OT: Mock Draft Monday! With a Lions-centric take
All of us NFL fans are really looking forward to the draft and I want to hear what you all have 'Mocked', either to the Lions or some other team.
This is the site I use, https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft/ , give it a shot. It has options for trades and it's free. There are so many different directions the Lions could take. I did this mock this morning:
1. Pick 6: Jalen Carter, Georgia, DT - So many choices, so little time. Jalen as well all know is a troubled young guy with elite talent. I don't think he'll fall to us, but if he does I feel we need to take the chance; hopefully, he will blossom around a solid team. Ideally, I'd like to trade down as I feel there is a boatload of talent in this draft, but I didn't like the offers I was presented.
2. Pick 18: Luke Van Ness, Iowa, Edge - I think this guy is just scraping the surface of the player he can be. Again, there were other great options here. I didn't like the trades offered for this pick or any from here on out so the rest are the Lions' picks.
3. Pick 48: Trenton Simpson, Clemson, LB: Here is where it gets challenging; we had needs at other positions, and there are good players available, but projected to go later. I really didn't want to pick a LB here, but Trenton and Captain Jack, Jack Campbell from Iowa if you don't know, are projected to go around this pick. If that wasn't bad enough I know Penei wants to play with his brother Noah, a LB projected to go at 78. Trenton was BPA and too good to pass up. Sorry, Penei, sorry Captain Jack.
4. Pick 55: Julius Bents, Kansas State, CB: One of the players that are shooting up people's drafts. Happy to get him here, but that means I can't pick up other needs/talent. It is what it is.
5. Pick 81: Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse, OT: The Lions need an OT in this draft with Decker getting older, Big V's status uncertain, and Jackson may be looking to get paid next year. There are some good ones in this draft and maybe the Lions in real life will choose to pick one of them up with an earlier pick, but again, it is what it is.
6. Pick 152: Mike Morris, Michigan, Edge: It's around these parts that Mr. Holmes is going to earn his money, gleaning the talent from amongst a bevy of hopefuls. I went with a known commodity, and besides you can't have too many Edges.
7. Pick 159: Keaton Mitchell, East Carolina State, RB: Every one of my drafts has Keaton in it, this guy is electric! He's small, but that is the only knock on him. He could play the slot too; the Lions have talked with him, and hopefully, they chose him.
8. Pick 183: Demarcco Hellams, Alabama, S: Once again, BPA. Safety is not really a need but you gotta pick your poison. A solid guy, he used to be a receiver so that helps him.
9. Pick 194: Max Duggan, TCU, QB: Did I wait too long to get a QB? Dorian Thompson-Robinson was available at pick 6 but he was slotted to go 184, so I took my chances.
So that was my mock from the moment. I've had better, I've had worse. It does give you more appreciation for the decisions the teams need to make in the draft. What did you all come up with?
With Stroud potentially falling, Houston may go Defense (same with Arizona). In this case, hope like hell somebody wants to trade up for one of the top QBs available.
If Young and Stroud go 1 and 2 then I think LV moves up for Richardson at 3... I don't think that will happen though.
Seems like Young goes 1 and probably Will Anderson goes 2 or the Texans trade out to Colts or LV (who take Stroud) and Will Anderson goes 3.
I personally don't hate the idea of the Lions trading up to 3 if Will Anderson is still there but not if it costs us both 1s this year.
It's going to be an interesting top 10 this year. Lots of uncertainty and potential for movement.
A Lions mock draft on a Michigan site and no Jake Moody late! For shame.
I know, right!?
I usually take Jake with the last pick, because I AM A LOYAL MICHIGAN MAN, but in real life, I can see the worth of inviting the kickers in as FAs. Let them show you what they can do on the big stage, versus selecting a guy who may crash and burn on the big stage.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:21 AM ^
Moody should be a lion...THEY NEED A KICKER!
