1.) Do you assume Dan Campbell would approve of the Lions drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux?
Vito Chirco: Properly, I am going to say this to begin off: I do not assume that is even a query if Aidan Hutchinson remains to be accessible at No. 2 general.
Nonetheless, if Hutchinson is gone, I believe the choose comes right down to Travon Walker and Thibodeaux. Due to Campbell’s reported dislike for Thibodeaux, because of the Oregon EDGE not being a “tradition match,” I believe the group will go for Walker (if selecting between the 2). Nonetheless, I imagine it is a slim margin, and I imagine Campbell might be coerced within the days main up the draft, if Detroit basic supervisor Brad Holmes makes a giant push for Thibodeaux.
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Moreover, I believe a few of what’s been reported has additionally been a “smokescreen,” as in I do not assume Campbell’s dislike for Thibodeaux is as sturdy as what’s been reported. I believe Campbell might be satisfied to pick out Thibodeaux over Walker. So, sure, I believe with some pushing that the second-year Detroit head man would approve of the Lions drafting the previous Oregon standout.
Adam Strozynski: I imagine Dan Campbell understands that he has an uphill climb with placing expertise on this roster, and Thibodeaux is a proficient participant, who could rock the boat. Normally the very best guys within the league have a pair warts and pimples, and Campbell understands this. So, sure, I believe he would approve of Thibodeaux.
2.) Do the Lions want to pick out a working again on this 12 months’s draft?
Chirco: No. Whereas the Lions do not possess a bonafide No. 1 working again, I do just like the depth they’ve constructed up on the place, with the likes of D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, Jermar Jefferson and Godwin Igwebuike.
Now, I believe subsequent 12 months’s draft is a distinct story. With Williams’ contract set to run out on the finish of the 2022 season, I may see the Lions turning into gamers for a working again within the 2023 draft.
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Strozynski: Final 12 months, you came upon in case your offensive line is nice sufficient. You could possibly’ve had John Maakaron as a working again, and you’d’ve been okay. Simply take a look at Craig Reynolds in Weeks 14 and 15 final season. Going into this 12 months, this workforce is nice sufficient on the working again place, particularly with the roster’s defensive wants.
3.) If the Lions do find yourself drafting a quarterback, who ought to or not it’s?
Chirco: Though it is unlikely, I will say Liberty quarterback Malik Willis.
I do know he is largely seen as a developmental prospect and would take a first-round choose (possibly even a top-10 choice). Nonetheless, to me, although he is been overvalued in latest mock drafts, he is the very best signal-caller on this 12 months’s draft class. He is the definition of a dual-threat passer, possessing each a robust arm and the flexibility to beat you together with his legs.
Now, I do not assume the Lions will find yourself taking him until they commerce again into the top-half of the primary spherical (choose No. 10-16 vary). Nonetheless, if Detroit have been to draft a QB, I imagine it must be Willis.
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Strozynski: Man, that is powerful, as a result of I do not look after any of those quarterbacks. If I have been a betting man, I might say Kenny Pickett. I believe he has an opportunity to be this 12 months’s Mac Jones; underrated popping out of faculty, however possibly essentially the most able to carry out on the massive stage.
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4.) Finest participant accessible or drafting for want: how ought to Detroit GM Brad Holmes method the 2022 NFL Draft?
Chirco: With a wide range of wants, particularly on the defensive aspect of the ball, I believe Holmes’ draft technique ought to stay greatest participant accessible. And, if such is the case, I believe the group’s choice at No. 2 general is one among three gamers: Michigan EDGE Aidan Hutchinson, Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux or Georgia defensive finish Travon Walker.
Strozynski: You want a lot all over the place. So, it is a no-brainer for me: greatest participant accessible.
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Chris Pietsch, USA TODAY NETWORK
5.) Solely the Lions would lose a draft choose, after the league already had introduced the draft order. What did you assume if you first heard that the Lions now not have a seventh-round choose this 12 months?
Chirco: My first thought was that the Lions’ luck stays downright terrible. Now, I do know it is only a seventh-rounder that the group misplaced out on. So, within the grand scheme of issues, it probably will not be that consequential.
Nonetheless, it nonetheless looks like this screw-up by the league would not have occurred to another NFL franchise, possibly outdoors of the equally woeful Cleveland Browns.
