The 2022 NFL draft doesn’t necessarily have a strong quarterback class. Worse yet, the two teams ahead of the Houston Texans in the draft order — the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions — are seemingly set at signal caller. The Jaguars have Trevor Lawrence, and Detroit is willing to go another year with Jared Goff under center.
According to Kevin Patra from NFL.com, Goff would not have a problem if the Lions decided to draft a quarterback.
“I trust those guys,” Goff said of the Lions’ front office. “They’ve expressed a lot of confidence in me and feel good about where I’m at and where I’m at with them and where we’re headed. I’m excited about it. But if anything were to happen there (with drafting a QB), no, no concern.”
The Lions don’t just pick at No. 2 overall; Detroit also has a pick at No. 32 overall, the last pick of Round 1, and also picks again at No. 34 overall, the second selection of Round 2. Given how pedestrian the quarterback class is, the Lions can afford to wait until then to address the position if they consider it a need.
What would be helpful for the Texans is if the Lions bought the hype surrounding Malik Willis.
The Jaguars figure to take a top prospect off the board whether it is defensive ends Kayvon Thibodeaux, Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, or even tackle Evan Neal. If the Lions spend their pick on Willis, then the Texans are essentially picking the second-best non-quarterback in the draft class, which is what they need as general manager Nick Caserio continues to add the best players available to the roster amid a rebuild.
Presuming the Jaguars make protecting Lawrence a priority, then Houston would have the entire slate of defensive players to choose from — pending, of course, Detroit falls in love with Willis.
The draft involves fortune and an element of luck. If such a scenario occurred, it would favor Houston immensely.
