Lions draft prospect of the day: Bralen Trice, DE, Washington

Trice has some real athletic limitations but he’s also proven to be a very effective pass rusher

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day was a pressure-creating machine for one of the nation’s most successful teams. 

The focus for these prospects is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting: OL, EDGE, CB, DT, S and WR. 

Today’s prospect is a player I projected to the Lions in the first round early in the college season, but one who now projects deeper in the draft. 

Height: 6-foot-3 1/2″

Weight: 245 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Trice was a three-year player for the Huskies and a very effective one, starting 29 games. He was Washington’s defensive MVP in both 2022 and 2023, and was also All-PAC 12 both seasons. The team captain logged 26.5 TFLs and 16 sacks in 28 games over the final two years while playing almost exclusively as a stand-up rush OLB on both the left and right side of the defense. PFF recorded the Arizona native with 150 total QB pressures in his final two seasons. Trice turned 23 in February.

What I like

  •  Proven he can win over either shoulder of the offensive tackle
  • Really good first step that he follows with power nicely
  • Relentless effort to try and get to the quarterback
  • Angles his shoulders and hips well to avoid getting squarely blocked in the run game
  • Above-average nose for screens, wham blocks and draws
  • Can set a hard edge against the run even though he doesn’t shed blocks better than average
  • Really nice club and rip moves
  • Reliably wins hand-to-hand combat
  • Can set up moves for later in the game and adapt to how he’s being blocked to the best of his physical abilities

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Poor ankle/hip flexibility and very straight-linish as an athlete
  • He was listed by Washington at 274 pounds but hit the combine at 245 and still didn’t test well
  • Lacks a real closing burst or chase gear
  • Will try to initiate tackles from too far away
  • Gets stuck to blocks at times when he tries to break inside
  • Almost exclusively a stand-up OLB pass rusher; rarely dropped into coverage or played off-ball roles and didn’t play well at either when asked

Best game I watched: Stanford

Worst game I watched: Michigan (national championship game), Oregon State 2022

Overall

 Trice certainly fits the “grit” for Detroit; his motor and high-energy on-field personality scream “Lions.” More cynical Detroit fans will point to the astronomical pressure total but meager sack conversion rate from all those pressures and say that screams Lions, too. 

Trice just doesn’t have the twitch or flexibility to project as much more than a complementary rusher in the NFL. He’s also lacking alignment versatility; he’s quite likely an odd-front stand-up EDGE only. Pretty good football player and will be an asset in the locker room, but taking him higher than the third round is probably putting expectations too high for what his athletic limitations can deliver. Having said that, Trice would be a fun presence opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State

Breaking down Oregon State S Kitan Oladapo and how he might fit the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is an appropriate choice, with the Lions checking out his pro day on Monday. 

The focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a big safety who the Lions met with at the Senior Bowl and also informally met with at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Kitan Oladapo, S, Oregon State

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 216 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Oladapo has been a fixture of the Beavers defense since 2020. He started 39 games in the secondary, playing over 750 snaps each as a slot corner, free safety and box safety. As a senior in 2023, Oladapo registered 73 tackles, one sack, two interceptions and one forced fumble and recovery, while also breaking up seven passes. He had 80 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2022 while playing closer to the line of scrimmage more frequently. He is 23 years old and played in the Senior Bowl.

What I like

  • Has a defined body, great size and length for his position
  • Great acceleration and two-step burst for a guy his size
  • Impressive tackler in the box, hits and wraps better than many LBs
  • Good blitz timing and he does more than just run really fast toward a gap; can duck or spin to keep himself going to the QB
  • High football IQ shows in quick play diagnosis and pre-snap reads and anticipation of his assignment
  • Well-built frame and he knows how to use the hit stick
  • Decent in red-zone coverage and when he doesn’t have to worry about the long ball
  • Reads receiver cues well to search for the ball and make plays in coverage
  • Just 4 accepted penalties in his final 30 games
  • PFF’s highest-graded safety over the last two seasons combined

