Way-too-early 2020 mock draft projections for Chiefs

A full 5-round 2020 mock draft for the Kansas City Chiefs.

It’s far too early to be considering which players the Kansas City Chiefs might come away with during the 2020 NFL draft. That also means it’s the perfect time to release our way-too-early mock draft.

Right now, the Chiefs are slim on draft picks, with only five selections during the entirety of the 2020 NFL draft. We used the latest updated 2020 NFL draft order from Draft Wire for this mock.

Let’s take a look at our earliest iteration of a full mock draft for Kansas City:

Round 1, Pick No. 23: Penn State EDGE Yetur Gross-Matos

During this simulation, things didn’t fall the way Chiefs fans probably had hoped for. Despite the depth of the cornerback position in this draft class, the top five were already off the board by the time Kansas City came on the clock in Round 1.

Instead of reaching for a cornerback I opted to add some pass-rushing depth. Adding defensive pressure is really the one thing that can help hide a deficiency in the secondary. It’s a lot more difficult to cover for five seconds than it is for two seconds. So even if the Chiefs don’t come away with a cornerback in the first round they can still help the group out.

Gross-Matos is a solid option for Kansas City. At 6-5 and 265 pounds, he has the size and length to play rush defensive end in Steve Spagnuolo’s system. He’s consistently shown the ability to get after the quarterback and into the backfield with 17.5 career sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss on his career. He still has a few games to close it out with a bang too.

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CBS Sports’ 2020 mock draft is a real head-scratcher when it comes to the Bucs

Find out who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are predicted to select in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 4-7 right now, with the playoffs looking like nothing more than a pipe dream.

When the season does finally come to an end, the Buccaneers will have to face several tough questions, the primary one being what to do with quarterback Jameis Winston.

Winston, who is playing on the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, hasn’t lived up to expectations this season, having already thrown a league-high 20 interceptions. The guy with the second-most interceptions this season? Philip Rivers with 14.

Should the team decide that it’s time to move on from Winston, the 2020 NFL Draft is one place they could look to for their quarterback of the future. But, several mock drafts have shown the Bucs going in a direction other than quarterback.

In last week’s mock draft, CBS Sports had offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs headed to Tampa Bay. This week, Wirfs has moved up into the top 5, going to the Denver Broncos.

The Bucs, projected now to pick 12th, again pass on a quarterback in CBS’ latest mock, opting to go with an offensive tackle, but their choice is a bit of a head-scratcher.

Right now, CBS has Tampa Bay taking offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. out of Alabama. Here’s their reasoning:

“Demar Dotson is 34 years old and whomever ends up under center next season for the Bus will need to be protected. Tampa’s O-line came into the week ranked 20th in run blocking and 22nd in pass protection, according to Football Outsiders. Wills has had a solid 2019 campaign for Alabama and could end up going higher in the draft than teammate Alex Leatherwood.”

Don’t get me wrong, the Buccaneers need to upgrade their O-line, but Wills seems like a bit of a reach, especially when you consider CBS currently has him ranked as the 80th-best prospect in the draft and eighth at his position.

Seems like the Buccaneers could find better value at that spot, especially if a top-rated quarterback prospect like Justin Herbert is available.

Stay tuned…

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2020 NFL mock draft: Updated 4-round projections

Luke Easterling updates his early projections for the 2020 NFL draft, expanding his forecast to cover the first four rounds

November is winding down, which means both the college football and NFL seasons are ramping up.

Few games remain for top college prospects to show pro decision-makers what they can do on the field, while the homestretch of the NFL season will set the top of the draft order for April’s big weekend.

As many prep for holiday celebrations this week, let’s take another stab at projecting the early going of the 2020 draft, expanding to cover the first four rounds using the latest updated order:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

For the longest time now, it’s seemed Tua Tagovailoa was written into this spot with permanent marker. But Burrow’s performance so far this season has launched him into the No. 1 overall conversation, while a hip injury has ended Tagovailoa’s season. Burrow looks like the real deal in every way.

2. New York Giants | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

This team has needs on offense if they want Daniel Jones to develop quickly, but there’s no way the Giants should pass on the best overall prospect in this class. Landing a rare talent like Young would be a huge steal, even at No. 2 overall.

3. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

After his season-ending hip injury, Tagovailoa is obviously the biggest wild-card in this year’s class. He’s since had successful surgery, and is expected to make a full recovery. That being the case, I’m leaving him in this spot for now. If his recovery has any setbacks that cause him to miss key workouts leading up to the draft, his stock could still take a hit.

