The Good

The 2022 NFL Draft featured two stud Defensive Ends, Travon Walker and Aidan Hutchinson. It was widely known that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to take Walker with the 1st pick. With that meant Hutchinson would be on the board for Detroit and it was a perfect match. The Lions were in need of a elite pass rusher for their defense and drafting the local kid was a no brainier. Hutchinson exceeded all expectations in his rookie season and finished 2nd for the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Now, Hutchinson will look to take the next step by being the leader of the Lions defense.

When Jared Goff left the Los Angeles Rams many thought his good days were beyond him. Turns out that is not the case as Goff has revived his career in Detroit. Goff has thrived in OC Ben Johnson’s system and in 2022 was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. Big things are now expected from Goff in his third year with Detroit. I expect Goff to thrive again for the Lions and continue to impress in 2023.

The Bad

Last year, the Detroit Lions defense finished at the bottom of the league in most categories. For as good as the offense was the defense was pretty poor. They had a hard time stopping anybody and it put extra pressure on the Lions offense. Have the Lions done enough to address this weakness? In short no.

The Lions were able to acquire C.J. Gardner-Johnson who impressed with the Eagles but they lost CB Jeff Okudah. Emmanuel Mosley was supposed to help fill the void left by Okudah but he is currently injured with no timetable on a return. Fellow cornerback Cameron Sutton has shown flashes but will need to be more consistent for the Lions. I fear we could be talking about a below-average defense again next year for the Lions.

The Prediction

In my eyes, this is the year the Detroit Lions finally breakthrough and win the NFC North. The defense will still have its struggles but the offense will be even better than last year. Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs will make his mark in the backfield and Amon-Ra St. Brown will continue to ascend. Keep an eye on Dan Campbell AP Coach of the Year.

2023 Record: 11-6 (1st in the Division)

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By: Jake Rajala

Yesterday’s slate of games may have been more exciting and surprising than Week 1. Joe Flacco unleashed four touchdown passes, Tom Brady managed to finally edge out the New Orleans Saints in the regular season, the New York Giants nicely climbed to 2-0, and the Cincinnati Bengals stunningly lost their second straight match-up. With that said, I’m going to take a unique angle in the football realm by untwining the top defensive rookies & untwine the Top 5 DROY candidates right now.

1. Aidan Hutchinson

One of my beloved bold predictions for Week 2 was that Aidan Hutchinson would unleash two+ sacks against Carson Wentz in Week 2. Well, my crystal ball was accurate about Hutch’s clutch ability for the Lions on Sunday. He is unequivocally the very early DROY favorite after having a whopping three sacks against Washington.

The last DROY winner for the Detroit Lions was Ndamukong Suh in 2010.

2. Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner

I loved the performance by Sauce Gardner this summer and I still believe he will accomplish great things this season. He hasn’t quite been tested yet, but I expect him to shine against desperate opposing QBs in 2022. He only allowed four catches for 33 yards against the Browns, per NFL Rookie Watch.

The last DROY winner for the NY Jets was Sheldon Richardson in 2010.

3. Kavyon Thibodeaux

Kavyon Thibodeaux undoubtedly has the Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney vibes. He has gifted power and he plays on a team that’s 2-0 (believe it or not). The issue is that Thibodeaux hasn’t played in each of the prior two contests. Nonetheless, he should make his intro in Week 3. He’s the dark horse DROY candidate right now.

4. Travon Walker

The Jacksonville Jaguars first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Travon Walker, who is a year younger than me, nicely flashed a sack and an interception against Wentz (obviously) in his first NFL game. I still feel he’s a bit rawer than Hutch, but he should have at least several sacks this season.

5. Jordan Davis

Jordan Davis is a big man with wheels. The Eagles DT is in the golden opportunity next to Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Haason Reddick. He will be in a plethora of contests with bright lights, so to speak.

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By: Jake Rajala

The mythical defender, J.J. Watt, still has a ton of gas left in the tank. Watt had a potent 79.9 grade by PFF in seven contests last season. In 2020, he also was unusually productive — as PFF handed him an 85.4 grade. Despite having six sacks over the prior two seasons combined, he has certainly been hard to block.

With that stated, Watt is set to be a free agent in the 2023 off-season. Hence, I’m going to untwine a few potential landing spots for the gifted athlete & special human being.

