Roundtable: What Lions Can Learn from 2022 Combine
1.) What has been your biggest takeaway from the 2022 NFL combine?
Vito Chirco: Man, these kids are fast. From the receivers and running backs to even the defensive linemen, it's been crazy watching these prospects put up insanely good 40-yard dash times. Additionally, individuals like Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis, Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III and North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson likely saw their draft stocks improve because of such.
Adam Strozynski: This is an incredibly fast draft class. Lots of speed with the wide receivers and running backs. Thirteen players from those two position groups ran sub 4.4 40-yard dashes.
2.) Are you concerned about Aidan Hutchinson's arm length measurement?
Chirco: I'm not overly concerned. Hutchinson still had a productive combine, impressing in the agility drills. He finished first among all EDGE defenders in both the 3-cone and short shuttles, and also posted the third-best 3-cone and second-best short shuttle among all players who participated in such drills.
At the end of the day, I believe his high-end athleticism and aggressive nature will help the Michigan product make up for his subpar arm length.
Strozynski: If Hutchinson was a quarterback, wide receiver or running back, it would carry more weight. As a defensive lineman, I don't put much stock in hand size or arm length. His job will be to apply pressure to a quarterback, and the hands don't play a big part of that.
3.) Share one draft crush you have developed on offense and one you've developed on defense.
Chirco: On offense, I'm going to go with North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson. He put on a show at the combine, most notably running a blazing-fast 4.36 40-yard dash.
He's also got the prototypical frame -- at 6-foot-4, 208 pounds -- to be a dominant wideout on the outside and a perfect complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown, who does his best work over the middle.
On defense, it has to be Georgia defensive lineman Jordan Davis. The big man, standing in at 6-foot-6 and 341 pounds, ran a highly impressive 4.78 40-yard dash at the combine Saturday.
In case you didn't know, that is freakishly fast for a man of his size. In fact, it's the fastest recorded time for any player over 330 pounds at the combine since 2006, and it's also believed to be one of the fastest times for a player that size in the history of the pre-draft event.
And, Davis followed that up by recording a standing broad jump of 10 feet, 3 inches, which is believed to be the record for a player north of 300 pounds.
Strozynski: On the offensive side, wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has had a fantastic combine, coupled with a standout Senior Bowl.
At the combine, he ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash (4.49), and posted a 36-inch vertical. He also has 10-inch hands, and is 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, with arms that stretch more than 32 inches. He's a big man who's a big target and is quick.
On defense, Travon Walker looks like he might be a steal in the first round. He's possibly the most explosive and disruptive EDGE. He is a massive man, at 6-foot-5, with long arms that reach over 35 inches. He's fast at the point of attack and even faster in pursuit.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
4.) Kyle Hamilton playing alongside Marcus Williams sounds really intriguing. Would you have a problem with Kyle Hamilton being selected at No. 2 overall?
Chirco: I would, because the Lions are going to have the chance to pick at least one of the two following EDGE defenders at No. 2 overall: Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. Both are potentially game-changing pass rushers, and the Lions have been beyond anemic from a pass-rushing standpoint for years now. So, there's no way I'd be taking Hamilton over either Hutchinson or Thibodeaux.
Strozynski: This high in a draft I feel you take quarterbacks or EDGE rushers. A safety in the top five is okay, but for me, it's a no go, if that position is going in the top three. If the Lions moved back and grabbed him at No. 4, I'm okay. Just not at No. 2.
5.) Who becomes an NFL head coach first: Aubrey Pleasant or Aaron Glenn?
Chirco: I think Glenn will get the first crack at it because of his defensive coordinator experience. I believe if the Lions continue to show progress defensively in Glenn's second year of calling plays for the unit, he'll have a fairly decent shot of landing an NFL head coaching job during the 2023 hiring cycle.
Meanwhile, Pleasant likely needs to get some experience as a coordinator under his belt first, before he's legitimately considered for a head coaching vacancy.
Strozynski: I think both are really good at what they do, but I think Aaron Glenn will get the first opportunity to be a head coach.