4. Washington Redskins | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

This is a tough call between giving Dwayne Haskins a replacement for Trent Williams at left tackle, or this year’s most polished and electrifying pass-catcher. Jeudy is one of the most pro-ready prospects in this draft, giving him the slight edge here.

5. Denver Broncos | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

This scenario is a huge win for the Broncos, who desperately need an upgrade at left tackle, regardless of who ends up throwing passes for them in 2020 and beyond. Thomas is the best prospect in a deep offensive tackle class.

6. Atlanta Falcons | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

In today’s NFL, you can never have too many quality corners. The Falcons may have more pressing needs elsewhere, but with this pick, they land one of the fastest-rising prospects in the country. Okudah is keeping up the trend of sending blue-chip defensive backs from Columbus to the pros.

7. Detroit Lions | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Brown’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.

8. Arizona Cardinals | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

The Cards need to protect their investment in 2019 No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, and that means getting him a franchise left tackle. Wirfs is a polished, powerful blocker who could be a plug-and-play starter in one of the NFL’s most vastly improved offenses.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

No matter who is playing quarterback for the Jags next year, that passer will need a blue-chip No. 1 receiver to make this offense reach its potential. Lamb has been a one-man highlight reel all season long, and has all the tools to be that player from Day 1.

10. New York Jets | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

With the top offensive tackles off the board, the Jets should turn their attention to the defense in this scenario, looking for the best value at either the corner spot or on the edge. Epenesa gets the call here, giving New York a versatile, dominant presence to pair with Quinnen Williams.

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Saints get a new franchise quarterback in four-round 2020 mock draft

The New Orleans Saints improved by picking QB Jalen Hurts, WR Brandon Aiyuk, and LB Chazz Surratt in the latest 2020 NFL mock draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is months away, but it’s never too soon to speculate about who the New Orleans Saints could end up picking. Especially with the college football season hurtling towards bowl game season. We aren’t going for accuracy here; think of this exercise as a preview for this weekend’s games

We used The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Machine to accurately simulate a selections before and after each of the Saints’ picks.

Round 1, Pick 30: QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

Watch him next vs. TCU Saturday, Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX

Right now, Hurts is seen as a fringe first-round quarterback prospect, but his stock should rise once the pre-draft process kicks off in the spring just like it has for other quarterbacks. And expect Saints coach Sean Payton to be intrigued by Hurts’ abilities. Payton has been a fan of similar prospects like Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Carson Wentz and Andrew Luck, all of whom featured rare arm strength along with the ability to make plays with their legs.

Hurts has made huge strides under Sooners coach Lincoln Riley after transferring from Alabama, leading Oklahoma in both passing yards (3,039) and rushing yards (983) while scoring a combined 43 touchdowns in 10 games (28 as a passer, 15 as a runner). He’s protected the ball well by throwing just five interceptions and fumbling six times.

With Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill each due to receive new contracts after this season, the Saints are probably going to need a new face at quarterback. It’s tough to see Bridgewater remaining in New Orleans after going undefeated in his five-game stint as the starter and with so many quarterback-needy teams around the league. Whether Hurts, who will be a 21-year-old rookie, sits behind Brees for a year or competes with Hill to start, he’s the ideal prospect to bring under Payton’s tutelage.

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Draft Wire pairs Lions and DT Javon Kinlaw in consecutive Mock Drafts

In Draft Wire’s latest 2020 mock draft, they have the Detroit Lions targeting three potential defenders, all at serious positions of need.

With every loss, the Detroit Lions (3-6-1) fan base interest in the 2020 NFL Draft grows. The latest updated draft order has the Lions picking 10th overall putting them in an excellent position to land another quality player and to the surprise of no one, that person plays on defense.

Our brother site Draft Wire has been knocking out draft content year-round and in their latest 3-round mock draft, not only do they have the Lions drafting defense in all three rounds, but they have paired the team with the same first-rounder in consecutive weeks.

With the 10th pick in the 2020 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select:

Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina, 6-5, 308

Here is Luke Easterling’s explanation for pairing Kinlaw with the Lions:

“Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Kinlaw’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.”

A 2-gapper who will primarily line up at the 3-technique, but can spend time at the 1, 4i, and 5-techniques. Kinlaw’s game is drenched in length and power which makes him an elite run defender, but he also possesses more pass-rushing skills than he is given credit for.

