Not-so-instant analysis of Lions’ 7th-round pick CB Chase Lucas

To shut out their 2022 NFL Draft class, the Detroit Lions chosen Arizona State cornerback Chase Lucas. Lucas was the Lions’ sixth (of eight) picks on the defensive facet of the ball for Detroit, however normal supervisor Brad Holmes primarily mentioned that was largely a coincidence, although they knew they’d extra questions on the defensive facet of the ball.

“We don’t go into it anchored and saying, ‘Hey, look man, we’ve got to simply draft protection,’” Holmes mentioned Saturday night time. “If that’s the very best participant, then that’s the very best participant. We had a way that with all of the issues that we wished to do, we had a way that it would tilt a bit towards protection.”

Lucas is a well-seasoned participant, having began for 5 seasons—together with one COVID-shortened 12 months—for the Arizona State Solar Devils. At 25 years outdated, he’s already the third-oldest participant within the Lions’ cornerback room, and you’ll see the good thing about that have in Lucas’ sport movie. He reads the play in entrance of him effectively and has good ball abilities—tallying 34 passes defended in his profession. Final 12 months, he was certainly one of 4 faculty cornerbacks with over 250 snaps who didn’t permit a landing all season.

It’s not solely his expertise that makes him a wise soccer participant, he’s additionally been round some sensible soccer minds. Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards performed over a decade of soccer as an NFL cornerback and almost spent one other decade as an NFL head coach. Marvin Lewis, who was the Bengals head coach for 16 years, additionally coaches at Arizona State.

For many of his profession, Lucas was an out of doors cornerback, however as a consequence of his comparatively small measurement—5-foot-11, 180 kilos—the Solar Devils slowly raised his snap proportion within the nickel his ultimate couple seasons. He nonetheless performed about 66 % of his snaps on the skin, however his match on the subsequent stage could also be on the within.

“I’m very, very comfy (within the nickel),” Lucas advised the Detroit media Saturday night time. “I’ve been enjoying nickel for the final two years. The 2020 season solely having 4 video games, that was after I was actually getting launched to it as a result of if one participant went down, someone needed to transfer in and fill the spot. I really feel very comfy. I really feel like my soccer IQ is a giant factor, a giant purpose why I used to be drafted. I really feel like I do a whole lot of learning and a whole lot of movie work. I really feel like that’s going to translate to the nickel spot and hopefully to the remainder of my profession.”

Lucas can have some stiff competitors if nickel is his place. Although the Lions don’t have an entrenched starter there, each AJ Parker and Will Harris confirmed some promise there final season. Moreover, the Lions signed free agent Mike Hughes in free company.

Like most seventh-rounders, Lucas’ greatest shot on the roster is thru particular groups. That will not be an issue for him, as he was a four-phase specialist for a lot of his faculty profession.

As nearly each choose the Lions have remodeled the previous two years, Lucas’ character actually suits the tradition Detroit is making an attempt to construct. A 2021 captain, right here’s how Arizona State’s defensive backs coach Chris Hawkins described him final March.

“Chase Lucas is every little thing for this program, and I imply every little thing. He’s a child that doesn’t miss follow. He’s a child that takes each single rep, and he will get mad whenever you take him out on sure reps.”

Later including:

“As a frontrunner, he walked round yesterday with a paper in his hand displaying all people’s movie minutes, and he actually acquired on all people’s case who wasn’t watching movie.”

Lucas has an uphill battle to make the roster in Detroit, however in only one 12 months, we’ve seen defensive backs beat the chances and contribute on the Lions’ roster. Competitors is the secret in Detroit’s secondary, and Lucas will likely be up for the problem.