Overall:
PFF (Day 1: The Lions gladly take the hometown Hutchinson falling into their laps. The Michigan product has been labeled as the “high floor, lower ceiling” prospect of the top group of edge defenders, but that may be underselling his upside. The only edge rushers drafted in the first round over the last five drafts with a higher overall PFF grade in college than Hutchinson are Chase Young, Nick Bosa and Myles Garrett. The high-end production and athleticism are both there in a versatile 6-foot-7, 268-pound frame. Detroit also made a massive move up the board for Williams, who is a game-changing talent when healthy. No one else in this class sniffs Williams’ speed or movement skills. You don’t need to look much further than what he was able to do to Georgia’s defense to see the kind of impact that he can have. In 2021, Williams tied Ja’Marr Chase’s 2019 record for the most 50-plus-yard receiving touchdowns since 2014. Williams teams up with second-year wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown to give the Lions two building blocks to work with at receiver. Day 2: Detroit is beefing up the defensive front with Aidan Hutchinson in Round 1 and now Paschal in Round 2. The Kentucky Wildcat was quietly one of the highest-graded edge defenders in the country this past season with a 90.0 overall mark. Paschal is a strong, explosive player who can play on the interior and the edge. He may be a tad stiff and can get out of control from time to time, but this is good value for an all-around solid player. Joseph is still very much learning the safety position, but he has uncoachable ball skills and length. He’s also such an easy mover and should get looks at split-field safety and in the box in Detroit. He just needs more experience at the position to really develop into a legitimate starter in the league. Day 3: Mitchell was a hit as a sophomore in 2019 when he proved to be one of the best big-play tight ends in the country. He averaged 17.2 yards per reception that season. With Dalton Keene out of the picture in 2020, Mitchell started to be featured more while still maintaining a high 17.3 yards per reception average. With high hopes for his draft potential in 2021, Mitchell unfortunately went down with a torn ACL in Week 2 against Middle Tennessee State. Draft Grade: A+): https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2022-nfl-draft-grades
USA Today (Detroit Lions - On the flip side of the Stafford coin, coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes seem to be putting the draft capital obtained from the Rams to good use as the Motown rebuild rolls on. Probably a gift that Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson, arguably this year's best incoming player, "fell" to Detroit at No. 2 before Holmes and Campbell vaulted up 20 spots from No. 32 in order to get highly touted Alabama WR Jameson Williams. And with two first-rounders at the ready for 2023, probably smart the Lions didn't roll the dice on one of this year's quarterbacks – opting instead on Day 2 for Kentucky DE Joshua Paschal and Illinois S Kerby Joseph, players who can contribute immediately. Grade: A): https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2022/04/30/nfl-draft-grades-2022-teams-picks-jets-lions-patriots-cowboys/9598712002/
Touchdown wire (Detroit Lions: A. It came as no surprise that the Lions took Aidan Hutchinson with the second pick after Travon Walker went first overall to the Jaguars, and though I have Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson II ranked higher as a pure edge defender, Hutchinson’s tape shows all kind of talent as a speed rusher from the outside. The real flash pick in this draft might be Williams, the Alabama blazer who may return to his Tyreek Hill-style play when he recovers from injury. Detroit traded up 20 spots for Williams, and when you watch the tape, you get exactly why they did it. The Lions weren’t done making great picks, though — Josh Paschal is a multi-gap disruptor who brings Emmanuel Ogbah to mind, and there aren’t many single-high safeties in this class better than Kerby Joseph. You’d like to have seen some cornerback help here, but the Lions did a lot to improve their team in this draft.): https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2022-nfl-draft-grades/
Pride of Detroit (Lions Grade: A): https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2022/5/1/23050340/2022-nfl-draft-grade-detroit-lions-8-picks
Rotoworld (Detroit Lions Grade: A-. Fortune gifted Detroit with a pair of opportunities early and they seized each. The Lions capitalized on Jacksonville’s mistake in the top slot to keep local hero Aidan Hutchinson in the state of Michigan. Then, Detroit made a dramatic trade with a division rival to move up 20 slots to grab Jameson Williams right as receivers started flying off the board... at a price the Jimmy Johnson and Rich Hill charts suggested was a bargain. There weren’t any more fireworks in the class, but Detroit found good value in its slots and didn’t reach.): https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/article/nfl-draft-analysis/nfl-draft-quick-snap-grades