Kindly move out of Javon Kinlaw’s way, SIRpic.twitter.com/SHkNipV7d8

— Thor Nystrom (@thorku) October 12, 2019

Lions Wire’s own Jeff Risdon has compared Kinlaw to the Pro Bowl version of Shaun Rogers because “they play with a similar style and destructive athletic dominance on the interior”.

With pick 42 in the second round, Easterling has the Lions selecting:

Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State, 6-5, 265

So you want a pass rusher, right? Well, Gross-Matos is a supreme athlete who has the size/length of Romeo Okwara combined with the positional versatility of Trey Flowers — both can also line up on the edge and at the 3-technique.

Gross-Matos is still raw in a lot of areas but he has a loaded toolbox and the potential to develop into an impact player.

This is a beauty from Yetur Gross-Matos – what a year he's had pic.twitter.com/OzAyFmvd2d

— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) November 18, 2019

With enough length and power to set the edge, Gross-Matos would fit like a glove in the coach Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme, while his pass-rushing ceiling would potentially fill a major hole in the Lions defensive front.

With pick 74 in the third round, Easterling has the Lions selecting:

Lavert Hill, CB, Michigan, 5-11, 181

The Lions stay local here, grabbing the Detroit Martin Luther King high school product. The Lions need help at corner and Hill fits the scheme profile as a multi-year starter in Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown’s aggressive man coverage defense.

Hill is very aggressive and attacks the ball with ferocity, which often leads to pass breakups and interceptions in coverage. In the video clip below, Hill shows his natural instincts to locate the ball at the same time as the receiver, then stacking the route to give him an angle on the ball. Just textbook stuff from Hill here:

Man this is pretty coverage by CB Lavert Hill…

When WR looks, CB looks ✅
Feel, Find, Squeeze ✅
Catch the Ball ✅#2020NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/GAVMruk8ZI

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) October 11, 2019

That’s as good as you can do it.

Hill’s size does leave something to be desired in this scheme, but he has the identical measurements as Justin Coleman and offers the same ability to play in the slot and on the outside.

Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports says he wouldn’t even consider drafting Tua in the first round

Barrett Sallee says he wouldn’t even consider taking Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 2020 NFL Draft is still months away, but there’s already been tons of speculation and mock drafts surrounding the quarterback-rich draft next spring.

One name that has often come up is that of Alabama junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who dislocated his hip last Saturday in a win over Mississippi State. Before the college football season started, many people had Tagovailoa pegged as the top pick in the draft, should he declare, with some theorizing that the Miami Dolphins would try and tank their season for a shot at Tua.

But, after his latest surgery– his fourth in college– Tagovailoa will likely see his draft stock drop now. Yesterday, Draft Wire’s latest mock draft had the Buccaneers passing on both Tagovailoa and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert.

And, you can count Barrett Sallee of CBS Sports among those who would pass on Tua in the first round of the 2020 draft.

Appearing on 95.3 WDAE with Pat Donovan yesterday, Sallee had this to say when asked how confident he would be in drafting Tagovailoa in next year’s draft, especially if you’re the Buccaneers.

“Not very. The previous surgeries were concerning, but this one — obviously, they expect him to make a full recovery, and every press release sent since Saturday night has said that exact thing. Still, it’s nine to 12 months rehab. I would not even consider taking him in the first round because you just don’t know what you’re going to get. That’s not enough time to evaluate how his rehab is going.”

Sallee goes on to say he was talking with some people about Tagovailoa this weekend and they expressed concerns about his ability to stay healthy. About thirty minutes later, Tagovailoa went down with the hip injury.

If the Buccaneers do decide to look to the draft for a new quarterback, there are several red flags around Tagovailoa that could have them looking at a different collegiate signal-caller.

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2020 NFL mock draft: Updated 3-round projections after Week 11

See how Tua Tagovailoa’s season-ending injury impacts Luke Easterling’s latest three-round projections for the 2020 NFL draft

We’re halfway through November, which means while the NFL playoff picture is starting to come into clearer focus, so is the top of the board for next year’s NFL draft.

While the league’s worst teams are jockeying for position at the top of the first round, the nation’s top college prospects are trying to take advantage of key opportunities in big games down the stretch.

Here’s an updated look at how the first three rounds of the 2020 NFL draft could shake out, using the latest updated order after Week 11 games:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

Another franchise in disarray, Washington needs to add as much talent as possible, regardless of position. They already have their quarterback of the future in Dwayne Haskins, so they need impact players elsewhere on both sides of the ball. Young is a monster of a pass rusher with all size, athleticism and technique to be a dominant player at the next level.

