Mock draft watch: Mel Kiper’s latest stirs the pot for the Lions

Mock draft watch: Mel Kiper’s latest stirs the pot for the Lions with an updated projection at No. 3

The latest updated mock draft from ESPN guru Mel Kiper Jr. is out, ready to stir up the 2020 NFL Draft pot of conversation.

For the Detroit Lions, the stirring up produces a new entree at No. 3 overall. After rolling with Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa in his last mock draft, Kiper changes flavors and serves up Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah.

Kiper’s explanation and analysis of Detroit’s offseason so far is pretty upbeat,

The Lions’ best-case scenario with this pick? Field offers for teams trying to trade up to draft Tua Tagovailoa — the Dolphins (Nos. 5, 18 and 26 picks) and Chargers (No. 6 pick) make the most sense — and still land Okudah. That would give them extra premium draft picks and the top corner in the class to replace Darius Slay and pair with free-agent signing Desmond Trufant. After a 3-12-1 season, general manager Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia need wins now, and the additions of Jamie Collins, Danny Shelton and Nick Williams will help their defense immediately.

It’s nice to see Kiper has acknowledged the talk about trading Matthew Stafford and subsequently drafting Tagovailoa is utter nonsense, and Okudah fills a major need now with Darius Slay in Philadelphia.

Touchdown Wire’s post-free agency mock draft: Cornerbacks grab pole position

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar makes first-round draft projections in the wake of a memorable opening week of the NFL league year.

When I wrote the traditional “What every team needs before free agency starts” article that Touchdown Wire published on March 11, it really stood out just how many NFL teams are in desperate need of top-level cornerbacks. Or second-level cornerbacks who might develop into top-level cornerbacks over time. The more I reviewed cornerback play at the NFL level both in-season and in the lead-up to free agency and the draft, the more I realized the severity of the shortage at that position.

I tend to think NFL teams are thinking about this as well, and it could upend what we think about the 2020 draft.

In this case, the run on cornerbacks (which, given overall team needs and the structure of the modern passing game, I absolutely believe could happen) creates a domino effect in which some very talented players (LSU safety Grant Delpit, LSU receiver Justin Jefferson, and Iowa edge-rusher A.J. Epenesa among them) miss the first round, and quarterbacks with physical potential but volatile results (Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts) could find themselves outside the top 32 picks as well.

I should put a side note here that Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa are the only quarterbacks in this draft class I think are worthy of first-round grades, so that affects my mock with one exception — the team that now has to replace the greatest quarterback ever. And that’s more in the abstract than anything else.

Having the Colts move out of the first round after trading for 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Bucker also adds to a new quarterback picture, as the Colts seemed likely to pick a quarterback with the 13th overall selection. With Philip Rivers around in the short term, that probably has changed.

With all that said, here’s one way the draft could shake out in the post-free agency landscape:

Picks: 1-8 | 9-16 | 17-24 | 25-32

Mock draft watch: Lions trade back and land a bounty in Draft Wire’s latest

Mock draft watch: Lions trade back and land a bounty in Draft Wire’s latest

Free agency keeps the NFL team needs for the 2020 NFL Draft ever-shifting. The Detroit Lions still have clear and obvious top needs with their top-5 pick, as all the team picking near the top still do.

It’s the second and third rounds where free agency has really impacted the draft needs for a lot of teams. That’s where a 3-round mock draft like the latest from our brother site, Draft Wire, comes in handy.

Of course, when a trade for the No. 3 spot is part of the projection it’s difficult to focus on the deeper parts of the forecast. Rightly so, because the trade that editor Luke Easterling projects here would be a headline-grabber.

In this scenario, the Miami Dolphins trade up from No. 5 to land Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. Detroit gets the 5th pick back, as well as Miami’s pick at No. 18 (originally the Steelers’ pick). Detroit parlays the No. 3 pick into landing Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah and South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw.

Sign me up for that exchange!

