The 2022 NFL Draft was very interesting.
We saw the Detroit Lions holding two first-round picks to start off the night.
With the second overall pick, we saw the Lions draft defensive edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.
However, we would later see the team trade up from the 32nd overall pick to the 12th overall.
With Kenny Pickett still on the board, some might have liked the Lions to draft him with the 12th overall pick.
One Lions fan believed Pickett would give the team a competitive edge at quarterback.
Aiden Hutchinson and/or Thibodeaux gives us the best bang for our buck. However; I believe Kenny Pickett gives the @Lions the most hope to graduate into a competitive team. The perfect scenario, we get our Edge rusher at No. 2, and Pickett at number 32. #DetroitLions #OnePride
— Tehimself (@tehimself) April 28, 2022
However, those hopes were crushed when Detroit drafted wide receiver Jameson Williams.
In fact, the Lions wouldn’t draft a quarterback at any point in the draft, passing on drafting Malik Willis or Pickett.
Passing On Pickett And Willis Shows Lions Didn’t Trust 2022 Quarterback Draft Class
To be frank, the 2022 NFL Draft didn’t have any National Championship college quarterbacks.
None of the quarterbacks really stood out as elite or ready for the next level, like the 2023 draft class.
It’s not saying the 2022 quarterbacks can’t make their mark, but more that 2023 looks better for NFL teams needing quarterbacks.
However, if the Lions wait until 2023 for a draft day quarterback, it would seem they don’t foresee themselves as a winning team in 2022.
While that’s the best spot for their future quarterback, it requires a losing season in 2022 to land him.
If that’s the case, then the latest Ford family member to take over isn’t willing to win in Detroit.
Sheila Ford And Dan Campbell Aren’t Looking For An Elite Quarterback
The city of Detroit has a Ford problem.
The family has spent decades giving fans mostly disappointing seasons each year.
Sure, the Lions had some exceptional moments thanks to Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson, and Matthew Stafford.
However, the Ford family never gave these players the tools they needed to take Detroit deep in the NFL playoffs.
Only one season saw the Lions have all the pieces together, just to see Stafford and the Lions lose in the NFL Wild Card round.
Now the newest Ford has traded away the elite quarterback they had, allowing him to win a Super Bowl in Los Angeles.
Head coach Dan Campbell agrees Detroit doesn’t need an elite quarterback.
Do you agree with Dan Campbell that you don't need an elite quarterback for sustained success? #OnePride
"Go ask Kyle Shanahan about what he thinks of Jimmy Garoppolo, he's not elite." – @AdhamBeydoun pic.twitter.com/kSeHW24Mum
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) April 11, 2022
However, an elite quarterback gets their team to the Super Bowl the most.
Just ask Tom Brady and his seven Super Bowl wins.
Look at Patrick Mahomes and his Super Bowl win and two appearances.
While teams have done it without an elite quarterback, having one gives them better chances to win playoff games.
The concept of winning a playoff game has only happened one time since the Lions franchise has been in the Ford family’s hands.
However, some Lions’ fans won’t admit the failures of the Ford family.
They, along with Campbell, will run things without an elite quarterback in Detroit.
It could mean another miserable year for fans of the franchise.
While the team drafted some talented players, the team’s receivers can’t catch balls if there isn’t a quarterback that can get them the ball.
NEXT: Lions Got Tremendous Value At One Position In The NFL Draft