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Hips and ankles are a little tight in coverage, especially when he has to turn and run
  • Loses body control when approaching a slow target at full speed
  • Lacks recovery speed if he gets beaten over the top or on drags/crosses in man coverage
  • Loses fluidity and crispness working outside the tackle box in run defense or vs. short passes
  • Shows some panic when he’s beaten in coverage, though he largely got away with some late grabs and tugs
  • Other than playing more stridently in the box, he’s still largely the same player now he was at the start of the 2022 season; his development might be maxed out

Best game I watched: Washington State

Worst game I watched: 

Overall

 It’s hard not to see some of the end-of-2023 Ifeatu Melifonwu in Oladapo’s game. Like the Lions safety, Oladapo is at his best attacking downhill inside the tackle box and blitzing from all over the formation. The deeper and wider he gets, the more problems arise with the lack of long speed and lateral fluidity in coverage. Oladapo has been more durable and instinctive in coverage, however. 

With his age and his limited role–he looks like a box safety or hybrid LB/SS only in the NFL–Oladapo is generally projected in the fourth or fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. He fits the Lions’ grit and scheme in that range if they choose to bolster the paper-thin (for now) safety depth chart.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Kalen King, CB, Penn State

King entered 2023 as a potential first-rounder but saw his stock dipped with a down season

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is an interesting case of a player coming off a down year but still hoping to prove he’s capable of being a first-round player he was once touted to be. 

The focus for prospects of the day is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Kalen King, CB, Penn State

Height: 5-foot-11 1/4 

Weight: 191 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

King was a high school standout in his hometown of Detroit, heading from Cass Tech HS to Penn State. He played right away in 2021 and expanded into a starting role in the subsequent seasons. Playing mostly outside (over 85%) in Penn State’s primarily man coverage in a base 4-2-5 defense, King had an outstanding 2022 season. His strong cover skills and ability to make plays on the ball (18 PDs, 3 INTs) led King to be featured in most preseason mock drafts as a first-rounder like running mate Joey Porter Jr.

He did not live up to the billing in 2023. Despite playing behind a defensive front that generated outstanding pressure levels, King’s play fell off considerably. The 21-year-old didn’t help himself with a lackluster Senior Bowl week and mediocre athletic testing numbers at the combine.

Which is the true Kalen King and when does he get drafted?

What I like

  •  Strong ball skills and can make the contested interception
  • Good short-area burst to close on the receiver and/or the ball
  • Can be physical at the line and uses his play strength well
  • Quick to react and attack when plays aren’t directed his way
  • Has better play speed than timed speed, especially in a straight line
  • Likes to hit and will initiate tackles in the run game
  • Played with an effusive confidence to his game in 2022
  • Pretty effective at shedding blocks and not getting taken out of the way on run plays and run-after-catch situations

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Slow-footed and cumbersome out of transitions
  • Poor recovery athleticism for the position
  • Has to downshift to make lateral movement and match receivers who cut or break
  • Got grabbier down the field the longer he played in college
  • Takes false steps and needs a gather step to switch from his backpedal to breaking forward
  • Fails to wrap as a tackler too often
  • Average length and middle-of-the-road overall athletic testing that shows on tape and isn’t likely to improve
  • Really struggled when facing future NFL wideouts in 2023

Best game I watched: Utah (2022 bowl game)

Worst game I watched: Ohio State

Overall

King is frustrating to evaluate as a prospect because even when he’s playing poorly, there are still signs that he’s capable of being coached and schemed into a better player. Likewise, even at his best, there are always some technical points to quibble with in his greatness. His 2022 tape says he is a top-50 draft pick with the potential to start in a year or two. His 2023 tape says he’ll spend his rookie year on the practice squad as a late Day 3 flyer. 

For the Lions, he does check boxes for size, ball production, tenacity and football IQ. This current Lions regime has shown they will take chances on prospects that couldn’t finish strong in college (Onwuzurike, Hooker, Paschal), and King’s 2022 play is tough to ignore. Based on combine buzz, King probably gets drafted in the early part of Day 3. If the Lions haven’t already selected a CB by that point, King would not be a surprising pick to return to his hometown.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Mahogany offers outstanding power and aggressiveness as a starting-ready guard

It’s back to the trenches for today’s Detroit Lions draft prospect of the day.

The daily prospect focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a throwback type of interior offensive lineman with some intriguing upside.

Christian Mahogany, OG, Boston College

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 314 pounds (measured the same at Shrine Bowl and Scouting Combine)

Mahogany spent three years as a starter at Boston College, with over 10 starts at both left guard and right guard. He initially redshirted as a three-star recruit from New Jersey, starting right away at left guard in his redshirt freshman season. Mahogany moved to the right side the next year and became one of the best blockers in the country. He missed the 2022 season with a knee injury, returning to the Eagles and their varied offensive concepts in 2023, when he also served as a team captain.

Mahogany is 23 years old.

What I like

  •  Exudes brute power throughout his big frame
  • Nasty initial punch that can jolt and stand up powerful rushers
  • Excellent anchor strength in pass protection
  • Finishes his blocks and looks for work to unleash more violence
  • Impressive short-area footwork to slide one step and quickly reset
  • Acts as a snowplow when pulling in the run game
  • Recorded the lowest blown pass block rate of any prospect in 2023 per SIS
  • Showed improvement in his hand placement and balance over the course of his career

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Poor balance and pass protection range beyond one step in any direction
  • Can get overaggressive and overshoot his assignment
  • Lacks quickness in his feet and knees to effectively pick up stunts and second-level rushers that don’t try to bull him
  • Gets upright in space at times
  • Undersized DTs can leverage off and around him if he doesn’t win with his initial punch
  • Powerful but slow afoot and straight-linish as a run blocker in space
  • Torn ACL in 2022, though that’s his only injury of note

Best game I watched: Pittsburgh

Worst game I watched: Louisville

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Overall

 Mahogany is a guard whose game would have fit nicely back in the 1970s and 80s with his power-based, aggressive style. He’s wide, powerful and plays angry, capable of starting at either OG spot but projecting better on the right side. Mahogany’s lack of foot speed or twitchy movement skills makes him a better fit for a gap-based scheme like the one the Lions run. There will always be concerns about his ability to handle quickness on the interior, but Mahogany’s consistent anchor in pass pro and dominating power in the run game should hold considerable appeal for the Lions. He projects as a 3rd/4th round pick, but Mahogany is a top-50 overall talent on my board. 

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri

Breaking down the scouting profile of Missouri CB Ennis Rakestraw and how he might fit the Detroit Lions

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day sticks in the secondary with a player who has been popularly projected to be Detroit’s top pick before the NFL Scouting Combine. 

The focus for the Lions prospect of the day is on players who should hold some appeal to Detroit in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a teammate and running mate of yesterday’s featured player. 

Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 183 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

A four-year player for the Tigers, Rakestraw started at corner in 32 career games. The Dallas-area native was a three-star recruit who played right away for Missouri, starting 10 games as a true freshman in 2020. He took a medical redshirt in 2021 after tearing his ACL early in the season, but bounced back to become a full-time starter in his final two years. In 2023, the honor roll fixture registered 35 tackles and four pass breakups in 10 games, following up a 2022 where Rakestraw broke out with 12 PDs and and INT to go with 4.5 TFLs and 35 tackles. He turns 23 in June.

