions. Alex Anzalone wasn't up to the task in 2021. Hicks provides a superior veteran presence at LB. 

Trades

Lions trade Round 1 Pick #32

Colts trade Round 2 Pick #15 and Round 3 Pick #18

Colts move up into the end of the 1st round to draft a QB and get that fifth-year option.

 

Lions trade Round 3 Pick #2 and Round 6 Pick #40

Ravens trade Round 3 Pick #12 and Round 4 Pick #14

Ravens use one of their bevy of 4th round picks to trade up in the 3rd round to draft an OL they're targeting.

 

Lions trade Round 3 Pick #33, Round 5 Pick #34, and Round 7 Pick #21

Dolphins trade Round 3 Pick #37, Round 5 Pick #15, and Round 6 Pick #17

Dolphins trade up a few slots near the end of the 3rd round.

NFL Draft

Round 1 Pick #2 - Aidan Hutchinson EDGE Michigan

Analysis: Hutchinson isn't quite on the level of Nick Bosa, but he's still an impact player and a hell of a get. If a team in the top 5 offered a trade down opportunity, I'd consider it because Kyle Hamilton and Kayvon Thibodeau are great consolation prizes, but Aidan Hutchinson is still a stud. He's a technician with a deep set of pass rush moves and highly advanced rush plans. He's extremely physical with jarring, powerful hands and all the power to back it up. He has the quickness to beat OTs inside when they leave the door open. He has the get-off and just enough bend to threaten the edge if OTs don't respect it. As a run defender, he's a powerful guy who can stack and shed and does a great job of finding the football. To the extent he has a flaw, it's his middling speed rush. But it's more of a not-strength than a true weakness. Hutchinson is a future Pro Bowler.

Round 2 Pick #2 - Chris Olave WR Ohio State

Analysis: It's hard to tell exactly which WR is going to fall out of the first round, but I wouldn't be surprised if NFL teams stupidly let Olave fall because he's only 6'1" 190 and likely won't run faster than somewhere in the 4.4s. Olave's middling play strength shows up in contested catch situations, which are a weakness of his. But he's a top-shelf technician as a route runner and with his releases off the LOS. His route tempo is rare. He plays extremely fast, yet he's still able to make sharp, efficient cuts. It's what makes him such a dangerous deep threat despite not possessing elite speed. He has reliable hands outside of contested catch situations and great body control. This is a guy who is such an easy evaluation and an absolute perfect fit for Jared Goff.

Round 2 Pick #15 - Jalen Pitre S Baylor

Analysis: Pitre is what I like to call a football-seeking missile. As a senior, he posted 75 tackles, 18.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 7 PDs, 2 INTs, and 3 FFs. Baylor used him all over the defense, including as an edge defender (typically dropping down from the slot). At 5'11" 196, Pitre is a versatile defender who can play in the box or as a split safety. He had a monster week at the Senior Bowl, proving he's not a man without a position in the NFL. He plays the game with a nonstop motor, exceptional instincts, and fearlessness in pursuit of the ball. He reminds me a lot of Tyrann Mathieu in that regard. He's not the biggest or the fastest guy, yet he's always around the football. 

Round 3 Pick #12 - Josh Paschal DL Kentucky

Analysis: I've been surprised that Paschal has been so overlooked to this point in the process. He had a great year at Kentucky with 52 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 5 sacks as a 3-4 DE. At 6'3" 280, Paschal profiles best as a 5-Tech, but he has shown the ability to move inside to the 3-Tech on passing downs. As a run defender, he sets a hard edge and has the quickness to penetrate and make plays behind the LOS. But he's also able to stack blocks and two-gap when needed. As a pass rusher, he has an explosive get-off and very heavy hands. He also has the quickness to beat unsuspecting OTs to the inside. However, he needs to react to the snap quicker (last one off the ball) and isn't going to threaten to corner with any sort of consistency.

Round 3 Pick #18 - Marcus Jones CB/RS Houston

Analysis: At 5'8" 185, Marcus Jones is going to play in the slot in the NFL. It's unfortunate that he isn't taller because he's an exceptional athlete with natural cover skills and an extremely physical nature. But he just doesn't have the length to handle the bigger WRs in the NFL. In the slot, he'll be a nightmare for the smaller guys due to his absurdly quick feet, physical play, and great speed. Jones will also be a plus in the run game there, despite his small statute. But he's not just a talented defender, he's an elite return specialist (and can contribute on offense). He's so absurdly great with the ball in his hands that he makes you consider moving him to offense.

Round 3 Pick #33 - Brian Asamoah ILB Oklahoma

Analysis: I really like Asamoah late on Day 2 or early on Day 3. He's undersized, stays glued to blocks, and flows a bit too hard, leading to overpursuit. But he's a dynamic athlete with sideline-to-sideline range, the quick-twitch athleticism to thrive in man coverage, and the fluidity and smarts to be a menace in zone. Asamoah plays like the energizer bunny on the field, chasing the ball with boundless energy. As a run defender, when he's kept clean, he has phenomenal instincts and range. I think he's going to be a guy we look back and wonder in a few years why so many underestimated him due to his size.

Round 4 Pick #14 - Jelani Woods TE Virginia

Analysis: Jelani Woods spent his entire career at Oklahoma State as a blocking TE (after transitioning from QB). After transferring to UVA, he was finally given a shot to contribute in the passing game, and he took full advantage (44 catches, 598 yards, and 8 TDs). He's a massive man at 6'7" 260, but he has surprising fluidity and top-end speed. He's a leggy athlete, which limits his suddenness in short areas, but he's quite effective down the field and is a punishing runner with the ball in his hands.  Woods is also a major threat in the red zone. As a blocker, he has all the tools, but he has some technical flaws to clean up (ex. ducking head into blocks).

Round 5 Pick #15 - Jack Coan QB Notre Dame

Analysis: Coan feels like the perfect backup QB to me. I'm not drafting him here thinking he'll become a franchise QB. I'm drafting him so guys like Boyle and Blough aren't playing. Coan is an intelligent game manager who sees the field well and can work NFL-style progressions. He's also a conservative passer who needs to throw the ball more accurately when he goes deep. But he showed a lot more arm strength than I expected this year, he possesses good accuracy, and he is tough as nails in the pocket. He's a guy who will execute the scheme and limit mistakes.

Round 6 Pick #2 - Dare Rosenthal OT Kentucky

Analysis: Rosenthal is a project, but he has massive upside. Listed at 6'7" 327, Rosenthal has easy movement skills and the power to move defenders at the POA. He looked very comfortable run blocking in Liam Coen's ZBS. As a pass protector, Rosenthal has the tools, but his technique is a mess. He is late and very imprecise with his punches. He leans a bit and has some inefficiency in his kick slide that softens the corner for edge rushers. Needless to say, he has the tools to start at LT or RT but needs time to develop.

Round 6 Pick #17 - Christopher Allen EDGE Alabama

Analysis: A forgotten man due to a season-ending foot injury in the first game of the season, Allen was a solid and productive starter in 2020. He doesn't have the explosive get-off needed to be a dynamic pass rusher, but he sets a hard edge as a run defender and has a motor that always runs hot. With decent flexibility, heavy hands, and solid quickness, Allen will win some snaps as a pass rusher, but where he'll really shine as a rotational EDGE is run defense. 

Projected Starters

QB: Jared Goff

HB: D'Andre Swift

FB: Jason Cabinda

WR: Amon-Ra St. Brown

WR: Jarvis Landry

WR: Josh Reynolds

TE: T.J. Hockenson

LT: Taylor Decker

LG: Jonah Jackson

C : Frank Ragnow

RG: Halapoulivaati Vaitai

RT: Penei Sewell

 

DE: Michael Brockers

NT: Alim McNeill

DE: Levi Onwuzurike

OLB: Aidan Hutchinson

ILB: Jordan Hicks

ILB: Derrick Barnes

OLB: Romeo Okwara

CB: Jeff Okudah

CB: Amari Oruwariye

CB: Ifeatu Melifonwu

S: Tracy Walker

S: Jalen Pitre

 

K: Riley Patterson

P: Jack Fox

LS: Scott Daly

RS: Marcus Jones

[Louis Friend]

I like it. I'm not high on re-signing Walker. But I understand we can't replace everyone at once.

