Tag: Pick No. 3

Instant analysis of the Lions drafting Jeff Okudah

Instant analysis of the Detroit Lions selecting Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah with the third overall pick

After much anticipation, the Detroit Lions selected the player we all thought they would. With their first-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft, the Lions select Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah.

Even before the Darius Slay trade, cornerback was undoubtedly the most significant need for the Lions, and they arguably grabbed the most polished one in this draft class. Okudah will instantly compete for the Lions’ No.1 cornerback position and will compete against newly acquired Desmond Trufant, Amani Oruwariye, and Daryl Roberts.

Okudah will be the latest cornerback to come out of Ohio State, but he might be the best one yet. He is everything you are looking for in a cornerback and will fit in perfectly in what the Lions love to do on defense. With his sharp ability at any coverage type either be press, man, or zone, he is one of the highest ceiling cornerbacks to come out of the draft in recent memory and will instantly impact the Lions’ defense.

Okudah has excellent twitch and athleticism that allowed him to be a playmaker while at Ohio State leading the team in passes defended the last two years (tied in 2018) and led the team in interceptions last year. Also, with his physicality, he is a nightmare to any receiver he lines up against and confirmed after being named as one of the fiercest opponents of some of the prospects who played against him. The Lions also love high character players and look no further than Okudah, who was a Jim Thorpe award finalist and unanimous All-American this past year.

Okudah is precisely what the Lions need on this defense. This scheme versatile athletic playmaker who is highly intelligent and physical and can match up against any receiver he lines up against. To start the season, I am sure Trufant will be entering as CB1, but Okudah will instantly compete for that position and should be a fun battle to keep your eye on.

Javon Kinlaw makes sure the Lions haven’t forgotten about him

The 2020 NFL Draft is under a month away and South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw sent the Detroit Lions a subtle reminder message that he’s still around on Twitter.

The 2020 NFL Draft is under a month away and South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw sent the Detroit Lions a message on Twitter, reminding them not to forget about him.

Kinlaw was a dominating force in college and is someone who has been on the Lions radar for some time now. When mock drafts picked up late in the season, Kinlaw was routinely connected to the Lions, creating a nice blend of talent and need.

At the Senior Bowl, Kinlaw continued his reign of dominance and while the Lions weren’t the staff coaching him, he surely got their attention with his frame (6-5, 234, 34.88″ arm length) and play strength during practices.

Unfortunately, Kinlaw injured his knee during Senior Bowl practices and even though it was fully healed at the NFL Combine for medical checks, the rehab process slowed his training progress and he elected not to participate in testing/on-field drills.

Now, with Pro Days canceled, Kinlaw won’t have the opportunity to showcase his athleticism ahead of the draft and, in turn, he has flown a bit under the radar as most haven’t seen him perform in over two months.

Today, the Lions Twitter account ran a promotion asked people to respond to their tweet with their last name and number for a possible custom phone wallpaper — and Kinlaw seized the opportunity to remind them he should still be in the mix at the top of the draft:

Kinlaw wore No. 3 in college, but if he were drafted by the Lions, per NFL rules, he’d have to switch to a new number, but the message Kinlaw delivered wasn’t really about a number and more about him thinking he’d look good in Honolulu Blue.

And quite frankly, he’s not wrong. The Lions still need to add a penetrating defensive interior force and Kinlaw emphatically checks that box. He is primarily a penetrating 3-technique, but can also spend time at the 1-, 4i-, and 5-techniques. With length and power his power tools, Kinlaw is an elite run defender with more pass-rushing skills than he is given credit for.

Kinlaw is perfect for the Lions scheme and could easily be among the top-5 targets on the Lions draft board — and could honestly be as high as No. 3 likely behind only Ohio State’s Chase Young and Jeff Okudah.

If the Lions trade out of the three spot, and if Young and Okudah are off the board, Kinlaw may very well be wearing Honolulu Blue come April.

Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks propose a realistic Lions trade in Twitter mock draft

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks did a mock draft on Twitter and executed what they believed was a realistic trade for the Detroit Lions.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks — who also co-host the Move the Sticks podcast — did a mock draft on Twitter, altering selections between themselves.

Brooks opened the draft by giving Joe Burrow (QB, LSU) to the Bengals, while Jeremiah paired Washington with Chase Young (EDGE, OSU). But when the Lions got on the clock at pick No. 3, Jeremiah proposed a trade offer to Brooks for the pick.

Jeremiah, having the even-numbered picks, offered Brooks the Los Angeles Chargers No. 6 overall pick, as well as pick No. 37 in the second round, and the Chargers second-round pick in the 2021 draft.

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Brooks entertained the offer but countered by also asking for the Chargers fourth-round pick in 2020, No. 112 overall. Jeremiah accepted the counteroffer and selected Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Alabama) for the Chargers.

Jeremiah then gave the Giants Mekhi Becton (OT, Louisville), with Brooks selecting Justin Herbert (QB, Oregon) for the Dolphins.

With the Lions back on the clock Brooks had the option to choose from Jeff Okudah (CB, OSU), Isaiah Simmons (LB/S Clemson), or Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn) — and in a mild upset, Brooks went with Simmons.

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A haul of Simmons picks No. 37 and No. 112, as well as a future second-round pick, would make most Lions fans very happy — and realistically, that is a scenario that could very well play out this April.

Here’s a look at how the entire mock draft played out:

Good news for the Lions, Tua Tagovailoa’s hip ‘fracture has healed’

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s hip “fracture has healed”, which should increase the value of Detroit Lions’ third overall draft pick.

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s health will directly impact his draft stock and the healthier he is ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft, the better it will be for the Detroit Lions, as it should increase the value of the Lions’ third overall draft pick.

It was good news all around when, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Tagovailoa’s hip “fracture has healed”, indicating he continues on his track to recovery.

Tagovailoa was once considered the top overall prospect in this draft cycle but his hip injury — coupled with Joe Burrow’s sensational National Championship winning season — has complicated matters for his draft stock value. But if his health checks out, he’s back in contention at the top of the draft.

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With Chase Young (EDGE, Ohio State) also in the mix within the first three selections, these three prospects are players teams would consider trading up for making the Lions pick No. 3 overall very valuable.

Teams will get medical updates on all prospects at the NFL Combine at the end of the month and the trade rumor mill will likely to be in full motion in Indianapolis.

Stay tuned to Lions Wire for more updates on the situation as it continues to unfold.