What I like

  •  Physical corner who is at his best aggressively pressing at the line
  • Very quick, active feet that never stop
  • Above-average route recognition and has the feet and fluid hips to quickly react
  • Stronger than he looks for his skinny frame and isn’t shy about hitting
  • Stays in phase well on in-breaking routes
  • Experienced playing in both the slot and outside, though primarily outside
  • Works actively to shed blocks
  • Tended to play better against higher-level competition
  • Might have best-in-class lower-body flexibility

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Top-end speed isn’t great and he lacks a chase gear when beaten; the 4.54 40-time at the combine shows on tape
  • Guilty of a lot of illegal contact fouls that aren’t penalties in college; counted at least three in all six games I watched
  • Injuries: Torn ACL in 2021, missed 4 games in 2023 with a groin injury, missed 2024 Senior Bowl with a separate core muscle injury
  • Doesn’t reliably locate the ball in the air in man coverage
  • Not nearly as effective in coverage if he can’t get his hands on the receiver early

Best game I watched: LSU

Worst game I watched: Kansas State ’22

Overall

Rakestraw is a good outside cornerback prospect with some legitimate questions about his ability to thrive at the next level. He’s smart, cat-quick, and at his best in the physical man coverage the Lions like to use outside. While he’s not a great run defender, he’s at least willing. His feet, hips and balance are all fantastic—traits a coaching staff can work with. 

There are some definite points of concern. Rakestraw came in shorter and lighter than expected and didn’t test well at the combine. He was dealing with a lingering injury, and injuries are a big part of Rakestraw’s profile. His slight frame and aggressive style aren’t exactly a combination that leads to durability. He’ll need to learn the five-year contact rule quickly.

Rakestraw projects as a second-round pick with high upside but also a lower floor than a lot of his peers. I would prefer teammate Kris Abrams-Draine in Detroit, though the Lions might not see it that way.

 

Lions draft prospect of the day: Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri

Abrams-Draine lacks bulk but brings great speed and ball skills to the outside CB spot

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day for today is a cornerback who seems to “fit the grit” as we hit 50 days until the 2024 NFL draft in Detroit. 

The daily focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with an emphasis on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a cornerback often overshadowed by his Tigers running mate, Ennis Rakestraw, but is an impressive prospect in his own right. 

Kris Abrams-Draine, CB, Missouri

Height: 5-foot-11 1/3″

Weight: 179 pounds (measured at NFL Scouting Combine)

Abrams-Draine began his Missouri career as a wide receiver out of the Mobile, Alabama, area. He played the final three seasons for the Tigers as a starting cornerback, beginning in the slot before spending most of the final two years outside. Abrams-Draine broke up 27 passes in the last two seasons, picking off four of those (all in 2022), registering 84 total tackles and 2.5 TFLs. He was first-team All-SEC in 2023. The 22-year-old also returned kicks earlier in his career and fielded punts and kickoffs during Senior Bowl week.

What I like

  •  Twitchy, quick mover with instant acceleration and great agility
  • Understands what receivers are trying to do and anticipates routes and releases very well
  • Plays with inside technique very well, knows how to press to the sideline
  • High football IQ shows in his awareness and anticipation
  • Can flip the hips and turn and run with decent long speed (4.44 40-yard dash)
  • One of the best click-and-close corners in the class
  • Plays the ball in the air well, excellent ball production
  • Willing and aggressive in run defense
  • Experience playing off-man and zone coverages
  • Can stick on the hip of speed receivers on deep routes; stays in phase and keeps his designed leverage well
  • Plays with ebullient confidence and enthusiasm
  • Offers return specialist potential
  • Gained seven pounds from the Senior Bowl to the combine and didn’t lose any speed

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Lighter and weaker than ideal for the outside in the NFL even with the recent weight gain
  • Bark is bigger than his bite in press coverage and also in run defense
  • Will keep his eyes in the backfield too long in zone coverage at times
  • Eyes get bigger than his height or (impressive) leaping ability can deliver against bigger, more physical receivers

Best game I watched: Georgia

Worst game I watched: Kentucky

Overall

 Abrams-Draine is one of my favorite players in the entire draft. He earned that with his spirited, effective play and twitchy athleticism. He’s got the requisite length to play outside for the Lions and does have experience playing both man and zone–which Aaron Glenn mixes quite a bit in the Detroit defense. The primary drawback is his lack of bulk and physical strength. He’s not afraid to challenge bigger receivers but it just doesn’t go as well as hoped for the plucky Abrams-Draine. 