I like the positions you addressed. Edge, ILB, S, WR.... all my greatest areas of concern. 

Good job.

[Just Want A Title]

I can get on board with this.  I like the Jordan Hicks signing.  Not a big fan of Chris Olave in the 1st round because the Lions really need a vertical threat to give Swift, Hockenson and St. Brown more space.  Jalen Pitre, Josh Paschal and Jelani Woods are great picks. I would be surprised if the Lions picked at 32.  Its too easy to trade out of that spot and we could definitely use additional 2d and 3rd round picks.

[jrry32]

1 hour ago, Just Want A Title said:

I can get on board with this.  I like the Jordan Hicks signing.  Not a big fan of Chris Olave in the 1st round because the Lions really need a vertical threat to give Swift, Hockenson and St. Brown more space.  Jalen Pitre, Josh Paschal and Jelani Woods are great picks. I would be surprised if the Lions picked at 32.  Its too easy to trade out of that spot and we could definitely use additional 2d and 3rd round picks.

In this mock, the Lions traded out of pick #32. Olave was picked in Round 2. I also think he's an effective vertical threat, even in the NFL. He's a guy who can attack all three levels of the defense.

[Just Want A Title]

Sorry.  I didn't read the trade-down clearly enough.  Olave seems skilled but We need someone who brings something different to the offense.  Whether it be a fast/dynamic WR like Jahan Dotson or taller more physical WR like Romeo Doubs.  Christian Watson seems to offer both.  He will probably test well at the combine and I could see him rising to the mid-second round.

[jrry32]

5 hours ago, Just Want A Title said:

Sorry.  I didn't read the trade-down clearly enough.  Olave seems skilled but We need someone who brings something different to the offense.  Whether it be a fast/dynamic WR like Jahan Dotson or taller more physical WR like Romeo Doubs.  Christian Watson seems to offer both.  He will probably test well at the combine and I could see him rising to the mid-second round.

I think Dotson and Olave are pretty similar players, personally. They're not the same guy, but they offer the same type of skillset. I'd compare Dotson to Tyler Lockett and Olave to Adam Thielen. In both cases, you're getting a guy who runs routes at a high level and can get vertical.

[Nnivolcm]

I like the trade downs and they seem realistic. I haven't looked into too many prospects yet but I enjoyed your write ups and they seem like good fits. 

My only concern is by trading down we now have more 2nd round picks and the Lions are cursed in the 2nd round. /sarcasm

[jrry32]

23 hours ago, Just Want A Title said:

Sorry.  I didn't read the trade-down clearly enough.  Olave seems skilled but We need someone who brings something different to the offense.  Whether it be a fast/dynamic WR like Jahan Dotson or taller more physical WR like Romeo Doubs.  Christian Watson seems to offer both.  He will probably test well at the combine and I could see him rising to the mid-second round.

I should also note that Christian Watson and George Pickens were too guys I did consider in the mid second. I like both. So I'm not opposed to Christian Watson. But I don't think he's as clean of an evaluation as Olave or as much of an early impact player.

[SteelKing728]

I think Malik Willis would be a perfect fit for your team. Jarvis Landry would be a great get as well for a young QB.

[Just Want A Title]

On 2/19/2022 at 11:24 PM, jrry32 said:

I think Dotson and Olave are pretty similar players, personally. They're not the same guy, but they offer the same type of skillset. I'd compare Dotson to Tyler Lockett and Olave to Adam Thielen. In both cases, you're getting a guy who runs routes at a high level and can get vertical.

Your player comparison seems spot on.  

[Lions017]

I actually really like the fit for Olave.

Sure, it would be nice to get that typical X receiver, but I think that Olave is actually a pretty good deep threat and he's very dynamic. I can only imagine how hard it would be to defend an offense with Olave, ARSB, Swift, and Hockenson all out there on the field - especially if we add a bigger receiver in free agency or in the draft. That offense suddenly becomes super versatile and dangerous. 

If you do go with Olave then I think Landry is less of a fit.