• New Orleans Saints

I’d absolutely love to see the New Orleans Saints ink Watt. They have been very aggressive to acquire talent on their defense in recent memory, but they are missing an elite piece at a crucial spot: an interior pass rusher. The combination of Watt on the inside, Cameron Jordan on the outside, and Demario Davis at MLB would be quite scary for opposing offenses. The Saints DE Marcus Davenport will be a FA in 2023, so it may be creative for Mickey Loomis to let Davenport leave and sign the monster from the inside, J.J. Watt.

• Arizona Cardinals

It can be romantic to imagine Watt signing with a cream-of-the-crop NFC team, but it may make sense for him to stay in Arizona. The Cardinals have already moved on from Chandler Jones, so they may wish to do everything in their power to keep the elite DL in Watt onboard moving forward. Plus, the Cardinals want to win a Super Bowl with their QB (Kyler Murray) that received an unearhtly contract extension this past off-season. Hence, they may be willing to break the bank for their familiar pass rusher.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders targeted top-tier pass rushers in the 2022 off-season. I wouldn’t be shocked if two very well-rounded teams from the same division: New Orleans and Tampa Bay looked to add a big-time pass rusher next off-season — which could be a cherry on top for both teams. The Bucs signed Akiem Hicks on a one-year deal this prior summer. Perhaps Watt will look to link up on the imposing Buccaneers front seven (and potentially Tom Brady) in 2023?

• Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions may have the 22-year-old version of J.J. Watt in Aidan Hutchinson. It may be wise for the Lions to pair their rookie DL with the scary veteran DL for the Cardinals. The Lions had a superb off-season in 2021 and in 2022. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they add Watt or a profile with similar talent to their defense in 2023.

• Los Angeles Rams

Despite not having an abundance of cap space, the Los Angeles Rams find ways to attract superstars. The LA Rams have a Prometheus-like front seven with Aaron Donald & Bobby Wagner. I wouldn’t be surprised if Watt took less compensation to join AD, Wagner, and have an impressive chance to win a Super Bowl in the near future.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers on NFL Network Amazon last night was more intense than Nik Wallenda on a tightrope. The Chiefs were losing by ten points early in the first quarter, but they marched back to go up 10 points in the second half. Justin Herbert was able to find Josh Palmer for a touchdown with 1:11 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. It almost appeared that the Chargers were going to recover their onside kick after KC muffled it, but the Chiefs were able to retain possession and have a kneel down to defeat their archnemesis.

With that said, the rest of the Week 2 slate of games is around the corner. Well, I’m going to take a fun angle by untwining several bold predictions for Week 2.

• The Steelers win by 21+ points

In Week 2 – I feel the T.J. Watt-less Pittsburgh Steelers, who are coming off a very impressive Week 1 upset against the Cincinnati Bengals, will blow out one of the biggest losers of Week 1: the New England Patriots. The Steelers WRs (Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson) can certainly give the Pats secondary fits. Furthermore, I don’t love Mac Jones’s chances against a red-hot Mikah Fitzpatrick. I predict the Steelers team that miraculously made the playoffs a season ago will steamroll the young Mac Jones-led New England Patriots this weekend.

• The Saints have four interceptions on Tom Brady

It isn’t a secret that Tom Brady has really struggled against the New Orleans Saints. Well, I believe TB12 will have a very difficult battle against the Saints team that added the Honey Badger, rookie Alontae Taylor, and Marcus Maye this off-season. Furthermore, Brady will have to face the extremely talented Saints secondary in the dome. I foresee Brady tossing four ints against the Saints defense.

• Saquon Barkley has 200+ rushing yards

Saquon Barkley was cooking in the GMEN’s first battle of the season. The weight room maniac unleashed 18 attempts for 164 rushing yds and a TD in Week 1. He will have his second chance to prove he’s back in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers. CAR forfeited a whopping 141 rushing yds to Nick Chubb in Week 1. I expect Barkley to pick up more steam, be leaned on a bit more than a week ago, and register 200+ rushing yards on Sunday. The NYG, aka the Barkley show, can actually be 2-0 soon.

