Putting a bow on the series of positional scouting reports for the Detroit Lions in the 2022 NFL draft. Last up are the defensive tackles, an area where the team has a definite need with Nick Williams leaving in free agency and veteran Michael Brockers entering the final year of his contract.
Lions 2022 NFL draft: A wide receiver for every round
Lions 2022 draft: A cornerback for every round
Lions 2022 draft: A linebacker for every round
Lions 2022 NFL draft: A safety for every round
Lions 2022 NFL draft: A tight end for every round
Lions 2022 NFL draft: A quarterback for every round
The focus here is on more athletic tackles who can play the 3-tech through the 5-tech, which is technically a DE spot. When the Lions use three linemen, the DE spot tends to be a bigger guy (Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike), so players who have some positional versatility get lifted up a bit. Detroit has Alim McNeil and John Penisini at the nose tackle spot and that’s a decent tandem, though more depth would always be nice.
The purpose here isn’t to advocate for or against any specific player. This is about presenting the options that are likely available to the Lions (and other NFL teams) at the position in each round. We’ll go through the options at each position, and we’ll also include projections for the fourth and seventh rounds, where the Lions do not currently hold a pick.