Strozynski: Shocked and bummed on the identical time. However, how applicable for this group to provide one thing away, then assume it acquired it again, solely to seek out out it by no means had the choose. Makes you giggle and say solely the Lions.
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6.) Out of your recollection, who was the Lions’ worst ever draft choose?
Chirco: I do know there have in all probability been far worse gamers chosen. However, in my lifetime, I will say it has been huge receiver Mike Williams, who was chosen out of USC with the No. 10 general choose within the 2005 NFL Draft. Williams went on to play simply two seasons in Detroit, and he amassed simply two touchdowns and 449 yards in 22 video games in Honolulu Blue.
To make issues worse, future All-Professional linebackers DeMarcus Ware (No. 11; Cowboys), Shawne Merriman (No. 12; Chargers) and Thomas Davis (No. 14; Panthers) all have been chosen after Williams.
Strozynski: Jeff Okudah. Now possibly there’s some recency bias to it, however hear me out. This workforce was at a crossroads with a quarterback who had two years left on his deal. You had come off one of many worst seasons in latest historical past, you had a coach and a basic supervisor on the recent seat and it was a draft class with franchise choices on the quarterback place (Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa).
As a substitute, this group drafted a sluggish cornerback that has been injured his first two seasons. And, heading into this 12 months, he’s recovering from an Achilles’ harm, which is able to do wonders for that pace. A bust and a wasted choose at No. 3 general.
Detroit Pistons (11-17, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (14-12, ninth in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Saturday, 9 p.m. EST
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BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Pistons visit the Phoenix Suns in a non-conference matchup.
The Suns are 9-5 on their home court. Phoenix has a 3-6 record in games decided by 10 or more points.
The Pistons have gone 6-9 away from home. Detroit is eighth in the league with 45.3 rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 9.1.
The Suns are shooting 47.2% from the field this season, 0.5 percentage points higher than the 46.7% the Pistons allow to opponents. The Pistons are shooting 46.2% from the field, 0.7% lower than the 46.9% the Suns’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Devin Booker is averaging 25.1 points and 6.4 assists for the Suns.
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Jaden Ivey is scoring 17.3 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Pistons.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 5-5, averaging 116.7 points, 42.5 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 7.8 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.2 points per game.
Pistons: 4-6, averaging 112.9 points, 41.8 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 7.9 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.0 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Collin Gillespie: day to day (ankle).
Pistons: Isaiah Stewart: day to day (knee), Jaden Ivey: day to day (knee).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
The Detroit Tigers had success in a 2024 season that saw an epic playoff run from 9.5 games back in the Wild Card race in late August to coming within just one game of their first ALCS appearance in a decade, and a ton of that was due to contributions from young players.
But just because the fruits of the rebuild finally started to bear this season doesn’t mean the Tigers don’t still have a ton of young studs who haven’t even seen the Major League game yet. Though some has obviously been lost via trades and graduation to the pros over the years, Detroit still boasts one of the best farm systems in all of baseball.
From guys like Max Clark to Bryce Rainer to the soon-to-be star Jackson Jobe, there is certainly some young and exciting talent in the organization. That being said, the most productive of the bunch this season in the minor leagues took some people by surprise this season and seems to be well ahead of schedule. In their ranking of every team’s most productive farm system player in 2024, MLB.com’s article named middle infielder Kevin McGonigle as the Tigers’ most impressive.
“The Tigers were enthused to add McGonigle with the No. 37 overall pick in ’23 and over-the-moon with his early results in the Minors, particularly when it came to his plate discipline,” the article stated. “The left-handed-hitting middle infielder walked 46 times while striking out only 28 in 74 games between Single-A and High-A before suffering a season-ending right hamate fracture. His K/BB ratio was best among 1,081 Minor Leaguers who got at least 300 plate appearances in ’24.”
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There’s no question as to whether or not McGonigle is ahead of schedule, he certainly is. Just how quickly he can get to the majors is obviously the next question, but he has yet to play in Double-A to this point. Nonetheless, McGonigle has put up wildly impressive OPS numbers of .863 and .853 during his two seasons from rookie ball through High-A.
With only 14 games of High-A ball experience under his belt. it will likely be a couple of years before he’s ready to make contributions at the MLB level. But McGonigle has clearly established himself as a name to closely monitor as he begins to climb the ranks and establish himself as a key piece of the future of the Detroit Tigers.
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