Interesting Mock. I think we need to (and will) address the secondary before pick 55 though. I'm not a huge fan of taking Carter at 6. I agree talent-wise he's the right guy at 6 (if he's there... I think there is a good chance he goes to the Seahawks), but culture-wise (like Thibs last year) he's the wrong choice, and since we have so many other needs, we can take a Corner or Edge at 6.
My Mock through our top 4 picks:
6: Witherspoon (CB)
18: Trade back to late first and take Hendon Hooker (QB)
48: Mazi (DT)
55: Jack Campbell (LB)
I'm nervous about Witherspoon. 180 pound cornerback...Hard pass for me. 42 tackles and 3 ints last year. Decent, but I still don't see anything that screams top 10 CB from him.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:51 AM ^
WitherspoonIsBeast! I like his game. He played with a serious chip on his shoulder.
I think he is going to have a fine NFL career.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:58 AM ^
I'd be fine with the guy from Oregon too... his name escapes me at the moment. I think Witherspoon is a good culture fit, which I think is really important on a Dan Campbell team and I'm not as concerned about his numbers. He looked great on the field to me last year.
Culture-wise I'm don't know enough about the Oregon CB to say one way or the other. I trust the front office will accounted for that.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:35 AM ^
Christian Gonzales is the CB from Oregon. He's a very long and athletic CB that has the talent but doesn't have the dog in him. Devon, on the other hand, might have too much dog in him; he's pretty handsy and physical, which may cause a lot of penalties on the next level.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
Also playing against B10 QBs is gonna make any CB look good. There are like 4 who can throw the ball more than 20 yards with accuracy. I do love his attitude tho - he plays with fervor.
April 24th, 2023 at 12:57 PM ^
Good point to consider there. Honestly hadn't thought about that.
These things are so goofy, but a ton of fun. I also ended up with TB WR Mike Evans through the trade.
I've picked 'The Darnells' in a number of drafts; I think those two guys are great. Washington is huge, he's practically an O-lineman, strong with good hands. I can see Ben Johnson scheming some plays for him. Wright looks to be a great OL; he shut down Will Anderson jr. when he went up against him.
That's the thing; the Lions can go in so many directions.
#InBradweTrust
April 24th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
I'm also high on 'The Darnells,' though I might have went a little too offense heavy here.
Now that I've done 20 other mocks, I usually try to grab either Carter or Mazi later for the D line.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:50 AM ^
Like this draft, but don't want Mike Evans.
Also don't like Darnell Wright. At 25, I'd prefer Torrence and Avila as OL choices.
April 24th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
What happened to pick 6?
He traded back.
April 24th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
Why would they trade for aging, slow Mike Evans? They need speed at WR.
If the Lions follow your model and go Defense with our first 4 picks I will be happy. Brad Holmes is building something special in Motown. The NFL Draft comes to Motown next year, I'll be there wearing a Michigan jersey!!
I did a mock draft and, surprise!, the Lions ended up with all Michigan guys.
Traded down out of 6, took Mazi and DJ in the first.
Pretty sure that's at least as credible as what Mel Kiper is pushing.
Seriously, you'd be just fine picking all Michigan Men, I think most would start or be heavy contributors, BUT, there are some guys who didn't go to Michigan that are pretty damn good, and if you are General Manager with his job on the line, you might consider them too, lol.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:02 AM ^
Ending up with Mazi and Turner would be great, just not in the 1st.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:13 AM ^
Mazi is going to be a great pick. He is going to have a nice long NFL career.
I'm gambling on the Lions placing their bets on sure picks.
Oh please, oh please, oh please!
April 24th, 2023 at 10:00 AM ^
i bet the lions take a WR now with one of their top 5 picks.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:03 AM ^
I think that was part of the plan anyway.
I'm rooting for AT Perry in the 3rd.
The Lions only have 2 WR (St. Brown and JMo) under contract after 2024. They will certainly take a WR within the first 3 rounds (my guess is with the 81 pick).