His speed, quick route recognition and ball skills are all perfect fits in Detroit’s secondary. It’s a matter of deciding if Abrams-Draine can get stronger and hold up against the bigger/faster/stronger NFL wideouts he’ll face. I grade him in the top 60 overall, but Abrams-Draine generally projects in the third or fourth round.

 

Lions 2024 Draft Prospect of the Day: Kingsley Suamataia, OL, BYU

Suamataia offers size, athleticism and a family connection to Lions RT Penei Sewell

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day is back after a week-long hiatus during the NFL Scouting Combine.

The focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is an offensive tackle with some family ties to another Lions lineman.

Kingsley Suamataia, Offensive tackle, BYU

Height: 6-foot-4 1/2 

Weight: 326 (measured at combine)

Suamataia (pronounced soo-uh-mah-tah-EE-uh) is an experienced starter at both offensive tackle spots. The Oregon transfer played the 2022 season as the Cougars’ starter at right tackle before moving to the left side in 2023. The 21-year-old is a cousin of Lions All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell and was a high school teammate of Rams WR Puka Nacua in Utah.

What I like

  •  Giant frame that carries 326 pounds comfortably
  • Big (over 10″) hands with impressive grip strength and a powerful initial punch
  • Plays with violence in the run game, not afraid to get after defenders
  • Moves well laterally in pass protection with active feet and impressive range on the edge
  • Can seek and destroy targets in space in the run game
  • Adapted well to the left side after some early struggles in switching from the right
  • He’s ambidextrous and has a boxing background
  • Recognizes twists and blitz pickups well
  • Has proven to be coachable and just turned 21; best football is still ahead of him

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Very upright and tall in his initial 2-pt. stance
  • Tends to rise upright once engaged in pass protection, even if he initially has the leverage
  • Initial punch and follow-up/recovery arm speed is slow and often also too high
  • Gives up his chest early and can get jolted on a bull rush (see Utah ’22 and Texas games)
  • Will get caught shifting his weight too far to the outside in pass protection against wide-aligned rushers

Best game I watched: Oklahoma

Worst game I watched: Texas

Overall

Suamataia entered the 2023 college season as a fixture in the first round of 2024 mock drafts. It took him some early struggles in shifting from the right side to the left before he looked anything close to a top-50 pick, but the spirited youngster quietly finished his final season playing very well. 

Despite being kin of Penei Sewell, his game as it stands now is more like Lions OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who played well at right guard after struggling with speed and pad level at right tackle. He’s rawer and less athletic than his celebrated cousin, and the need for technical refinement really showed during Senior Bowl week.

Unless he quickly improves his hand placement and upright stance, Suamataia will probably need to kick inside to guard. That’s not an issue for the Lions, who are set at starting OT but need instant help at guard. It would likely take the Lions second-round pick to land Suamataia, and he might very well be long gone by No. 61 overall. He’s less NFL-ready than a lot of other prospects at either position, so be careful with expectations.

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Lions 2024 Draft Prospect of the Day: Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton, DT, Illinois

Newton probably won’t fall to the Lions but he’d be a perfect fit in Aaron Glenn’s defense

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day features arguably the top interior defensive lineman in the 2024 NFL draft.

The focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a wrecking ball of a defensive tackle who unfortunately won’t be participating in next week’s NFL Scouting Combine due to injury.

Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

Height: 6-2

Weight: 295 (listed by Illinois)

Jer’Zhan is now officially recognized as “Johnny,” and he’ll also be widely known as one of the top defensive talents in the NFL draft class of 2024. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year was a two-time first-team All-American and a finalist for several defensive postseason honors. He led all collegiate interior linemen in QB pressures as a senior with 44, 15 more than any other Big Ten DT.

