The latest mock draft from Pro Football Focus prominently addresses what could be a massive hole for the Detroit Lions.
With the No. 7 overall pick, the current order after Week 16, PFF projects Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith to the Lions. The rationale is an easy one, seeing as how the Lions are losing their top three receivers to free agency once the season is over.
Even if the Lions re-sign soon-to-be unrestricted free agents Kenny Golladay (27), Marvin Jones (31) and/or Danny Amendola (35), the team still needs more talent at wide receiver. Smith should finish the year with the highest single-season receiving grade in the PFF College era (2014-20) and currently ranks 12th overall on PFF’s 2021 NFL Draft Board.
The players selected before the Lions pick, which is as instructive as who is taken by Detroit’s as-yet-unknown regime:
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson
- Zach Wilson, QB, BYU
- Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
- Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
- Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
- Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama