By Jack McNicholas

Lions

The Teams to Watch 2022 article series kicks off with a look into the Detroit Lions. Understandably not the team you would pick to be your Superbowl favorite, however it is a good team to see here this season as I do believe they will have more figured out for themselves in 2023. It feels as though for the first time in years we have had to look at this team in a bigger picture view than just Matthew Stafford. Now that he has seen success and will never forget his old team.. ever. There is now the question of Jared Goff in the last year of his deal. The question hinders all experts this year. If Goff has a high performance in this 2022 campaign, will he be signed to a long-term extension? The former number one pick has shown flashes and will be surrounded by some great young talent with another year of this offense. The young talent includes running back Deandre Swift, wide receiver Amon- Ra St Brown now paired with Alabama speedster Jameson Williams and Tight End TJ Hockenson. This year for the Lions will be a building block that truly will cement how Dan Campbell’s future will be as he is coming off his first season record of 3-13-1. 

The Lions used this low record to take Detroit native and Michigan standout Aidan Hutchinson with the second overall pick as well as trading up for Jameson Williams you can tell this team is starting to get aggressive with their improvement. The reason the lions are going to be a team to watch is exactly this. They are looking at their process for this year on the defensive side as well. They spent six of their eight picks on the defensive side. I do believe this is the improvement that makes teams entertaining to watch.

The NFC North division as a whole will be competitive and I do believe they will improve on their three-win season from 2021. There is a lot of optimism as it seemed over the last decade this team was stagnant to make big splashes in the draft or trying to find a proper direction but I do believe the defense that allowed the fourth-most yards per game last season on the defensive side and with Aidan Hutchinson on the front seven, it will change this teams philosophy. I am always skeptical about first-year players but the Lions got a player that loves this team and is a natural leader. This team will start their ascent to a more successful franchise, however, with Detroit, you will always have to just watch.