Detroit Lions 2022 7-round NFL mock draft decided by simulation
Fourth Round
50. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Edge. Dominique Robinson. 137. player. Miami (OH)
Robinson is a raw edge rusher prospect, having moved to the defensive side of the ball from wide receiver at Miami of Ohio in 2020. But he was productive, with 28 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss for the RedHawks last season on his way to earning Third Team All-MAC honors. In just three games in 2020, he had nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
As could have been expected, Robinson’s measurables at the NFL Combine were solid (6-foot-5, 253 pounds, 33 and 1/4-inch arms, 4.71 40, 41-inch vertical, 10-foot-1-inch broad jump, 25 bench reps).
The Lions need pass rush help, and getting an edge rusher before this point is a definite possibility. But this fully simulated mock landed them with an upside play off the edge in the fourth round.
Fifth Round
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 177. player. Grant Calcaterra. 50. TE. SMU
Some analysts say tight end is a sneaky need for the Lions. Last year’s season-ending injury for T.J. Hockenson, with five games remaining, left them plumbing the depths for bodies to fill out the depth chart. So those analysts may be right.
Calcaterra had a solid start to his college career at Oklahoma in 2017 and 2018. But after playing just three games in 2019, he medically retired from football due to concussion issues and sat out 2020. But he got the itch to play football again, got medically cleared, transferred to SMU and had a productive 2021 campaign (38 catches for 465 yards and four touchdowns).
Calcaterra is better receiver than blocker, though he’s not a complete disaster in the latter area. He’s an interesting potential pairing with Hockenson in any two-tight end sets, and overall an interesting weapon to add to the Lions’ offense.