3. New York Giants | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

Offensive tackle is a bigger need and a more premium position, but GM Dave Gettleman has proven he’s willing to go for the dynamic playmaker over the pick that seems to make more sense. Jeudy is an explosive pass-catcher and the most polished route-runner in college football.

4. Miami Dolphins | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

5. New York Jets | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

If Sam Darnold is ever going to develop into the franchise quarterback the Jets drafted him to be, he’ll need a franchise left tackle to keep him upright. Thomas is the best of a deep class, and would be an immediate upgrade for New York.

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Safety Hazard: New 2020 mock draft finds great fit for Cowboys out the SEC

We checked in with The Draft Network’s Jonah Tuls on his latest mock, where he sends a certain SEC safety the #Cowboys way.

The Dallas Cowboys’ safety issue has been on full display the last couple of weeks. Really, it’s been all year. Really, it’s been a couple of years. There’s no question that Xavier Woods is a keeper and over the last several games has started to put forth the type of performance predicted for him from way back in January. The other safety position? Whew, that’s been a problem.

Jeff Heath has been bad, really bad, but for Cowboys fans who thought it couldn’t get worse, it actually did when Darian Thompson stepped in for an injured Heath against the Detroit Lions. Backup quarterback Jeff Driskel targeted Thompson on almost every big passing play the Lions had. The Cowboys need an upgrade, and they will likely have to wait until April’s draft to do so, considering they may still not want to spend at the position.

Draft analyst Jonah Tuls may have a solution for that.

In his latest 2020 mock for The Draft Network, Tuls assigns the Cowboys a potential star safety from the SEC; one Grant Delpit of LSU.

Now, Cowboys fans will probably still be hopeful the team can work out a trade with the New York Jets for another LSU safety, Jamal Adams. The two sides talked before the trade deadline but the Jets were asking for far more than Dallas was willing to give. If that continues to be the case and Dallas still has their first rounder come draft weekend, Tuls sees Delpit as being a great addition for the Cowboys.

Cowboys Wire caught up with our former contributor to pick his brain on Delpit and some other things surrounding the Cowboys and the upcoming 2020 draft.

Cowboys Wire: You mocked LSU super safety Grant Delpit to the Cowboys in your latest mock for The Draft Network. Talk to us about what he brings to the table the Cowboys would like, and what are some question marks where he’ll need to improve in the pro game.

Jonah Tuls: Grant Delpit provides something the Cowboys haven’t had at the safety position in over a decade — elite playmaking ability. With his combination of sideline to sideline range and short-area quickness, he is ready to make an impact in both man and zone coverage. The Cowboys haven’t had a difference-making cover safety in years, and Delpit would be a perfect fit for Kris Richard’s attacking defense.

The biggest question mark with Delpit’s game is his finishing consistency in the open field. He plays super aggressive as a run defender, and that often works to his detriment. His playmaking prowess will likely overshadow this flaw in the draft process, but changing speeds as a tackler is something he needs to take care of.

CW: Let’s assume Dallas makes the playoffs and do draft in the 20s like you have them. Who are some of the other players you have mocked in the first round that you feel would be good fits for the Cowboys and where they are lacking right now.

Tuls: Other positions of interest for the Cowboys in the first round are defensive tackle and cornerback. Two players come to mind here — South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw and Alabama CB Trevon Diggs.

Kinlaw is an athletic freak as an interior pass rusher who can play on all three downs as either a one or three technique. I get the feeling he will be long gone by the time Dallas picks, but he fits right up the alley of what this front office looks for in a defensive tackle.

Diggs is the prototypical Kris Richard cornerback. It is rare to find 6’2 boundary players who can move, stay in phase in man coverage, and find the ball as well as Diggs does. With all the free agency questions surrounding this position for the team, I think this could be the year where Richard finally gets his guy at cornerback in the early rounds.

CW: Outside of those names, who are some other players you think could be good fits for the Cowboys and go between picks 20 and 60? I think we’re likely looking at a need to replace Randall Cobb in the slot, Jeff Heath at safety (though I still love Donovan Wilson).

Can you give us a quick preview of who could fill those holes in that range?

