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.”
[lawrence-related id=39349]
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.”
[lawrence-related id=39470]
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.”