For his four-year career at Illinois, the Florida native racked up 188 tackles, 28.5 TFLs and 18 sacks. He was a two-time Academic All-Big Ten performer off the field and a team captain for Illinois. Newton recently had foot surgery that will keep him idle at the NFL Scouting Combine, but he is expected to make a full recovery before the draft.

 

What I like

  •  Explosive burst off the snap
  • Great natural knee bend and pad level
  • Powerful hands and shoulders to jolt off blockers
  • Excellent 2-step closing burst to the point of attack
  • Can win over either shoulder of interior OLs with a barrage of pass-rush moves
  • Plays with violence and passion
  • Showed real progress at shedding blocks and finding the ball as a run defender
  • Rarefied open-field speed for a DT
  • Played through a Jones avulsion fracture in his foot without showing signs of being limited
  • Consistently disruptive against all types of blocking schemes

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Doesn’t play with a lot of base strength or anchor against the run
  • Would rather try to keep getting around than going through a blocker
  • Can get caught off-guard by traps and pulls
  • Doesn’t consistently wrap up on tackles and can bounce off attempts
  • Frame appears maxed out
  • Will try to do too much at times if he’s not successful early in a game
  • His size limits him to playing almost exclusively as a 3T in a 4-man front in the NFL

Best game I watched: Penn State

Worst game I watched: Purdue in 2022

Overall

 Newton offers up so much to like as an interior defensive force. His playing style and movement skills remind me a lot of former No. 3 overall pick Gerald McCoy as a prospect. Like McCoy at Oklahoma, Newton is productively disruptive on his own but also elevates the play of everyone around him. 

I don’t expect Newton to last to the Lions at the 29th pick, but his recent surgery and the rise of so many WRs and OTs leave the door cracked open. Newton would be an instant starter next to Alim McNeill and immediately impact the interior pass rush with playmaking consistency. He should be a top-15 pick.

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Lions 2024 Draft Prospect of the Day: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Hart offers a lot of length

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day rolls onward toward the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine and moves back to cornerback today.

The focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is a big outside cornerback the Lions met with during Senior Bowl week

Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame

Height: 6-foot-2 3/4

Weight: 207 (measured at Senior Bowl)

Hart headed from Baltimore to South Bend as a five-year player for the Fighting Irish. He was a high school wide receiver who transitioned into an outside corner at Notre Dame, starting 32 games and playing in 45 total. He appeared on the Bruce Feldman “Freaks” list for 2023.

The 23-year-old Hart was a team captain for the Fighting Irish and recorded 85 tackles and 11 TFLs in his final three seasons. In his college career, Hart broke up 19 passes and picked off two INTs. He allowed a 50 percent completion rate in those final three years playing outside CB almost exclusively.

To get to know more about Hart’s personality and which Lions players he trains with already, check out our interview with him from the Senior Bowl.

What I like

  •  The length is obvious, but Hart also understands how to use his length to his advantage in pressing the sideline and cutting down throwing angles
  • Adept at staying on the hip pocket of receivers on deeper routes
  • Stays in phase well in man coverage, doesn’t overreact to fakes and double moves
  • Very good at reading and attacking screens and swing passes
  • Patient in zone without being too passive
  • Long speed is impressive for a taller CB and he does have a “chase” gear
  • Plays within himself well; understands his own game and his strengths and weaknesses–high football IQ

What worries me going into the NFL

  •  Overstrides coming out of transition at times, which leaves him vulnerable to quicker-than-fast receivers
  • Doesn’t always find the ball in the air fast enough to make plays even when he’s in a position to make them
  • Has had three separate shoulder surgeries while at Notre Dame
  • Presents a lot of target area for blockers to engage and isn’t great at disengaging from blocks
  • Gets too tall when tackling at times

Best game I watched: USC

Worst game I watched: Pittsburgh

Overall

 Hart’s physical traits and gifts are obvious and would certainly hold appeal for the Lions. He’s a smart, selfless player with decent production in both run and pass defense. 

