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Draft analyst tabs Lions’ Josh Paschal as favorite pick of second round

By Brad Berreman

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Josh Paschal #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats warms up prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Josh Paschal #4 of the Kentucky Wildcats warms up prior to the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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The positivity around the Lions’ selection of Josh Paschal continues, with NFL.com’s Chad Reuter regarding the rookie edge rusher very highly.

After drafting Aidan Hutchinson second overall, the Detroit Lions doubled-up on edge rushers by taking Josh Paschal out of the University of Kentucky in the second round at pick No. 46. He is drawing high regard for his versatility, and after overcoming melanoma as well as being a team leader for the Wildcats as a great culture fit for the Lions.

On 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning, Lions general manager Brad Holmes confirmed how much he wanted Paschal.

“He was one of those guys and I told Dan, ‘If we don’t come off with this guy, I’m going to be mad.’ I told Dan that straight-up, ‘I’m going to be mad if we don’t come off with him.”

Paschal will obviously have to produce to justify his status as a top-50 pick. But the reviews of him as player and person have been consistently good, so that’s a good start.

Draft analyst names Josh Paschal as a favorite pick

Chad Reuter of NFL.com has ranked his favorite picks from each round of the 2022 NFL Draft. For Round 2, in the No. 1 spot, is the Lions pick of Paschal.

"I loved this pick because of Paschal’s obvious talent and character, as well as the fact that, four years after he was diagnosed with (and subsequently beat) melanoma in his right foot, NFL team doctors had no apparent cause for concern regarding his health. Now the Lions have an active, strong defender who can play outside or wreak havoc between the tackles on a three-man front or in pass-rush sub-packages."

Paschal was not necessarily lauded for his athleticism during the pre-draft process, but he posted a 9.7 Relative Athletic Score and was tied for second in Next Gen Stats Athleticism Score among the edge rushers in the 2022 draft class. That points to upside which could be fully unlocked at the next level, and the positive assessment of the Lions making him their second-round pick would really ramp up then.

Detroit Lions 53-man roster prediction after the draft. light. Must Read

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