Round 7, No. 237 overall: Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
To close out the draft the Lions elected to add another name into their cornerback room. Lucas, a five-year starter at Arizona State, is already one of the oldest corners on the Lions roster.
Fun fact: Lions new CB Chase Lucas was a sixth-year senior (5 years as a starter) but is 25 years old -- making him the 3rd oldest CB on the Lions' roster (less than a month younger than Mike Hughes)
— Erik Schlitt (@erikschlitt) April 30, 2022
Given his size at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, it seems most likely that Lucas will be a slot corner in the NFL. As it pertains to the Lions they have a starting slot in AJ Parker, a UDFA rookie last year, but he could benefit from some competition.
Considering Detroit had multiple UDFA rookies start for them last year (Parker and Jerry Jacobs), it stands to reason that Lucas will potentially be one key injury away from playing a big role. It also seems likely Aaron Glenn and Aubrey Pleasant will be able to shape Lucas into a competent player.
As a way to round out a defensive-focused draft, this is a good pick. A cornerback at an earlier point might have been nice, but Lucas bring plenty starting experience right away.
Holmes addressed every defensive position with this draft, which makes sense given how bad the defense was last year. Having better depth to insulate against injuries is never a bad thing.
Grade: B+
Final Detroit Lions overall 2022 draft grade: A-