CBS (The Lions are ascending. Their draft was a home run out of Comerica Park. Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams -- even with the trade up -- were huge acquisitions. Joshua Paschal is a high-energy, low-center-of-gravity rusher. Kerby Joseph has elite range, and Malcolm Rodriguez is a coverage specialist who angrily dispatches blocks on his way to the ball-carrier. Grade: A-): https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2022-nfl-draft-team-by-team-grades-lions-ravens-chiefs-among-seven-in-a-range-jaguars-at-bottom-of-class/
NFL.com Filice (Grade: A-. When it comes to drafting, Brad Holmes is a man of conviction. Serious conviction. Remember last year, after he took Penei Sewell with his first pick as a general manager? The guy joyfully rampaged across the Lions' draft room like a kid in a candy store possessed by a bull in a china shop. One year later, after Jacksonville turned in the card to officially make Travon Walker the No. 1 overall pick and put Detroit on the clock for the first time, Holmes was champing at the bit once again. In fact, the Lions GM got the pick in so quickly that he was already on the phone with Hutchinson when Roger Goodell took the podium to announce the Walker selection. Holmes simply couldn't contain himself. And who could blame him? Hutchinson's a local product who fills a serious Lions need and fits Dan Campbell's culture to a T. Oh, and he just so happened to be the top overall prospect on many, many boards, including those of NFL Media draftniks Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks. Just a slam-dunk pick for the Lions. Then Holmes poured it on with a long-range bomb 11 picks later, dispensing a completely tolerable amount of draft currency to move up 20 slots and pounce on the most electric receiver in this draft class. Williams averaged a whopping 19.9 yards per catch last season. Shoot, he averaged 47.6 yards per touchdown -- and the man scored 15 times! Also, with the franchise in the midst of a true rebuild, Detroit can allow Williams all the time he needs to fully recover from his ACL tear in the national title game. On Day 2 of the draft, the Lions continued to fortify their pass rush with a versatile power player (Paschal) and then nabbed a deep safety with great ball skills (Joseph). Don't be surprised if both contribute immediately, especially Joseph, who could seriously push for the starting safety spot opposite Tracy Walker.): https://www.nfl.com/news/nfc-north-draft-grades-lions-continue-inspired-rebuild-bears-failing-justin-fiel
SI Lions (Overall Grade - B+): https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-2022-nfl-draft-grades
NFL.com Reuter (Grade - B+: Analysis: It's possible the Lions got the best defender available this year at No. 2 in Hutchinson and the best receiver in the draft at No. 12 in Williams. Picking the talented pass-catcher was a bit of a risk, given the draft capital they parted with to trade up for him and the fact that he is coming off an ACL tear. His talent could make the trade look like a shrewd one, however. Paschal and Joseph were solid picks who could contribute right away. Rodriguez is an active, athletic 'backer to add depth and be a special teams ace. Their fifth-round compensatory selection turned into Mitchell, a pass-catcher I expect Detroit to utilize immediately. Houston's pass rush ability and strength against the run made him worthy of a selection.): https://www.nfl.com/news/2022-nfl-draft-final-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams
Draft wire (Lions - Biggest Steal
S Kerby Joseph (3rd Round, No. 97 overall). Biggest Reach - None. Analysis - The Lions got the perfect fit at No. 2 in EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, then made a huge jump up the board for WR Jameson Williams, who would have been the first receiver off the board if not for his knee injury. EDGE Joshua Paschal gives them another high-upside pass rusher, and Joseph filled a big need at a bargain price. Day 3 gave the Lions some solid depth players who can compete for roster spots, and the most intriguing is EDGE/LB James Houston, a versatile defender who can line up off the ball or rush the passer. GRADE: B+): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-draft-grades-2022-full-instant-analysis-every-team/
