Year 3 in the NFL was an important year for a lot of Brad Holmes’ 2021 draft class. Guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Penei Sewell cemented themselves as top players at their respective positions after years of high-level play—and signed contracts to match their production. For players like Derrick Barnes and Ifeatu Melifonwu, who looked to be on the path towards becoming fixtures on special teams or depth pieces, they’ve proved themselves to be serious contributors on defense.
This year, Jameson Williams, the 12th overall pick in the Lions’ 2022 draft, will finally be afforded the opportunity to start the season with a clean slate.