Jayden's Journal: What will Lions do?

By Jayden Hewitt
Sports Editor

The 88th annual NFL draft will be held on Thursday, April 27. The event then continues through April 29. Round one will be the only round taking place on Thursday.

So, what are the Detroit Lions going to do on Thursday? Nobody knows for sure. There’s a lot of speculation about what will happen with the number six pick and the 18th pick.

But, I’m here to present some options, along with what I truly believe will happen.

Now, I want the Lions to select a quarterback in the first round. But that just isn’t going to happen. Despite Jared Goff’s strong year, I’m not sold on the Lions paying him a large amount for a long-term contract.

Someone like Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson would be perfect. He’s young (20 years old), he has a cannon for an arm and he runs like a deer. It would be an opportunity to take on a development project to fill an inevitable future void.

The Lions are most certainly not going to select a quarterback with number six. Number 18? Probably not, but more possible.

The rumors swirling are that Detroit will look to select a cornerback with the sixth overall pick. Must I remind Lions fans of last time we selected a cornerback that high? That was Jeff Okudah in 2020, and just three years later he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons because of his lackluster performance.

In order to not repeat history, the Lions need to select one of three players at number six; Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, or Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson.

A defense can never have too much talent, especially on the defensive line. Albeit, these players will have to make it to number six to garner a shot at selection by the Lions.

Will Anderson is made in the same mold as future Hall of Fame player and Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller. A player like that would be an absolute game changer alongside budding star Aidan Hutchinson.

Anderson’s ability to get to the quarterback is relatively unmatched, tallying 34.5 sacks in three years at Alabama and finished fifth in the Heisman voting in 2021 – as a defender. Those absurd numbers were put up in the SEC as well. That in itself is highly impressive.

Jalen Carter is a potentially controversial selection after recent reports of him fleeing the scene of a wreck that left two dead. Carter was not at the wheel of the car that wrecked, but people were left to question Carter after reports came out about Carter fleeing the scene. On top of that, Carter showed up very out of shape at his pro day, and left much to be desired.

Controversy aside, Carter is a fantastic football player and would be an asset on defense. He reminds me a lot of Philadelphia Eagles star Fletcher Cox. Carter is quick off of the snap and lives in the backfield.

Tyree Wilson is probably the flier pick at six, and the least likely to happen out of the three, unless the other two are gone. Wilson is a perfect blend of size and speed, and has powerful hands to make up for his lack of elite burst off of the line. Wilson has been compared to former Lion Ezekiel Ansah by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein.

Surely, this will be a hard decision and solely depend on who is available, but I trust Lions GM Brad Holmes.

As for the 18th pick, that’s much of a tossup, and very much so depends on who has been picked at number six. If I were the Lions GM, my pick would be a linebacker to help round out the linebacker room in Detroit. But, I’d take a guess and say if a cornerback is not the sixth pick, it will be the 18th pick. At that point my selection would be Deonte Banks from Maryland.

Banks is a physical freak. He ran a 4.35 40-yard dash and jumped for a 42-inch vertical leap, all at six-foot and 197 pounds. He’s not only athletic, but also physical at the line of scrimmage and can handle a variety of coverages. He would fit in with the ever evolving defensive backfield of the Lions, who have several versatile players.

Other players to look out for as possible Lions draftees include: cornerback Devon Witherspoon, cornerback Christian Gonzalez, linebacker Jack Campbell, quarterback Hendon Hooker, defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and quarterback Anthony Richardson.

Regardless of the picks, I think plenty of fans will be happy because of the trust Brad Holmes has earned.