The pressing need at EDGE gets addressed in the second round, No. 35 overall, with Alabama’s Terrell Lewis. In the third round it’s Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn, someone the Lions caught up close and personal during Senior Bowl week.

2020 NFL mock draft: Updated 3-round projections with trades

Luke Easterling updates his three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft after the first wave of free agency, with a few key trades

The first wave of NFL free agency has passed, and along with some big names changing teams of their own will, we’ve also seen some blockbuster trades executed over the past week.

All of these moves could have a significant impact on the early rounds of the 2020 NFL draft, as could further deals that take place once the draft has begun.

With all that in mind, here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of this year’s draft could turn out, including a handful of projected trades that could shake things up.

*denotes projected trade

1. Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

Despite rumors to the contrary, this has been set in stone for quite a while. Burrow won’t make trouble about playing in Cincy, and the Bengals finally get the franchise quarterback they so desperately need.

2. Washington Redskins

Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This is another no-brainer pick. Unless Washington gets a huge offer from a QB-needy team trying to jump ahead of everyone else on the board, this has to be the selection. Young is the best overall prospect in this year’s class, which makes him a steal anywhere else but No. 1 overall.

3. Miami Dolphins (from DET)*

Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

It seems a foregone conclusion that the Lions will move out of this spot, selling the pick to the highest bidder that’s in search of a quarterback. If Miami ends up in a bidding war with the Chargers, don’t be surprised if they have to give up the higher of their two additional first-rounders to land their franchise quarterback.

4. New York Giants

Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

Any of this year’s top four offensive tackle prospects could make a strong case to go here, which is good news for the Giants, who need a franchise player at the position. Wirfs is a rare athlete for his size, and has as much upside as any other tackle in the class. He’s ready to protect Daniel Jones from Day 1.

5. Detroit Lions (from MIA)*

Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

This is the ideal scenario for the Lions, who move back a couple of picks and pick up another first-rounder, still landing the player they likely would have taken anyway. After trading away Darius Slay to avoid paying him a huge extension, Detroit needs to replace him with a shutdown artist like Okudah, who is by far the top corner in this class.

2020 NFL mock draft: How trades, Tom Brady’s departure impact early rounds

Luke Easterling updates his two-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft, reflecting some blockbuster trades

The first day of the NFL’s “legal tampering period” was just as wild as expected, with some of the top free agents already agreeing to terms with new teams, and also a handful of blockbuster trade agreements that shook up the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Another big move that could impact the early rounds? Tom Brady officially announcing he’ll be leaving the New England Patriots.

Here’s an updated look at how these big changes could impact the first two rounds of this year’s draft:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

4. New York Giants | Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville

5. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

6. Los Angeles Chargers | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

7. Carolina Panthers | Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson

8. Arizona Cardinals | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

10. Cleveland Browns | Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

11. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

12. Las Vegas Raiders | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

13. San Francisco 49ers (from IND) | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

15. Denver Broncos | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

16. Atlanta Falcons | K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU

17. Dallas Cowboys | CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

18. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) | Josh Jones | OT | Houston

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI) | Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

21. Philadelphia Eagles | Jordan Jefferson | WR | LSU

22. Minnesota Vikings (from BUF) | Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

23. New England Patriots | Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

24. New Orleans Saints | Patrick Queen | LB | LSU

25. Minnesota Vikings | Jalen Reagor | WR | TCU

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) | Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin

27. Seattle Seahawks | Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

28. Baltimore Ravens | D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia

29. Tennessee Titans | Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State

30. Green Bay Packers | Denzel Mims | WR | Baylor

31. San Francisco 49ers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

32. Kansas City Chiefs | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

2020 NFL mock draft: How DeForest Buckner trade impacts 1st round

Luke Easterling projects how the first round of the 2020 NFL draft could be impacted by Monday’s blockbuster trade agreement

We’re just mere hours into the NFL’s “legal tampering” period, and we’ve already seen some big moves.