Also, I suspect that Holms will be moving up and down the draft quite a bit. It would not even surprise me if they do not even pick at 6 and 18. I also suspect they will move back into the end of the first round to grab Washington. Dallas is the key there, they lost their starting TE to FA and need on. There is Kincaid from Utah (who I think is TE1 in this draft) but I think he may be gone and then I believe that Washington will go before Mayer. Thus the need to move up ahead of Dallas to be able to get him.
As for my Mock Drafts, I have done several. While I am not opposed to taking Carter at 6, from the NFL and Lions Podcasts I have been listening to, Pete Carrol loves Carter and has a long history of taking prospects with "interesting" characters.
So, to me the dream scenario is for Stroud to fall to 6 (Young, Anderson, Tyree Wilson, Richardson, and Carter are first 5 taken). Then the Lions trade down 2 (Atlanta) or 5 (Tennessee) spots. Prefer Atlanta and grab either Witherspoon (#1 choice) or Gonzalez.
Then at 18, it depends who is there, again the Lions Podcast have noted that Campbell loves Darnell Wright, but the fact of the matter maybe that both Wright and Torrence will be gone by then. So again, I believe that Holms will trade down (not sold on Chancey from PITT). Another option here (don't laugh) is if B Robinson is there, they take him. Holmes has noted repeatedly that he will take a player in a position regardless of the depth chart if they feel it will upgrade the position. I just believe that Swift is on the way out, last year on his contract and has never really established himself as what Detroit had hoped for. But trade down is ideal...
Here my latest Mock....
Also picked up Cory Trice - CB Purdue @ 159
160 - Dorian Williams LB - Tulane
183 - DTR QB - UCLA
194 - Jake Moody
2024 Denver's 2nd round
2024 TB 4th round
That looks like a winner!
April 24th, 2023 at 10:06 AM ^
"Captain Jack" is still looking for his jock-and Blake refuse to tell him where it is.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
Jack Campbell is a really good LB prospect with high end RAS scores for size, strength, speed, and agility. And you know he plays a sound disciplined game coming from Iowa’s defensive system.
He is however in my mind always linked to losing his shorts to Blake Corum in game clinching fashion in Iowa City last fall.
https://twitter.com/CamMellor/status/1576288503402356738?lang=en
April 24th, 2023 at 11:48 AM ^
Blake is going to make plenty of NFL LBs look silly when he gets there. Campbell is an AA and the Lions would be lucky to have him (in round two).
April 24th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Trente Jones' block on this play is underrated, imo.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:50 AM ^
I'd be happy with my draft. I didn't make any trades.
#6 Will Anderson Jr. (Edge-Bama)
#18 Bijan Robinson (Rb-Tex)
#48 Mazi Smith (DT-Mich)
#55 Emmanuel Forbes (CB-Miss St.)
#81 Sam LaPorta (TE-Iowa)
#152 Andrew Vorhees (OG-USC)
#159 Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB-UCLA)
#183 Rakim Jarrett (WR-Maryland)
#194 Jake Moody (K-Mich)
I'd be really happy with this, but in retrospect I'd go a different direction at #18. There were a lot of good RBs left in the 150s of my Mock. Also, I had to swallow my Michigan fandom and pick Rakim Jarrett over Ronnie Bell with #183 :(
April 24th, 2023 at 10:55 AM ^
This draft would make me seriously happy.
Bijan is so versatile and explosive.
Will Anderson is a star.
Mazi is going to bring his lunch pail.
Moody!
April 24th, 2023 at 11:05 AM ^
Yeah that would be amazing, but I'd be stunned if Anderson is there at 6 (likely goes at 2 or 3) and Bijan is there at 18 (likely goes to Philly at 10 or NE at 14). I'd also be surprised if LaPorta is there at 81.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:36 AM ^
Be my GM! I like this a lot.....
April 24th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
If that happens, that's a seriously great draft for us and would take a lot of luck. I doubt Bijan gets past Philly at #10, but I don't think RB is a position of need for us.
It's funny how the Lions can draft a TE in the 3rd round and no one would complain. My how the times have changed. Then again, previous GMs would've drafted LaPorta in the first round.
April 24th, 2023 at 12:39 PM ^
I'd be fairly surprised if the Eagles took Robinson, or any RB, at #10. The Eagles/GM Howie Roseman rarely prioritize the RB position over OL and DL talent and depth. Historically, the Eagles view RBs as 2nd-Round or less values (Lesean McCoy, 2nd-Round, Miles Sanders, 2nd-Round, and Brian Westbrook, 3rd-Round, Kenneth Gainwell, 5th-Round).
If the Eagles really like Robinson, their track record would be to trade down, acquire additional assets, and then draft Robinson if he's still available. The Eagles would strongly consider taking Robinson at #30, if he lasts that long. Objectively, the Eagles do have interest - unless I'm mistaken, only the Bucs (19th pick) and Eagles brought Robinson in for a pre-draft visit. If Robinson does goes off the board before the Eagles draft after trading down, the Eagles would likely try to trade down again.
I predict the Eagles draft one of the top DL (Edges or DT) at #10 if teams overdraft QBs and CBs at the top of Round 1. Otherwise, I see the Eagles attempting to trade down to take advantage of some sucker organization that wants to trade up to acquire the 4th or 5th QB coming off the board at #10.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:47 AM ^
This would be amazing, verging on ideal. I don't think any of the first five picks will be there with those selections. I like the last four and believe they're realistic.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
The only way Will Anderson is still available when the Lions pick is if they trade up to get him. Even if you have four of the five teams ahead of you all draft QBs (which is possible), that leaves Seattle, and they are almost certainly taking a defensive player. Carter might be more talented than Will Anderson, but best I can tell, Will Anderson has zero off-field or character concerns. Seattle almost certainly takes the safe bet and with a guy who may end up being just as good as Carter.
If Detroit wants Will Anderson, they will need to trade up for him. Chaos would have to ensue for everyone to pass on him before #6
April 24th, 2023 at 12:34 PM ^
I’d take that and run like hell.
I was bully on Bijan but there are some very good backs in this draft and behind the Lions line they would be great. Gibbs and Achane would be great alternatives, and people are sleeping on Charbonnet I think he is going to succeed in the league. I also like Spears and Mitchell later in the draft.
April 24th, 2023 at 10:54 AM ^
Thanks for sharing this....
I did a 2 rounder and ended up with the following
7 - Tyree Wilson (picked up 2024 2nd rounder in addition)
18 - Bijan Robinson
48 - Calijah Kancey
55 - Drew Sanders
In any case, I am ready for this draft to start. My brain is in Mock Draft Mind Riot...
April 24th, 2023 at 11:46 AM ^
Don't love Wilson, but these other three picks would be amazing. I don't think any of them will on the board at those choices, but this would be a laugh out loud, get drunk until dawn type of draft.
I think Wilson just needs to be coached up. He reminds me of a much more athletic Dick Butkus, lol.
The Raiders duped me. I thought they were trading up for a QB when they took Carter from me. Bastards.
I agree on your comments regarding the 3 players being there. However, if Robinson gets past the Eagles at 10, he could be there at 18 if no one trades up between 11-17.
April 24th, 2023 at 11:22 AM ^
Only did a few rounds. I hope the Lions get some WR talent that fits their offense.
6. Jalen Carter DT Georgia
18. Emmanuel Forbes CB Mississippi State
48. Siaki Ika DT Baylor
55. Tucker Kraft TE South Dakota State
81. Devon Achane RB Texas A&M
Nice! As I said there is so much talent in this draft, and with 5 picks in the first three rounds, the Lions could set themselves up for years. Ah, they'll probably pick Darko, lol
#InBradweTrust