The Lions have had quite the off-season they have addressed all their needs. They signed a new pass rusher in Marcus Davenport. They revamped their CB core by adding Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson along with re-signing Emmanuel Moseley. They even replaced Jonah Jackson with Kevin Zeitler. The Lions even re-signed Graham Glasgow giving the Lions a complete O-Line. You could argue the Lions have no needs at this point. Simply put the Lions are in a luxury position they could draft anyone at any spot. So why Payton Wilson you may ask?
The Lions showed in their last draft they would take the best player available even if they have a guy who can be a starter already on their roster or if they have a former draft pick. The Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick even though the Lions had just signed David Montgomery to a 3-year deal and they had 2020 2nd-round pick and former starter D'Andre Swift on the roster as well. The idea the Lions were going to draft an RB in the first was insane and not even thought of by most. Then the Lions drafted Jack Campbell at 18 despite the fact the Lions had re-signed Alex Anzalone and they had 2021 4th round pick Derrick Barnes whom the Lions had praised not to mention the Lions had Malcolm Rodriguez who was a Lions fan favorite. Both first-round picks were essential for the Lions; Gibbs had over 900 yards rushing and 10+ touchdowns and Gibbs also had 300+ receiving yards. Jack Campbell had 95 tackles 2 sacks and 5 TFLs despite a heavy rotation and at times being used out of place as a pass rusher. The Lions then drafted Brian Branch despite the fact they had two proven starters in Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker and even signed Gardner Johnson to be the new nickel. So the Lions could do this same thing in this draft with Wilson. Alex Anzalone had 22 missed tackles last season he also nearly allowed a 100 rating and he allowed a completion % of 70 percent to boot he also allowed 546 yards. Alex did have some saving grace as he had over 100 tackles and is ranked 20th in total tackles he had 3 sacks which is nice but the Lions could and should upgrade and get an even better linebacker next to Jack Campbell. Payton Wilson is a very nice player he had 138 tackles, 6 sacks and THREE interceptions. Wilson was all over the place for the Wolfpack he was good in coverage he was good in run D and he was good as a pass rusher. He even only missed 6 tackles for the Wolfpack and one of his interceptions went for a pick-six.
Wilson also had himself a solid combine where he had elite speed drills and good height. He had the best RAS score out of any linebacker at the combine and had the fastest 40 times out of any linebacker at the combine. Wilson has just about everything you want in a linebacker prospect he has good playing experience, he has production, and he has good athletic ability. The only main concern with Wilson is he did have an injury history in his final season in high school he tore his ACL and then he had a knee injury his freshman year causing him to have to redshirt and once again he got hurt in his junior year with a shoulder injury (He still played 11 games.) So should the Lions take Payton Wilson at 29?
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