Lions' Campbell: 'Sustained success' possible without elite QB

Some believe the Detroit Lions will kickstart their rebuild by taking a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, the Lions might be taking a different approach as head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday that he doesn't buy into the philosophy that having an elite signal-caller is the only path to winning in the NFL.

"No, I don't think you need that," Campbell said, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "I think that those guys like that are obviously, they're special. And they certainly can give you a better chance. But no, I don't believe you have to have one of those guys to have sustained success."

With Jared Goff in place as a bridge starter for at least 2022 and Campbell entering his second year in charge, Detroit would usually be in a prime position to take a quarterback with the first of its two first-round picks.

But this year's class of quarterbacks is widely seen as lacking any franchise-caliber prospects. Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, and Desmond Ridder are all expected to be taken in the first round, but few see them as worthy of a top-three selection.

Detroit's roster still severely lacks talent, and Campbell wants to take a player at No. 2 that can make an immediate impact.

"That's really what you're trying to acquire, a guy that you can feel like can come in, and he's going to be able to have solid production for you," Campbell said. "We need to feel like, all right, this guy comes in, it may take just a little bit, but you'd like to believe by the time you hit your first game that this player's starting for you and is going to be able to produce. And then be able to grow every year a little bit here."

The NFC North club selected Georgia pass-rusher Travon Walker in theScore's latest mock draft.

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