• Aidan Hutchinson picks up 2+ sacks

I still believe that Aidan Hutchinson has a strong chance to win DROY. He had a terrific off-season, but he wasn’t quite able to make his mark in Week 1. I believe Hutch will be chomping at the bit to get his first career sack against Carson Wentz — who was sacked by 2022 first overall pick Travon Walker last week. Hutch will also recognize that DET needs him to show out this Sunday to prevent his squad from starting 0-2 for the second straight season — which spells a terrific Week 2 performance for him in my opinion.

• The Colts beat the Jaguars by 21+ points

I really liked the Colts and Jaguars entering the 2022 season. Well, both AFC South squads fell flat in their 2022 showcase. I anticipate an angry, gifted QB-RB duo on the Colts leading them to stomp the less experienced Jaguars team in Week 2.

• The Minnesota Vikings beat the Eagles by 14+ points

I predicted the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC North in August. They impressively demolished A-Rod and the reigning NFC North Champions in Week 1. I expect the squad that has a dark horse OPOY candidate in Justin Jefferson to continue their rampage against a likely playoff squad in the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2.

• Michael Thomas has two touchdowns

I was beyond worried that Jameis Winston was missing Sean Payton and the Saints would have growing pains this season during the first three-quarters of the Saints-Falcons contest. Out of nowhere — Michael Thomas erupted and dominated his opponent (A.J. Terrell) in the contest. He hauled in numerous touchdowns in the fourth quarter. I believe Winston will continue his red-hot chemistry with the 2019 OPOY Michael Thomas by connecting w/ Cantguardmike a couple of more times in the dome this weekend.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Detroit Lions have a ton of fire under the former NFL tight end Dan Campbell heading into the 2022 season. Campbell was infamous for wanting his team to bite knee caps off last off-season and he has more interesting metaphors this off-season. He didn’t quote anything from Shakesphere, but he did compare Joshua Reynolds to the Preying Mantis and “a fricking serpent”.

Campbell’s eccentric behavior shouldn’t wear off anytime soon, to say the least.

Campbell may have a ton of swagger, but he still needs to rally his team to show noticeably more improvement than last season. With that enunciated, should Lions fans sincerely expect Campbell to their ring leader beyond the 2022-2023 season?

I do like the Lions chances of winning several games and keeping their HC intact beyond 2022. The Lions actually had a modest 2021 performance from Jared Goff (19 passing touchdowns to 8 interceptions) and I like the outlook for D’Andre Swift – who hasn’t quite lifted off yet. Furthermore, the Lions will have new-found explosion from Jameson Williams and a healthy T.J. Hockenson (as he sadly missed five contests last season). Hockeson was on pace for a terrific 2021 season: 583 yds in 12 match-ups. Per CBS Sports, the Lions are looking to extend him in 2022, as well.

The Lions will not only garner production form the pivotal QB spot, but I forsee the Lions witnessing a DROY season from Aidan Hutchinson in 2022. Per Sports Betting Dime, Hutch is the favorite to win DROY. He’s already looked like a Greek God in training camp (in numerous ways) – according to the mighty Penei Sewell.

I also believe the Lions should take positive steps forward next season, while having a Rudy-like victory against the Vikings or Packers. The spirit of the Lions should be released against a bigger foe in 2022 (after the Lions uphended the AZ Cardinals in 2021) – which should be another key element in Campbell keeping the keys to the team in 2023.

There may be a sexy trend with GMs hiring offensive-minded coaches (preferably offensive minds that know Sean McVay), but the Lions should continue to build their puzzle in a proper, methodical manner w/ the old school, team builder in Campbell. Rest assure – the Dan Campbell-led Lions will continue to climb the ladder beyond 2022. The question is: Can the Lions be the new NFC North alpha after Rodgers exit?

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By: Jake Rajala

The Detroit Lions ranked 30th in sacks last season (w/ 30 sacks on the season), but their 2022 front seven is a different animal than their 2021 version. The Lions showcase the mighty Aidan Hutchinson, who is seen as a 2022 DROY favorite by countless analysts. Hutch showed on Day 4 of training camp that he is ready to shine as a rookie – as he beat the talented, second-year OT Penei Sewell for a sack. Hutch will certainly look to unleash havoc against David Bakhtiari prior to sacking A-Rod soon.

According to Sports Betting Dime, Hutch is the favorite to win DROY right now.

