Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 2-22-22

Articles:

O'HARA: A look back at the Lions' extra first-round picks:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/a-look-back-at-the-lions-extra-first-round-picks-pettigrew-best-jones


Franchise tag period set to begin but Lions aren't expected to use any tags:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2022/02/21/nfl-franchise-tag-period-detroit-lions-candidates/


Free agent profile: Do the Lions still need veteran depth like Dean Marlowe?:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/2/21/22941081/2022-detroit-lions-free-agent-profile-dean-marlowe



2021 NFL rookie grades, NFC North: New Lions brass aced first draft; optimism in Bears' eternal QB quest (Lions - (Grade: A-):  Remember how freakin' AMPED Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell were to select Sewell at No. 7 overall? Boisterous bro hugs, impassioned table slaps, full-throated WOOOOOOs that'd make Ric Flair proud -- that draft-night prospect call really had it all. And with Year 1 in the books, Detroit's new regime deserves a hearty slap on the back for the rookie class as a whole.  Of course, it wasn't smooth sailing from Day 1, even for the ballyhooed blocker who set off that war room eruption. Much like eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year winner Ja'Marr Chase, Sewell endured some early struggles. While the Bengals receiver had drop issues, the Lions tackle clearly didn't immediately feel comfortable in his transition to the right side of the line. But like Chase, Sewell eventually settled in to become a dominant force. One thing that appeared to help Sewell get out of his rut: Just before the season kicked off, Taylor Decker suffered a finger injury that landed him on injured reserve, allowing Sewell to return to the blind side for two months. But even after Decker's activation sent Sewell back to the right side, the rookie thrived. In his final eight games of the season, he allowed just one sack while continually blowing open holes in the ground game. And speaking of second-half surges, St. Brown's production exploded when the calendar flipped to December. Over the final six weeks of the season, the slot machine racked up the second-most catches in the entire NFL (51), behind only receiver triple-crown winner Cooper Kupp (53). Add in 560 yards (fourth-most) and five touchdowns (tied for second) during this span, and the 17th receiver selected in the 2021 draft suddenly became a fantasy league winner.  While some of the other picks in Rounds 2-4 experienced ups and downs (and injuries), McNeill was a player who offered strong potential on the nose -- 330-pounders aren't supposed to be that athletic. I mean, look at the big man's bend on this sack! And Holmes really did some fine work in the undrafted free-agent market, with a half dozen players providing Year 1 contributions. The two most notable names: Jacobs, who was the team's best cornerback before suffering an ACL tear in December, and Patterson, who settled the kicker position by converting 13 of 14 field goal attempts over the final seven weeks of the season.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-nfl-rookie-grades-nfc-north-new-lions-brass-aced-first-draft-optimism-in-be

All 32 teams' RB situations heading into draft, FA (Lions - Swift has proven to be a boom-or-bust character. He generated two games of 130-plus rushing yards in 2021 but netted fewer than 35 rushing yards in six others. When healthy, Swift has the speed, elusiveness and dual-threat ability to be a game-breaker. We just haven't seen the consistency in his first two seasons. On paper, Williams is the ideal buffer to Swift; he's a reliable back who can churn out yards between the tackles and rip through linebackers, and he's a good pass-catcher. With the reserve roles filled out, including by Reynolds, who was called away from his Netflix binging to play a solid role, the Lions' RB room should be set. Detroit's roster has plenty of other holes it needs to fill before worrying about the backfield at this stage of the rebuild.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2022-nfl-offseason-all-32-teams-rb-situations-ahead-of-free-agency-draft

2022 NFL Free Agent Rankings: Top 200 players expected to enter free agency:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-free-agent-rankings-free-agency

2022 NFL free agency rankings for every position:  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-for-every-position

2022 Combine:

2022 NFL combine: USC’s Drake London headlines deep receiver class as Detroit Lions search for playmaker:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2022/02/2021-nfl-combine-uscs-drake-london-headlines-deep-receiver-class-as-detroit-lions-search-for-playmaker.html



Agents of 155 NFL Draft prospects are organizing a boycott of the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine over Covid restrictions:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-nfl-agents-draft-prospects-to-boycott-2022-nfl-scouting-combine-over-covid-restrictions

2022 NFL Draft:

Kenny Pickett and the mental perspective from the pocket:  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2022/02/21/kenny-pickett-2022-nfl-draft-hand-size/

Alabama A&M standout QB Aqeel Glass looks to follow trailblazers James “Shack” Harris, Doug Williams to NFL:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/alabama-am-standout-qb-aqeel-glass-looks-to-follow-trailblazers-james-shack-harris-doug-williams-to-nfl/

Virginia Tech OT Luke Tenuta embodies the “Football is Family” mentality as he prepares for the 2022 NFL Draft:  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/virginia-tech-ot-luke-tenuta-embodies-the-football-is-family-mentality-as-he-prepares-for-the-2022-nfl-draft/



2022 NFL Draft position rankings: Top 10 players at every position:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2022-nfl-draft-position-rankings-aidan-hutchinson-matt-corral-kayvon-thibodeaux

2022 NFL Draft Big Board: PFF's Top 150 Prospects:  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2022-nfl-draft-board-big-board


Posted by LionsFan at 4:09 AM

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