2022 NFL mock draft: Desmond Ridder soars to QB1 in final predictions

2022 NFL mock draft: Desmond Ridder soaring in final predictions

2022 NFL mock draft - Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) walks onto the field before the NCAA football game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.Cincinnati Bearcats At Notre Dame Fighting Irish 208 /

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2022 NFL mock draft; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) in the second quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, EDGE, Michigan

The Detroit Lions really couldn’t script this any better.

Over the last handful of months, I think everyone in Detroit has been hoping the Jaguars would go with someone other than Aidan Hutchinson so he could stay in the state of Michigan.

This pick would sell a lot of jerseys, there’s no doubt, and Hutchinson would immediately become a cornerstone player for the Detroit Lions’ defense.

If anyone in this draft class exemplifies what the Lions want in terms of “knee-biting” players, Hutchinson is exactly that.

He may not be the longest defender off the edge but Hutchinson is an impact player who finds a number of different ways to get pressure on the quarterback and impact games in a significant way.

That’s exactly what the Detroit Lions need right now in Aaron Glenn’s defense. Even if there are plenty of additional needs for this team to address besides just edge, I think Hutchinson would be an outstanding foundation piece for this Detroit rebuild defensively.

Last year, the Lions went with a core piece in the trenches offensively with Penei Sewell, and this year, they go with Hutchinson to build their defense around.

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