NFL Draft 2022: 5 worst picks of the first round
WR. Alabama. Jameson Williams. Scouting Report. 12. player. 50. Pick Analysis
The Lions did a good job with their first pick of the night, turning their card in about five seconds after Jacksonville took Walker to secure Hutchinson’s services for their defensive line. What Detroit did with their second pick, however, was highly questionable.
That pick was originally slated for No. 32, which came to them from the Los Angeles Rams in the Matthew Stafford trade, but the Lions used it to move all the way to No. 12 in a deal with the Minnesota Vikings. That trade, which also saw Detroit part with its third-round pick while dropping 12 spots in the second round, was made to ensure they got their hands on Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams.
In terms of talent, Williams is a worthy selection since he was arguably the best receiver in this class prior to tearing his ACL at the end of the season. The issue here is that Detroit has a ton of needs and parted with two premium picks to take a wide receiver who will miss significant time as a rookie rehabbing from the ACL injury.
A big trade like that makes more sense if you are a team like Kansas City, which can afford to wait on a guy like Williams to get healthy, or if you are jumping that high to land your franchise quarterback. Detroit doesn’t fit either category, showcasing why they haven’t been able to build a consistent winner thanks to questionable decisions like this one.