The latest of which is a blockbuster trade agreement between the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisc0o 49ers, sending defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to Indy (and with a huge new contract), while the 49ers gain a second first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Here’s a quick look at how that deal could change the landscape of the first round:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

4. New York Giants | Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville

5. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

6. Los Angeles Chargers | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

7. Carolina Panthers | Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson

8. Arizona Cardinals | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

10. Cleveland Browns | Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

11. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

12. Las Vegas Raiders | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

13. San Francisco 49ers (from IND) | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

15. Denver Broncos | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

16. Atlanta Falcons | K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU

17. Dallas Cowboys | CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

18. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) | Josh Jones | OT | Houston

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI) | Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

21. Philadelphia Eagles | Jordan Jefferson | WR | LSU

22. Buffalo Bills | Denzel Mims | WR | Baylor

23. New England Patriots | Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

24. New Orleans Saints | Patrick Queen | LB | LSU

25. Minnesota Vikings | Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) | Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin

27. Seattle Seahawks | Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

28. Baltimore Ravens | D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia

29. Tennessee Titans | Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State

30. Green Bay Packers | Jalen Reagor | WR | TCU

31. San Francisco 49ers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

32. Kansas City Chiefs | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

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Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks propose a realistic Lions trade in Twitter mock draft

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks did a mock draft on Twitter and executed what they believed was a realistic trade for the Detroit Lions.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks — who also co-host the Move the Sticks podcast — did a mock draft on Twitter, altering selections between themselves.

Brooks opened the draft by giving Joe Burrow (QB, LSU) to the Bengals, while Jeremiah paired Washington with Chase Young (EDGE, OSU). But when the Lions got on the clock at pick No. 3, Jeremiah proposed a trade offer to Brooks for the pick.

Jeremiah, having the even-numbered picks, offered Brooks the Los Angeles Chargers No. 6 overall pick, as well as pick No. 37 in the second round, and the Chargers second-round pick in the 2021 draft.

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Brooks entertained the offer but countered by also asking for the Chargers fourth-round pick in 2020, No. 112 overall. Jeremiah accepted the counteroffer and selected Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama) for the Chargers.

Jeremiah then gave the Giants Mekhi Becton (OT, Louisville), with Brooks selecting Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon) for the Dolphins.

With the Lions back on the clock Brooks had the option to choose from Jeff Okudah (CB, OSU), Isaiah Simmons (LB/S Clemson), or Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn) — and in a mild upset, Brooks went with Simmons.

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A haul of Simmons picks No. 37 and No. 112, as well as a future second-round pick, would make most Lions fans very happy — and realistically, that is a scenario that could very well play out this April.

Here’s a look at how the entire mock draft played out:

Lions mock draft roundup: 5 main scenarios present themselves

With the 2020 NFL Combine behind us, Mock Drafts have placed the Detroit Lions into five common scenarios, all of them with positive outcomes.

With the 2020 NFL Combine behind us, local and national Mock Drafts have settled in on five common scenarios for the Detroit Lions, all of them with positive outcomes.

One big change of note: after being routinely mocked to the Lions leading up to the Combine, a sub-par performance from Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn) has all but eliminated him from being mocked to the Lions, even in trade back situations.

With Brown more-or-less off the board in the top-5 and the consistent positive medical reports on Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama), Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State) has been connected to the Lions more and more.

Chase Young at pick No. 3

Currently being mocked by Kyle Meinke (MLive), Chad Reuter (NFL.com), Mike Renner (PFF), Josh Norris (Rotoworld), and Jeff Risdon (RealGM)

Meinke: “Todd McShay gives it a 10-15% percent chance of happening. I think that’s ridiculous. Assuming Burrow goes first overall, which everyone assumes, all it takes is for one team to need a quarterback badly enough for it to happen. The Dolphins, Chargers and Panthers are all picking in the top 10 and need a quarterback. Washington could use Tua too. There is nothing more valuable than a good quarterback on a rookie contract, and I think the odds are good someone makes it happen before Detroit is on the clock. In which case, the Lions stumble into the best pass-rushing prospect in years. What a coup that would be for the Lions and their embattled defense, which had maybe the least effective pass rush in the league last year.”