The film from Notre Dame and his work during Senior Bowl week screams Day 2 pick and a potential early starter. However, the medical evaluation will be critical. Three shoulder surgeries are indicative of durability questions. It also appears as if Hart might be protecting the shoulder a bit as a tackler at times, too.

While Lions GM Brad Holmes hasn’t shown an aversion to players with injury history, it’s uncertain what impact it will have this year and for Hart. He’s a player who could drop into the fifth or sixth round because of those concerns even though he’s a top-100 caliber talent.

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Lions 2024 Draft prospect of the day: Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State

Breaking down Penn State OLB Adisa Isaac and how he might fit the Detroit Lions in the 2024 NFL draft

The Lions Draft Prospect of the Day rolls into a pass rush prospect with a lot of potential to impress in next week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

The focus is on players who should hold some appeal to the Lions in the draft, with a focus on the more likely positions the team will be targeting. If you’re looking for quarterbacks or upper-echelon running backs, you’re probably not going to find those here. Outside cornerbacks, defensive linemen, interior offensive linemen, maybe some wide receivers and offensive tackles figure to appear along the path to April’s draft. Not all of the players will be top-100 prospects, either.

Today’s prospect is an up-and-coming pass rusher who just might be a better NFL player than his more heralded teammate at the same position.

Adisa Isaac, EDGE, Penn State

Height: 6-foot-4 1/2

Weight: 250 pounds (measured at Senior Bowl)

Isaac served as a stand-up pass rushing specialist for the Nittany Lions, spending five seasons in the program. He started out as more of a DE in his first two years before tearing his Achilles and missing all of the 2021 season.

He returned about 10 pounds lighter and playing much more as an outside LB type of pass rusher. After an underwhelming 2022 where he didn’t appear fully back from the injury — both physically and mentally, the 22-year-old blossomed into a much better all-around player and draft prospect in his senior season. He opened more eyes during Senior Bowl week, where he verified he did meet with the Lions.

What I like

  • He’s long and understands how to use his length on the edge to create space and get off blocks
  • Smooth, balanced athlete with natural bend and fluid acceleration
  • Fast, active hands with power behind them from his shoulders and chest
  • Good finisher in both the run and pass games, much improved in that regard in his senior season
  • Can stack and set the edge in the run game, especially against tight ends
  • Building off the edge-setting–he’s very effective at containing and corraling mobile quarterbacks
  • Very good at attacking with the proper timing and body positioning to catch a blocker at his most vulnerable moment (between steps, leaning, overreaching). It’s not something that can be taught and Isaac has “it”

What worries me going into the NFL

  • Was better in more limited duties than when playing an extensive amount of snaps
  • Only average burst off the snap and he can be something of a snap-jumping guesser
  • Played a reactionary rush role opposite Chop Robinson that took advantage of Chop’s quick pressure but also Robinson’s terrible finishing ability
  • Not always a proactive pass rusher; more of a react-on-the-fly type and isn’t an elite enough athlete for that to work as well in the NFL
  • Chase and pursuit angles aren’t optimized
  • Doesn’t have much in the way of counters if he doesn’t win initially beyond just being a relentless hustle guy

Best game I watched: Illinois 2023

Worst game I watched: Michigan 2022

Overall

I saw Isaac in a similar light to how Andrew Harbaugh did in his prospect profile, which is worthy of your time. Isaac is a quality Day 2 pass rusher with length and some athletic upside. The step he took in his second season back from Achilles surgery was very impressive, growing as a tackler and all-around player.

He’s a good candidate to fill, and expand upon, the role Charles Harris and Julian Okwara played (when they played) as an outside-in stand-up rusher who can play the run on his way to the quarterback. Isaac doesn’t offer the sizzle of his Nittany Lions mate Chop Robinson but has a higher floor and a steadier game. The Lions would probably need to use their second-round pick on Isaac if they want him–especially if he has the workout numbers that have been floated.