Carving out the perfect first three picks for the Detroit Lions
By Bob Heyrman
![(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e45dc84e849dd3d652e22b7d2a118f16fa2b675579deba134590a176f2ad109b.jpg)
In a perfect world, the Detroit Lions select George Pickens with the no. 34 overall pick.
For me, this pick has gotten more and more interesting. For the majority of the offseason, I had the no. 32 and 34 overall picks reserved for a receiver and safety, but with reports suggesting Dean could fall out of the first round, things are shaping up perfectly for the Detroit Lions to fill a plethora of needs with high-end players.
Recently, the Detroit Lions signed free agent safety DeShon Elliott to pair with Tracy Walker. Walker was rewarded with a new three-year deal from the Detroit Lions following a career year, and the often injured Elliott maintains a high upside if he can remain on the field.
Although the Lions will certainly still be looking to add a safety in the draft, the addition of Elliott lessens the urgency and allows the position to be filled in the mid-to-late rounds if they so choose.
In a receiver-loaded draft, the Detroit Lions will have an opportunity to use the second pick in the second round on someone like George Pickens out of Georgia.
George Pickens is a WR prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.33 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 176 out of 2613 WR from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/QGryvf6kwr #RAS pic.twitter.com/wEwbva841u
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 23, 2022
Pickens has the makings of a WR1 at the next level. He’s a 6-foot-3, 200-pound physical receiver. The Georgia product doesn’t create the separation you’d like to see, but boy can he block. He doesn’t just block; he blows cornerback’s up; his effort in this area will undoubtedly garner the attention of Dan Campbell and receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.
Next. Should the Detroit Lions trade the second overall pick?. dark
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The Detroit Lions addressed the receiver position this offseason by retaining Josh Reynolds and signing free agent DJ Chark to pair with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Adding a player like Pickens to work outside opposite Chark will only help mask some of Jared Goff’s limitations.