Walter football (Detroit Lions: B+ Grade. Goals Entering the 2022 NFL Draft: The Lions either believe in Jared Goff, or they don't like the quarterbacks in this class. Given that Detroit has so many holes on its roster, it almost has to take the best player available with every selection. 2022 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Lions' front office enjoyed a great start to the 2022 NFL Draft. Everyone knew they would land one of Travon Walker or Aidan Hutchinson, but what they did 10 picks later really set the tone for their weekend. Once it was announced that they traded up 20 spots for a receiver, I was set to criticize them for surrendering a future first-round selection for a non-quarterback. Instead, they barely gave up anything - a 12-spot move in the second frame and a third-round pick - which was a small price to pay for a dynamic talent like Jameson Williams. The Lions obtained two cornerstones of their franchise within the first 12 picks. I wasn't as crazy about their two second-day choices (Josh Paschal, Kerby Joseph), but it's not like I hated them. I wanted to see better players fill greater positions of need, but those selections didn't warrant poor grades. There's no doubt the Lions have improved under this new regime. They'll still struggle next year because they have Jared Goff, and Williams won't be 100 percent for a while, but things are really looking up in Detroit. We haven't been able to say that for quite a while): https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgradesteam.php
Yahoo (Detroit Lions - Favorite pick: Williams. Nothing against Hutchinson, our top-rated prospect, but let’s face it: He pretty much fell in their laps. But Williams required effort to land. This might have been Brad Holmes’ most impressive pick, as it came at a reasonable cost and perhaps landed them this class’ WR1 … as the fourth receiver taken. The run was very much on, and Holmes wasn’t about to miss out. If Williams can return by training camp, that’s an even bigger bonus, but for the long haul he might be the fastest wideout the Lions have had since Calvin Johnson. Williams’ build is far different, but he could be an absolute blur on the Ford Field turf. Least-favorite pick: Joseph. And by no means did we dislike the pick. We just had a hard time picking one player we didn’t agree with. Joseph was a senior-year breakout player (five INTs) who primarily had been a special-teamer — and a good one — before last season. That’s likely where he earns his keep early in his career, as Joseph has been a quality gunner in the past and even had a safety in the opening game for the first points of the college football season last year. If Joseph never rises past quality special teamer and the Lions’ third safety, it will be a solid pick — just not a tremendous one. Overall: The Lions keep getting more interesting. Passing on a quarterback was an interesting call, especially as Malik Willis trickled into the late Day 2 range. They also could have touched up the offensive line a bit more. But they landed two franchise cornerstones – Hutchinson and Williams — and have to be thrilled with that. A draft class with two difference makers, historically, is a home run. Hutchinson is a perfect culture fit and a darned good football player. He and Paschal make this front seven really deep all of a sudden, if not quite young. The later picks were about filling out the team’s infrastructure, which complements the star picks well. This team is going places and still has two first-rounders to think about for 2023. You are allowed to be excited about the future of the Lions. Grade: B+): https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-draft-grades-for-nfc-teams-cowboys-lag-behind-eagles-and-is-it-ok-to-be-excited-for-lions-195022726.html
PFN (The Detroit Lions have officially entered the Bryce Young/CJ Stroud sweepstakes by not selecting a quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft. Which is fine considering the talent they brought in elsewhere. They kept Aidan Hutchinson home with the second overall pick and added a monster at 12 in WR Jameson Wiliams. Josh Paschal felt like a bit of a reach, but Kerby Joseph brings great football IQ to the defense. Two highly underrated picks came on Day 3 when they added TE James Mitchell and LB Malcolm Rodriguez. Overall Grade: B+): https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-draft-grades-2022-analysis-and-grades-for-all-7-rounds-in-2022-nfl-draft/
Sporting News (20. Detroit Lions
Grade: B. The Lions' draft is stamped by landing Hutchinson, the best player, for the pass rush at No. 2 and then a wise trade up to grab Williams as key extra big playmaker for the passing game. The rest of the haul isn't that bad, but there's definitely a knock for not thinking about quarterback and taking corner depth only very late.): https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2022-best-worst-classes/ksxemy5srefixxchzvdkp0a1
Total:
1 A+
3 A
4 A-
6 B+
1 B
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