Detroit Lions: The perfect 3-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft 2.0
By Bob Heyrman
With the no. 66 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Quay Walker.
It’s not by design to select back-to-back Georgia Bulldogs, but we can’t overlook the impressive season that defense had in 2021. Again, the Bulldog defense yielded a season-best 10.2 points per game. On their way to a National Championship, the Georgia defense held the ground and pound Michigan Wolverines to just 11 points en route to a rematch with Alabama, where they held Nick Saban’s crew to just 18 points.
Now, Alabama was without their top two receivers due to injury. Jameson Williams is projected to be a top-15 pick, and before his injury, John Metchie III had widely been considered a first-round target.
https://twitter.com/DP_NFL/status/1451178574363430920?s=20
This video above gives me plenty of excitement about what the combination of Alim McNeill and Quay Walker can bring to a Detroit Lions defense.
The Detroit Lions desperately need to upgrade the second level of their defense, and Walker here at no. 66 is a really good value. Everyone is talking about Nakobe Dean for good reason, but Walker aligned inside alongside Dean all season.
Walker is a 6-foot-4 thumber that weighs about 240-pounds. Walker won’t be pushed around; he’s tremendous defending the run. Walker’s size and quickness allow him to shed would be blocking linemen. Walker is a smooth lateral mover with exceptional explosiveness, plus excels as a downhill run stopper.
Walker is a linebacker that will likely be overlooked, with Dean, Devin Lloyd, Christian Harris, Darrian Beavers, and Channing Tindall (another bulldog) all likely being selected first. Walker totaled 66 tackles, only missing three, plus recording 5.5 tackles for a loss plus recording 1.5 sacks this past season. Walker also defended three passes and recovered a fumble.
It’s not official, but it appears by Alex Anzalone’s recent post on social media that the Detroit Lions will be going in a different direction next season. This clears the way for a player like Walker to be paid with Derrick Barnes in 2022.
Players I passed over: Chad Muma, Brandon Smith, Skyy Moore, Nehemiah Pritchett.
Change from version 1.0: Kyler Gordon (not available)