Hutch isn’t the only profile that could resemble Amleth on the Lions DL. The Lions will anticipate more pass-rushing production from DT Michael Brockers. The former Rams DT unveiled 5 sacks, 10 QB hits, and 5 TFLs in 2020, but he only registered a mere sack and one QB hit in 2021. Alongside the rookie sensation at DE, he should have plenty of more favorable opportunities to bury opposing signal-callers next season.

The other Lions DE Romeo Okwara was on another level in 2020: 10 sacks and 18 QB hits. Unfortunately, Okwara tore his Achilles in Week 4 and then missed the rest of the season. It appears that he should be available by mid-season. The veteran edge rusher will be a free agent in 2024. Let’s also not forget about the former Missouri DE Charles Harris, who nicely notched 7.5 sacks a season ago.

The Lions arguably have the most underrated pass-rushing tandem entering 2022. Between the former Michigan Wolverine and Juliet’s lover, the Lions could realistically have 20-25 sacks. The Lions passing offense should be more explosive than last season, too. This also means that the Lions pass rushers will be able to pin their ears back against desperate QBs that aim to keep pace with the Lions new-look passing offense. Expect the Lions pass rush to feast and potentially be the key ingredient in an upset against the Packers or Vikings.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Detroit Lions have been hungry and playing with a ton of energy in OTAs thus far. The hopeful fan base in Detroit should feel delighted knowing that their beloved second overall pick Aidan Hutchinson has been standing out in OTAs as of late. Per Detroit Free Press, Hutch and the rest of the Lions top hunters in their DL have been impressive. Interestingly, Chris Burke (who covers the Lions for The Athletic) has mentioned that the Lions top draft pick has also lined up at the DT spot.

It’s amazing that the Aidan Hutchinson-led pass rush has been booming in 2022 because they didn’t have an ounce of pass rush talent last season (30th in sacks). It also wouldn’t be a surprise if DET targeted Everson Griffen, Justin Houston, or Carlos Dunlap this summer.

The other Lions first-round pick Jameson Williams has been easy to spot out, as well. Per Michigan Live, Campbell stated, “We put him out there on the grass and that’s his domain. He’s very much engaged. You ask questions. He’s got the script. He’s on it. In meetings, he’s very much engaged. He asks good questions”.

Williams and D’Andre Swift (four missed games last season), who also has hit the ground running in camp, will be important weapons for Jared Goff. The Lions may not have a turnaround in a way that Cincy transitioned from 2020 to 2021, but they can significantly improve their offensive firepower and ability to harass A-Rod in 2022.

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By: Jake Rajala

The bright football mind Kyle Brandt expressed on Good Morning Football that the Lions selected the draft’s top player in Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick. Of course, the Jacksonville Jaguars felt like Travon Walker was more special than Hutchinson. Nonetheless, the former Michigan Wolverine is arguably more pro-ready than the former Georgia pass rusher and other highly touted rookie defenders. I really feel like Hutchinson, also known as Nick Bosa 2.0, can be a warrior and Pro Bowl-caliber DE in year one as a Detroit Lion. With that said, here are three reasons why the Lions DE can win DROY in 2022.

• DROY = Pass Rusher Award

Hutchinson isn’t only a competitive maniac, but he plays a position where talented rookies usually have a quality floor in year one: edge rusher. In fact, the DE position has showcased the most (three) DROY winners since 2016 (Chase Young, Nick Bosa, and Joey Bosa). It can be a struggle for cornerbacks to be filled with dynamite as a rookie, as only one CB has won DROY since 2016. History has clearly favored the brave DE position for rookie profiles.

• The most pro-ready DE

As previously stated, I really believe Hutchinson is more prepared to use his skill and motor to be successful on Day 1 than the likes of Walker and Kavyon Thibodeaux. Walker has a rare combination of size and speed (4.51 40-yard dash), but It will certainly take time for him to develop his ability at the professional level. Walker could have a slightly similar path as the New Orleans Saints DE Marcus Davenport, who is coming off a career season in year four of his career.

• Chicago Bears pass protection

The Chicago Bears might be one squad, but the Lions divisional foe gave up the most sacks last season. Hutchinson should be licking his chops in each contest against the rebuilding Bears offense. Chase Young had 2.5 sacks against the Eagles in his DROY campaign and it was unveiled to be a big piece of his 7.5 sack puzzle. If Hutch can have a few sacks against the Bears next season, it could honestly be a monster advantage in his chances to win DROY.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Detroit Lions really struck gold on the first day of the NFL draft. Dan Campbell opted to beef up his DL with the draft pick of Aidan Hutchinson second overall and then Motor City welcomed the arrival of wide receiver Jameson Williams 12th overall. It may have been easy for DET to land Hutchinson, but they did a fantastic job of sticking to their guns with the selection of the former Michigan Wolverine. Furthermore, they managed to grab a blistering fast WR in Jameson Williams. If the Lions want to invest in a potential starting QB for the future, they may be able to still land a QB (Malik Willis, Matt Corral) in the second round.

With that enunciated, the question is: what exactly are the draft grades for the Lions first-round draft picks? Well, I’m going to outline the grades for the two new Detroit lions players.

Aidan Hutchinson: A-

I love that the Lions didn’t panic and pick a QB second overall (or 12th overall) in the draft. After the Lions selected Penei Sewell in last year’s draft, the Lions made the right choice in landing Hutchinson in this year’s draft. He’s arguably the most talented player in the entire draft class and he will really help his DL harass Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Justin Fields. If he can have similar production to the likes of Nick Bosa (a common pro comparison), the Lions will have a decade-like talent at their edge rusher spot.

Jameson Williams: B

I believe that Jameson Williams will be a quality player for the Lions. Although I’m not convinced that Williams is as talented all-around as Chris Olave. William’s latest still injury shouldn’t hold him back from an excellent pro career. He might seem like an excellent partner for the gutsy Hutchinson, but I am not the biggest fan of DET picking a WR right now. I would have preferred to see the Lions select the ferocious defender Kyle Hamilton and then the Lions could really build a defense similar to the Bears defense that carried Nick Foles to the playoffs.

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By: Natalie Miller

With the recent signings that the Jacksonville Jaguars have made in offensive guard Brandon Scherff, wide receiver Christian Kirk, and tagging left tackle Cam Robinson, all signs seem to be pointing to edge rusher at the number 1 pick in the upcoming 2022 NFL draft.

The question becomes, which edge rusher may that be? I am firmly in the camp that Jacksonville should and will target Michigan university’s Aidan Hutchinson over someone like Kayvon Thibodeaux or recent riser Travon Walker.

Hutchinson during his last year at Michigan dominated college football, producing 14 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 16.5 tackles for loss. He helped carry a plain dominant Michigan defense all the way to the college playoffs before getting bounced by eventual national champion Georgia Bulldogs.

There’s constant energy from Hutchinson, whose pursuit of the quarterback could be described as harassment and pure love for the game of football and his Michigan teammates. It’s obvious he turns it up in the big moments and his motor seemingly never stops. Every down comes off like it’s the last of his career. A motor like this cannot be taught but it’s something Hutchinson has and will make Jacksonville secure with taking him.

His play strength and adjustment speed are evident on tape, where he is able to use his power to lure the tackle into a solid base before exploding off the edge. He also excels at pushing inside the tackle using his raw strength and motor to slide inside and throw the offensive line off balance. In the run game he is able to be patient and use his strength to fill the gaps and diagnose where a runner will end up before shoving through, he was almost unstoppable in that regard, a true linebacker on the edge.

There is more to his raw pass-rushing skills and ferocious nature to Hutchinson, he has high football intelligence as well, as he was one of the primary play callers on the Michigan defense. He was able to call out offensive plays and adjust, while also helping his fellow defensive lineman get into whatever position they should be in. Helping more raw players like David Ojabo enters the mix and be put into a good position to succeed. It is fairly rare to get that kind of leader on the defensive line, as defensive play-callers are typically held for the mike linebacker, but that is just a testament to the type of effort and study that Aidan Hutchinson put into his craft during his time at Michigan that lead to his meteoric rise.

A good pro comparison almost seems a bit too obvious, but I liken him a lot to Nick Bosa coming out of Ohio State as their burst and motor are awfully similar. Teams just struggled to keep up with the ferocious nature of both Hutchinson and Bosa. Now does Hutchinson have quite the same grade as Bosa? No, Bosa was a more talented and consistent player coming out, but then the production and playstyle match up nicely.

Hutchinson is the exact type of player Jacksonville needs to take the next step in the NFL, a ferocious winner with a non-stop motor who will inspire his teammates and make calls at the line. He is the perfect fit for the number 1 overall pick and Jacksonville should not make the mistake of passing him up.

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