Like most NFL draft aficionados, I eagerly clicked on Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest 2-round mock draft at ESPN to check out the haul. Kiper merits considerable attention as one of the most popular and long-tenured draft mavens, and right or wrong, his thought process is always interesting to discern.
The first three picks were chalk: Joe Burrow at one, Chase Young at two and Jeff Okudah to the Lions at No. 3. No surprises — in over 50 mock drafts without trades tracked in the last two weeks, that’s the top three in nearly 90 percent.
But it’s how Kiper explained the choice of Okudah as the third pick that really grabbed my attention. Kiper’s commentary is straight out of my own mouth in various podcast and radio appearances of late,
After trading away Darius Slay, the Lions brought in Desmond Trufant, but he’s no longer a No. 1 corner. Okudah could be that guy, and he’d instantly help the league’s last-ranked pass defense. Detroit could solicit trade offers to add valuable picks, but Matt Patricia is 9-22-1 in two seasons as coach, so he needs to win now to keep his job. His best bet might be taking the draft’s best cornerback.
I don’t know how Kiper got into my head but I’m glad someone with a wide national audience expressed my exact thoughts on the Lions’ draft choice at No. 3 overall. Thanks, Mel!
I diverge with Kiper on the second-round pick. He projects TCU DT Ross Blacklock at the No. 35 overall pick. I’m not that big of a Blacklock fan, though once again in the commentary Kiper picks up on a theme we’ve been hammering here at Lions Wire: the move to more of a 4-man defensive front with new coordinator Cory Undlin.
Matt Patricia really needs to fix the Lions’ defense, and Blacklock could slide in as a starter next to free-agent addition Danny Shelton. Blacklock played a lot of nose tackle at TCU, but he could rush the passer more in Detroit’s 4-3 defense.
From Kiper’s coiffure to my lips.
We’ll find out in less than 10 days if Kiper is correct or if I’m crazy for spewing forth the notions here that Kiper reflects.