Risdon: “If he’s still on the board, and he is in this scenario, Chase Young will be the pick. If he’s not, I expect Jeff Okudah and that’s independent of what happens with Darius Slay.”

Jeffrey Okudah at pick No. 3

Currently being mocked by Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com), Tom McShay (ESPN, $), Kyle Crabbs (The Draft Network), and Trevor Sikkema (The Draft Network)

Sikkema: “Jeff Okudah was impressive during Combine week, even if his workout didn’t live up to the unrealistic hype some placed on him before the day began. His weigh-in measurements looked like God built him specifically to play shutdown corner; his interview session was prepared, confident and personable, and the numbers he did put up during the athletic testing was more than fine.”

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Jeffrey Okudah after a trade down

Currently being mocked by Mike O’Hara (DetroitLions.com), Luke Easterling (Draft Wire), and Carter Donnick (The Draft Network)

Easterling: “No matter what happens with Darius Slay, Okudah is the best blend of need and value here, as easily the top corner in this year’s class. He has all the physical and mental tools to be an immediate impact player for a defense that desperately needs more of them.”

Isaiah Simmons at pick No. 3

Currently being mocked by Dane Brugler (The Athletic, $), Chris Burke (The Athletic, $), Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic, $), and Bucky Brooks (NFL.com)

Burke: “I keep going back and forth on this, and I don’t have anything at stake so I empathize with what Bob Quinn will be facing, but I’m going to go with Isaiah Simmons here. And the simplest way I can explain why is that I’m looking at a free-agent cornerback class that could include guys like Byron Jones, Chris Harris, James Bradberry and Logan Ryan — all potential No. 1 cornerbacks (maybe No. 2 for Ryan, in an ideal setup). There are ways to find starting cornerbacks, via free agency or a trade.”

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Isaiah Simmons after a trade down

Currently being mocked by Ben Raven (MLive)

Raven: “Throw the questions about Simmons’ position and size out the window. The do-it-all defender feels and has the looks of a perfect prospect for Matt Patricia’s defense. Not just looking at the scheme, but examining the holes that Simmons could fill on the roster as currently projected.”

2020 NFL mock draft: Full 7-round projections with compensatory picks

Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling projects all 255 picks of the 2020 NFL draft, including compensatory selections

Now that compensatory picks have been announced, we finally have the complete, seven-round selection order for the 2020 NFL draft.

That being the case, the time has come to embark on the 255-pick journey of mocking all of this year’s selections.

Here’s my first stab at projecting all seven rounds of this year’s draft:

1st Round

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

3. Detroit Lions | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

4. New York Giants | Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville

5. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

6. Los Angeles Chargers | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

7. Carolina Panthers | Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson

8. Arizona Cardinals | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

10. Cleveland Browns | Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

11. New York Jets | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

12. Las Vegas Raiders | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

13. Indianapolis Colts | Jordan Love | QB | Utah State

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

15. Denver Broncos | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

16. Atlanta Falcons | K’Lavon Chaisson | EDGE | LSU

17. Dallas Cowboys | Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

18. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) | Josh Jones | OT | Houston

19. Las Vegas Raiders (from CHI) | Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

21. Philadelphia Eagles | Justin Jefferson | WR | LSU

22. Buffalo Bills | Denzel Mims | WR | Baylor

23. New England Patriots | Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama

24. New Orleans Saints | Patrick Queen | LB | LSU

25. Minnesota Vikings | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) | Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State

27. Seattle Seahawks | Antoine Winfield, Jr. | S | Minnesota

28. Baltimore Ravens | Solomon Kindley | OL | Georgia

29. Tennessee Titans | Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin

30. Green Bay Packers | Jalen Reagor | WR | TCU

31. San Francisco 49ers | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

32. Kansas City Chiefs | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE/DL | Iowa