Putting a bow on the series of positional scouting reports for the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL draft. Last up are the defensive tackles, an area where the team has a definite need with Nick Williams leaving in free agency and veteran Michael Brockers entering the final year of his contract.
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The focus here is on more athletic tackles who can play the 3-tech through the 5-tech, which is technically a DE spot. When the Lions use three linemen, the DE spot tends to be a bigger guy (Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike), so players who have some positional versatility get lifted up a bit. Detroit has Alim McNeil and John Penisini at the nose tackle spot and that’s a decent tandem, though more depth would always be nice.
The purpose here isn’t to advocate for or against any specific player. This is about presenting the options that are likely available to the Lions (and other NFL teams) at the position in each round. We’ll go through the options at each position, and we’ll also include projections for the fourth and seventh rounds, where the Lions do not currently hold a pick.
1st round: Travis Jones, UConn
(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
It’s probably a little early for Jones to come off the board at the end of the first round, but there isn’t one for consideration at No. 2. Jones proved during Senior Bowl week he can consistently win over either shoulder of a blocker with a quick first step and nice feet to follow it up. It was impressive enough that he might not be there at No. 34, when the Lions pick in the second round.
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