Detroit Lions 2022 draft preview: Interior offensive line

Earlier, we previewed the offensive tackles within the 2022 NFL Draft class. The Detroit Lions don’t actually need an offensive sort out for now or the following couple years. Detroit is equally set on the inside offensive line for 2022, however the scenario appears to be like a lot completely different whenever you get a pair years down the road.

The guard place isn’t valued practically as a lot as sort out within the NFL, so if Detroit needs to begin taking a look at each depth and potential beginning choices on this yr’s draft, it shouldn’t come on the expense of a excessive draft decide. Beginning guards can sometimes be discovered late on Day 2 or early on Day 3. In case your scouting division has their head on straight, they may even discover a participant with the appropriate developmental traits to ultimately develop into a starter within the fifth spherical or later.

It might not shock me to see the Lions add an inside offensive lineman a while subsequent week. With that in thoughts, let’s take a more in-depth have a look at this class in Half 6 of our draft preview.

Beforehand: Quarterbacks, operating backs, vast receivers, tight ends, offensive sort out

Beneath contract: Frank Ragnow (signed by means of 2016), Jonah Jackson (2023), Halapoulivaati Vaitai (2024), Evan Brown (2022), Tommy Kraemer (2022), Logan Stenberg (2023), Ryan McCollum (2022)

Quick time period want: 0/10
Lengthy-term want: 4/10

Put merely, the Detroit Lions don’t want one other inside offensive lineman for the 2022 season. Not solely are they returning all of their starters from final yr, however they’ve received sufficient succesful depth. There’s a reasonably good probability the fellows already signed are those that can make the ultimate 53-man roster in September.

The dialog modifications a bit after we speak in regards to the future, and it begins with Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Although the veteran is signed for an additional three seasons, his cap hit jumps to over $11 million for each 2023 and 2024 with minimal assured cash left on the books. It’s doable the Lions could draft a guard this yr with the expectation that he takes Vaitai’s job as quickly as subsequent yr in 2023.

Detroit additionally lacks long-term depth on the roster proper now. The one non-starter signed past this season is Logan Stenberg, and he has not executed sufficient to ensure a roster spot going ahead.

Day 1/Day 2 choices: Boston School’s Zion Johnson, Texas A&M’s Kenyon Inexperienced, Kentucky’s Darian Kinnard, Georgia’s Jamaree Salyer, Memphis’ Dylan Parham, Central Michigan’s Luke Goedeke

It might be shocking to see the Lions goal an inside offensive lineman with one in every of their first three picks, however Johnson and Inexperienced could be the potential targets in the event that they did. Johnson leads the category as a consequence of top-tier athleticism and management credentials as a two-time group captain. Inexperienced isn’t far behind as a two-time consensus All-American. Each deliver a good quantity of versatility, with some sort out of their background, however they every challenge to be long-term starters on the subsequent stage on the within.

If Detroit opts to attend till the third spherical—sometimes the candy spot for starting-capable guards—they received’t have any scarcity of choices. The Lions may even have an additional benefit right here, as a result of a variety of Day 2/early Day 3 choices landed on Detroit’s Senior Bowl roster, together with Kinnard, Salyer and Parham.

Kinnard solely performed sort out at Kentucky, however some view him as a greater match on the within as a consequence of his measurement. He’s the definition of a nasty mauler within the run sport, and that led to him incomes the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy final yr because the convention’s prime blocker.

Salyer is shorter and stockier than Kinnard, however doesn’t hand over any mobility at his measurement. Like Kinnard, he largely performed sort out in faculty, however it’s clear his path within the NFL is at guard and he shouldn’t have an excessive amount of of an issue translating. He practiced some at heart throughout Senior Bowl week.

Parham could also be destined for heart on the subsequent stage, however he completed his Memphis profession at proper guard after beginning at left guard the primary two years of his profession. Maybe essentially the most athletic of this bunch (apart from Johnson), Parham could must beef up a bit of to outlive on the subsequent stage.

As for Goedeke, he had a good begin to the Senior Bowl (with the Jets), however an damage in the course of the first observe ended his week early. Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley saw him at Central Michigan’s pro day, although. He performed sort out (and tight finish) in faculty, however he’s received the prototypical measurement for an NFL guard. He’s nonetheless very a lot a piece in progress, although, so it’s doable he falls to the Lions at 97.

Late-round choices: Michigan’s Andrew Stueber, LSU’s Chasen Hines, Tennessee Cade Mays

The Lions received a have a look at Stueber throughout Detroit’s native professional day. Some could view him as a sort out—he largely performed proper sort out at Michigan—however I’m undecided he has the athleticism required to play on the skin on the subsequent stage. Stueber confirmed super development at Michigan as a high-IQ participant, and has good measurement for an NFL guard.

Hines was a two-year starter at proper guard for LSU. He’s vast and has shocking athleticism for that measurement. He’s a little bit of an damage danger, as he had knee surgical procedure after his 2019 season and missed 5 video games final yr as a consequence of varied accidents. If the whole lot checks out with a clear invoice of well being and he can clear up some approach points, although, he could possibly be a Day 3 steal.

Mays is essentially the most intriguing of the bunch to me. He made a surprising switch from Georgia to Tennessee after beginning 18 video games over two season with the Bulldogs. Within the following two seasons, Mays cut up his time at guard and sort out, ultimately incomes second-team All-SEC at proper sort out final yr. Mays was a part of the Lions’ Senior Bowl group, however he went by means of some severe struggles there:

I’m nonetheless intrigued by his total energy and angle as a run blocker. Right here’s one other rep in opposition to Devonte Wyatt that went a lot better: