The NFL draft is just a couple of weeks away, and everyone is trying to finalize what each team could do, which means mock drafts are plentiful. The latest mock draft comes from one of the most respected draft minds in the industry, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who recently released his annual draft guide “The Beast,” which is highly recommended.
He gives a crack at the possible draft haul for each team in his seven-round mock, and below are the players he decided to bestow to the Detroit Lions.
2: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia
32: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
34: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
66: Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
97: Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
177: Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
181: Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
217: Chris Paul, OT/G, Tulsa
234: Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
Walker has seen his draft skyrocket after he showcased his superior athletic traits and his versatility skillset along the defensive line, making him a popular selection lately for the Lions. Many have doubts due to his limited production, but considering how stacked the Georgia defense was, that is something that shouldn’t be a knock against him. He can be the type of player that can be a cornerstone player for the Lions defense for years to come.
Even the Lions have brought back nearly their entire receiving corps from last year, along with the addition of D.J. Chark; it shouldn’t take them out of the running for a receiver, hence Dotson’s selection. We have seen Dotson mocked to the Lions numerous times for a very good reason. He is another versatile player maker that can line up anywhere at receiver and be equally productive. He will fit right in with the Lions offense with his strong route-running ability and ball skills.
If there is any position the Lions must address in the draft is safety, they cannot walk away from the draft without potentially upgrading the position. The Lions did resign Tracy Walker and just signed DeShon Elliot, but the addition of Lewis Cine gives the Lions a three-headed monster in the deep field that will give opposing offenses fits. He is one of those do-it-all players that cover and defend the run, making him an excellent chess piece.
Brugler decides to give the Lions two linebackers in Chenal and Rodriguez and continues the trend of revamping the defense. Chenal is not the most fine-tuned linebacker in the class, but he makes up for it with his downhill thumper mentality and diagnoses plays on the fly. Rodriguez led Oklahoma State in tackles for three straight years after moving from safety to linebacker. He doesn’t have the ideal length for some teams at linebacker, but his football instincts are very strong, and he has a toughness that fits in with the culture Detroit is trying to build.
Evans brings a unique blend of athleticism and versatility due to his blend of superior length and speed that can make him an asset in the secondary. He may not have plays that some teams like, but this combination makes him an enticing prospect. Garrett was highly regarded coming out of high school, but unfortunately, he couldn’t put everything as many wanted to at Ohio State. He needs to improve his pass rush arsenal but can be quick in and out of blocks, has some strong burst, and can be a rotational piece.
We flip the script with the last two picks and address the offense with the selections of Paul and Ebner. You can never have enough versatile linemen, and that is exactly what Paul brings to the table. He played mostly left tackle at Tulsa, but he projects better as a guard due to his lack of movement skills. Ebner is the type of player the Lions can develop into an offensive weapon with his pass-catching ability and special team’s prowess. He won’t make strictly off just running backs but provides a set of skills that make him a dangerous player.