Tuls: There are a ton of slot wide receivers in this draft class that will be in the Day 2 range. If you’re looking for players who can stretch the field with their speed, similar to Mecole Hardman from last year, look no further than Penn State’s KJ Hamler and Texas’ Devin Duvernay. I know Dallas was interested in Hardman last year, so it would make sense for this team to go back to that archetype next April.

If the Cowboys wait to address safety on Day 2, some names to keep in mind are Texas’ Brandon Jones and Cal’s Ashtyn Davis. Both players fit the mold of what this front office looks for, in terms of their physical profiles. Jones and Davis are interchangeable safety prospects who have range, athleticism, and run support production.

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2020 NFL mock draft: How Tua Tagovailoa’s injury impacts 1st round

See how the season-ending injury to Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa could impact the first round of the 2020 NFL draft

Both college football and the NFL will feel the seismic impact of the season-ending injury suffered Saturday by Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

The Crimson Tide’s top prospect is out for the rest of the 2019 college football season, but it remains to be seen whether or not his injury will be career-threatening.

A candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Tagovailoa’s draft stock is now in flux, as his long-term durability could be in question. If he ends up leaving school after this injury-shortened season, medical checks at the NFL Scouting Combine will be key to determining his eventual draft slot.

Here’s an updated look at how the first round of next year’s draft could look if Tagovailoa’s stock takes a hit:

1. Cincinnati Bengals | Joe Burrow | QB | LSU

2. Washington Redskins | Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State

3. New York Giants | Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia

4. Miami Dolphins | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama

5. New York Jets | Jeff Okudah | CB | Ohio State

6. Atlanta Falcons | Grant Delpit | S | LSU

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Tristan Wirfs | OT | Iowa

8. Denver Broncos | Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

9. Arizona Cardinals | A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa

10. Detroit Lions | Javon Kinlaw | DL | South Carolina

11. Cleveland Browns | Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson

12. Los Angeles Chargers | Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon

13. Jacksonville Jaguars | CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma

14. Oakland Raiders (from CHI) | Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama

15. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama

16. Tennessee Titans | Tyler Biadasz | OL | Wisconsin

17. Philadelphia Eagles | Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU

18. Indianapolis Colts | Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson

19. Carolina Panthers | Raekwon Davis | DL | Alabama

20. Jacksonville Jaguars (from LAR) | CJ Henderson | CB | Florida

21. Dallas Cowboys | Neville Gallimore | DL | Oklahoma

22. Oakland Raiders | Kenneth Murray | LB | Oklahoma

23. Kansas City Chiefs | D’Andre Swift | RB | Georgia

24. Minnesota Vikings | Alex Leatherwood | OT | Alabama

25. Buffalo Bills | Laviska Shenault, Jr. | WR | Colorado

26. Miami Dolphins (from HOU) | Jedrick Wills | OT | Alabama

27. New Orleans Saints | Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

28. Seattle Seahawks | Paulson Adebo | CB | Stanford

29. Baltimore Ravens | Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin

30. Green Bay Packers | Dylan Moses | LB | Alabama

31. New England Patriots | Hunter Bryant | TE | Washington

32. San Francisco 49ers | Travis Etienne | RB | Clemson

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Mock draft watch: Lions haul in major help in the latest 3-rounder from Draft Wire

Two ready-to-roll defensive linemen and an impact wide receiver join the Lions in this fantasy projection

The latest three-round mock draft update from our friends at Draft Wire is one that should pique some intrigue among Detroit Lions fans. Disconsolate over the direction of the defense? You’re gonna like this one…

This edition breaks from the prior versions where the first-rounder has been a defensive back. It’s still defensive help, just in much brawnier fashion at the No. 11 pick.

South Carolina’s wrecking ball of a defensive tackle that is Javon Kinlaw gets the nod in edit Luke Easterling’s latest. It’s a pick that makes a lot of sense,

Matt Patricia’s defense needs more help across the board in the trenches, making this pick a choice between the best value at defensive tackle or on the edge. In this scenario, Kinlaw’s incredible athleticism and limitless upside give him the nod.

I have personally compared Kinlaw to the healthy and motivated Shaun Rogers of his Pro Bowls years; they play with a similar style and destructive athletic dominance on the interior.

The second round brings talented Minnesota wide receiver Tyler Johnson. With only Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones under contract at WR after this season (and both potential free agents after 2020), adding receiving help is a major imperative.

In the third round, Draft Wire sticks close to Detroit. Michigan State EDGE Kenny Willekes joins the Lions with the No. 75 overall pick. That’s decent value for a high-floor, high-motor player who plays the run well on his way to the passer.