Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon, Erik Schlitt, and Scott Bischoff put their heads together in order to project the Detroit Lions Top-10 draft board.
It’s important to note that this is how Risdon, Schlitt, and Bischoff believe the Lions have set their draft board, not necessarily how the writers have their personal boards stacked.
1. Chase Young, EDGE, OSU
The best player in the draft regardless of position, Young was the unanimous choice by the Lions Wire team as the top player on the Lions board. If he falls to pick No. 3, expect the Lions to make the easy decision and draft him.
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2. Jeff Okudah, CB, OSU
Another unanimous choice from the Lions Wire team, Okudah has an incredibly high ceiling and floor, is the perfect fit for the Lions scheme, and would immediately fill one of two obvious starting spots on this roster (the other being right guard/tackle).
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3. Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn
For some, this is going to seem a bit early as most national analysts boards have Brown landing in the four to 10 range, but don’t be surprised if this is exactly where he lands on the Lions Big Board. Brown (6-5, 326) is an ideal two-gapper, is strong enough to regularly reset the line-of-scrimmage, and has pass-rushing potential.
If the Lions trade back from the three spot, and both Young and Okudah are off-the-board, Brown is the likely target.
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4. Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina
If the Lions are looking for an interior presence with more pass-rushing prowess than Brown can provide, then Kinlaw (6-5, 324) is their guy. Equal to Brown in size and power, Kinlaw is significantly quicker but lacks Brown’s technical proficiency and 2-gapping experience.
While Brown is ready-made for the Lions scheme, Kinlaw would offer them more penetrating power, something they desperately lack.
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5. Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Fans may riot of the Lions go offense with their first-round pick, but with a hole on the right side of the line and Taylor Decker in a contract year, the Lions may seize the opportunity to grab one of the elite tackles in this class.
There is an argument to be made for several tackles at this spot, but Wirfs (6-5, 320) insane athleticism, ability to step in at right tackle in year one, the potential to play left tackle, and the fact that he comes from the Iowa program will be very appealing.
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6. Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama
Like Wirfs, Wills (6-4, 312) has right tackle experience, could step in there on Day 1, projects as capable of playing left tackle, and comes from a well-respected school. The difference between Wirfs and Wills isn’t much and it’s possible the Lions like him more, but the Lions Wire team each independently had Wirfs ahead on their Top-10 lists.
7. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
If you’ve been following along with Risdon, Schlitt, and Bischoff’s coverage this offseason, this ranking shouldn’t be surprising. Jeudy has rare skills, can line up everywhere on the field, run every route, and should be in the Top-10 conversation regardless of how deep this receiver class is.
Every route Jeudy runs looks the same, which allows him to disguise his intentions, making it hard for defenders to anticipate if his route is short, intermediate or deep. Defenders are forced to respect his speed, while also struggling to stay with him during his breaks, as he doesn’t need to throttle down when making cuts — which he executes with pinpoint accuracy and elite quickness — making him an extraordinarily difficult player to match up with.
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8. Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia
Thomas (6-5, 315) isn’t a name that is often connected to the Lions but if they find themselves picking outside the top-10 he’s a name to keep an eye on. Thomas has been the Bulldogs starting left tackle the last two seasons (26 starts) but he also started at right tackle as a freshman (15 starts) and could be a Day 1 starter on the right side for the Lions and potentially their starter at right or left tackle in 2021.
9. Isaiah Simmons, LB/S, Clemson
There is no doubting Simmons’ talent and some team is going to be very lucky to land him in the top half of the first round. But unless we hit a point where his talent far outweighs the pick value, we are not expecting the Lions to make a play for Simmons.
The Lions are targeting players who can step in with minimal offseason coaching and with Simmons positional flexibility being one of his main strengths, he would have an obscene amount of information to try to process. Even if he was able to digest the playbook, there is still the question of where he fits into the Lions scheme — something we at Lions Wire can’t even agree upon. But if the Lions did have a position in mind, where is it? At linebacker where they just signed Jamie Collins and drafted Jahlani Tavai in the second round? Or maybe at safety where they have a pair of third-round safeties in Tracy Walker and Will Harris, and just traded for Duron Harmon?
Based on how the Lions’ have constructed their roster, what we have heard from general manager Bob Quinn in press conferences and behind the scenes, we are expecting him to land with another team.
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10. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE. Iowa
There may not be a more perfect marriage between player and scheme in this draft than Epenesa and the Lions. A bigger version of Trey Flowers, Epenesa’s ability to play the EDGE and kick inside to the 3-technique will be very appealing to the Lions as he will make two positions that rely on rotating players stronger. If he slides to the back end of the first round — like many are projecting — he is the type of player the Lions could trade up for.
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