With their success in the regular season, the draft is not what most Lion’s fans are looking forward to as the postseason looms. That being said, Detroit will have the opportunity to continue to load their star-studded lineup in the draft through their first-round pick. The closer it gets, many mock drafts have started predicting what the Lions are looking for.
In the first round, most mock drafts have Detroit going to or winning the Super Bowl, giving them the last two picks in round one. That being said, the consensus on what kind of player the Lions will pick seems to vary between the offensive or defensive line.
Detroit is looking to put the final piece onto their defense, adding another weapon to a defensive line that already has stars Aidan Hutchinson, DJ Reader and Z’Darius Smith.
Ohio State edge Jack Sawyer seems to be a popular pick, as Sawyer has tallied 51 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and one interception in four years as a Buckeye. Among other mocks, Sawyer was the Lions projection from Ryan Wilson of CBS. He would be another issue for opposing offenses alongside Aidan Hutchinson. Another defensive option, one projected by Chris Trapasso of CBS, is Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who has recorded a career total of 48 tackles and 6.5 sacks in three years.
In terms of the offense, Detroit may look to add depth to their already successful offensive line. A possible top pick could be Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea, a 6’5 336 pound star who has played 2,418 snaps and only allowed 8 sacks in three years. That was the choice by Curt Popejoy at Draft Wire.
Overall, first round picks can be the cornerstone of a team or a large regret in the review. It will be up to the Lions on draft day to decide exactly the player they want.