With the 97th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected Illinois safety Kerby Joseph. The pick addresses one of the Lions’ biggest needs, as they have been looking for a long-term playing partner alongside recently re-signed Tracy Walker.
A one-year starter at Illinois, Joseph had a breakout season in 2021 with seven passes defended and five interceptions.
The Lions were interested enough in Joseph in the pre-draft process to bring him in for a top-30 visit early this month.
Though he didn’t fully test due to a hamstring injury, his tape shows all the athletic traits necessary to be a perfect fit in the Lions’ split-zone safety scheme.