Two Lions 2020 Mock Drafts

Just Draft Okudah.

The NFL Draft is still scheduled to go on, in some kind of virtual format, from April 23 to April 25. A lot of teams don't seem to be thrilled about the prospect, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has seemed pretty adamant on having things go on as normal. I've been playing a lot with The Draft Network's mock draft simulator out of sheer boredom, but I thought I'd write about two of them for the Lions.

Round 1: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State - I'm really not considering anyone else at number three. In basically every mock I've done, Joe Burrow goes #1 and Chase Young goes #2. If Chase Young somehow drops to #3, I'm taking him here. If the Lions traded back, I'm obviously open to other options, but Okudah's the choice at 3 given this circumstance. The Lions need somebody to play opposite Desmond Trufant, and Okudah's a corner prospect that can start right away.

Round 2: Cesar Ruiz, IOL Michigan - This was probably a best-case scenario for the Lions. Interior offensive lineman is probably the Lions' biggest need on either side of the ball, and Ruiz is generally considered the best interior lineman in the class. He should be able to play guard or center, so he makes sense as a replacement for Graham Glasgow. I don't think he's going to fall to 35. This interior class is considered pretty weak, so I think there's going to be a team that pulls the trigger early to ensure they get a guy like Ruiz at least a few picks before the Lions. I considered drafting TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock, but getting a top interior offensive lineman here was too good to pass up.

Round 3, Pick 1: Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State - When I looked at the Draft Express' big board going into the third round, a cluster of three edge rushers popped out to me: Curtis Weaver, Julian Okwara and Joshua Uche. This would be another dream scenario for the Lions, who desperately need help rushing the passer. I wouldn't be mad at any three of them being picked, just a matter of who they like best. Weaver is probably the best prospect of the three, but the Lions were able to coach Uche in the Senior Bowl, and Okwara's brother is currently on Detroit's roster, so there's a connection.

Round 3, Pick 2: KJ Hill, WR, Ohio State - The Lions still need a defensive tackle at some point, but wide receiver is still a need for them with no receiver signed to long-term contracts. Hill isn't especially athletic or fast, but he's sure-handed and a great route-runner. He's a guy who could really benefit from learning under Danny Amendola for a year, with very little pressure for him in year one.

Round 4: Leki Fotu, DT, Utah - Waiting a bit on defensive tackle seems to have paid off here. Fotu is a guy I think the Lions will like as a potential nose tackle. I've been able to get him in later rounds, but he was probably the easiest fit available for the team I could see, and the Lions will probably have him higher on their board than other teams considering how much they seem to like big run-stuffers.

Round 5, Pick 1: McTelvin Agim, DT, Arkansas - The Lions need bodies on the defensive line, so I double-dipped. Agim is more of a developmental project as he hasn't played the position for long, but he has all the athletic tools he needs. I don't know if I trust this Lions staff to actually be able to coach up a player, but I'd like them to try here.

Round 5, Pick 2: Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami - The Lions have made some moves at linebacker this offseason, but it's still a flawed group that could need a boost. Quarterman seems like he could be a fit for Patricia, so I wouldn't be surprised if he's on their draft board.

Round 6: Anfernee Jennings, EDGE, Alabama - The sixth round is generally where I draft a punter for the Lions. Every time I try to draft Braden Mann here, the mock draft simulator breaks down. So I decided instead to add another body to the defensive line, from a program that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia love drafting players from.

Round 7: James Robinson, RB, Illinois State - I've spent a lot of this draft helping the Lions in the trenches, when they could use more skill position players. The team probably needs to add another running back, so Robinson could be an interesting late-round pick. He doesn't have great long speed, but he's agile and strong. He was a prolific running back for Illinois State, but ball control could be an issue. These are the kinds of risks you end up taking drafting a running back in the late rounds, but Robinson could be a good fit.

Overall: While this isn't a flashy draft outside of a pick or two, it fits essentially every need the Lions have. If this was what the Lions did in this draft, I'd be pretty happy with the resuts.

Mock Draft 2

Round 1: Jeffrey Okduah, CB, Ohio State - All of my picks for the Lions are going to be different in this mock draft except for number one. Once again, Okudah's the choice unless Young is there or they trade down.

Round 2: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa - Epenesa's stock seems to have fallen a bit in the past month or so, but he's still considered one of the top edge rushers in the class. Both Cesar Ruiz and Lloyd Cushenberry III were gone here, so interior lineman was off the table. Also considered Blacklock and Justin Madubuike for defensive tackle, but I couldn't pass up Epenesa at 35.

Round 3, Pick 1: Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State - Wide receiver is a bit of a luxury pick at this point for the Lions, but they do need the help and do have extra picks because of the Darius Slay trade. With a deep receiver class the Lions could still wait a few rounds and get a solid player, but with the extra picks somebody Aiyuk or Chase Claypool (or once again, KJ Hill) seems more likely to bolster that receiving corps.

Round 3, Pick 2: Matthew Peart, OT, UConn - I wasn't able to get any of the top-tier interior prospects and the options I saw here looked thin, so a team in the Lions' position here might take a look at an offensive tackle to move to the interior. Peart was initially a starting guard for Uconn that moved to starting offensive tackle, so he might be an option if Detroit went that route.

Round 4: Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah - I probably would've gone with Fotu here again, but I did say I'd pick differently in my second mock. I instead went with fellow Ute Bradlee Anae, another guy I think the Lions might really love from that defensive unit. It's a double-dip at this point, so I'd imagine someone like Fotu is still the pick here, but for variety's sake let's go Anae.

Round 5, Pick 1: Jason Strowbridge, DT, North Carolina - And here's the defensive tackle pick for the Lions. Matt Patricia coached Strowbridge at the Senior Bowl, and he graded out well at the combine. If the Lions could get him in the fifth to help bolster their defensive line further, it'd be a good match.

Round 5, Pick 2: Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn - Driscoll is another possible "tackle moved to guard" prospect. He's a bit undersized to be a tackle, but he's a strong athlete in about every aspect other than size. Drafting two "tackles" might be a bit of a push, I do think the Lions' need for at least a depth tackle is underrated, but if Peart or Driscoll moved to guard and one stayed at tackle, it makes sense.

Round 6: Khalil Davis, DT, Nebraska - This is another "I'd draft a punter here but I don't want the simulator to break so here's a defensive line depth pick"

Round 7: James Proche, WR, SMU - I decided to stay at skill position for my final pick, but went for another receiver instead of running back this time. Proche was a killer at SMU with some of the surest hands in college football. He's not very athletic but made some circus catches. He'd have fun with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback.