Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 4.0

If the Lions stay here, why not use the pennies-from-heaven Rams pick on an eventual successor for Jared Goff? Trading down certainly has some appeal, but Stroud possesses some Goff-like traits from the pocket and could sit a year if needed.

The Lions just struck gold with Illinois safety Kerby Joseph, so why not head back to Champaign to land one of the scrappiest, most instinctive corners in the draft. Witherspoon fits the Lions' mold -- and is a former roommate of Joseph's, to boot.

After a slow start, the Detroit Lions finally enjoyed a promising season from Jeff Okudah. Pairing him with Christian Gonzalez would provide the Lions with an exciting young pair of corners. Gonzalez offers tremendous size, length, coverage instincts, and ball skills to be a lockdown guy in the NFL.

Jamaal Williams is on an expiring contract and D'Andre Swift has been inconsistent. We all know the importance of running the football to the identity of this Detroit Lions team. Adding Bijan Robinson into the equation behind a stellar offensive line, young weapons, and a bright offensive mind in Ben Johnson could see Detroit land among the top-scoring offenses in the NFL next season. Robinson is a rare talent.

The Lions have the 18, so they can go with the proverbial Best Player Available here. Take the dynamic pass rusher, take some of the heat off Aidan Hutchinson, and look ... out.

Assuming the Lions go after a pass rusher with the sixth overall pick, now they get to fatten up a bit. They'll go with the best cornerback still available.

Taking another corner in the top 10 might worry draft-obsessed Detroit fans still not thrilled at the development of Jeff Okudah. Gonzalez is a much different prospect, however, and could help solidify a defense that had plenty of issues giving up the big play.

After trading away T.J. Hockenson, the Lions would love to find a replacement early on in the draft with the vast amount of capital they have at their disposal. Kincaid is a versatile weapon and will give a fun offense an additional dimension.

Detroit's in a weird spot and probably wants some equally weird stuff to happen in the top five, so that either Carter or Anderson falls to No. 6. The Lions could take a cornerback here, but I'm not sure Christian Gonzalez is defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn's cup of tea. Are the other corners worthy of this spot?

Tyree Wilson's length, agility and motor made him one of the most productive pass rushers in America last season. Pro Football Focus actually had him graded slightly higher than Anderson in its pass-rushing productivity stat (albeit on fewer attempts).

This feels more like Aaron Glenn's speed. Devon Witherspoon's physical and unrelenting style would be a perfect fit in Detroit, so much so that the Lions might even entertain taking him at No. 6. Here, it'd be even better. GM Brad Holmes' decision to trade up for Jameson Williams last year proved he'll do what it takes if the right guy is sitting there. The Lions have two picks in the second round and can dangle the better one to pay for a player they love (on offense or defense) if the board falls right.

Perhaps, but before getting to Bresee, a few words on the Lions, who are in a similar position to the Seahawks. Like Seattle, Detroit has a pair of first-round picks and a quarterback who was good this year, but still faces questions about whether he is the future or not. Many Lions fans are hoping that the organization adds a QB this cycle, perhaps while still giving Jared Goff one more year as that quarterback develops. But with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson returning to Detroit, giving Goff one more year makes a certain degree of sense.

So, like Seattle before them, they add to the defensive front. Bresee is athletic, explosive, and has the versatility to play almost anywhere along the defensive front. You might see him anywhere from a 0-technique right over the center, to a two-point stance outside the tackle. He dealt with some injuries while at Clemson, but dropping him into the Lions' defense, with Aidan Hutchinson on the outside is the kind of move that Dan Campbell might bang the table for this spring.

Watch Devon Witherspoon play.

Listen to maybe five minutes of Dan Campbell.

Enough said.

Murphy turned 21 in early January, and while we'd like to see him play with more consistency ... he just turned 21 in early January. He has all the physical tools you look for in an elite edge defenders, and it's easy to see him in a few years being dominant. And that, in large part, is what makes him such an interesting prospect.

Maryland teammate and fellow CB Jakorian Bennett got much of the buzz in the fall, but Deonte Banks put together the type of season that will land you in the top-50 conversation. He's a fluid athlete who is also a big, physical corner who can match up with NFL wide receivers.

Let's keep this blurb to just a few words: turn on the tape.

Though Witherspoon comes in a little lighter than desired for an NFL defender at 6-foot and 180 pounds, his tape was about as good as it gets. He earned an elite 92.6 coverage grade in 2022, which ranked first in the FBS. On top of not yielding a touchdown this year, on 107 press coverage snaps, he allowed just five catches for 23 total yards.

In a defensive tackle class that feels light on impact players after Jalen Carter, Calijah Kancey sure made his case to be the second one selected this coming April. Though he's undersized at 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds, he is an absolute menace on the interior with fantastic burst, great use of natural leverage, the fastest hands in the east and a motor that just does not quit. He recorded 27.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks over the past two seasons with a 22.7% pass rush win rate.

The Lions finished the season with eight wins in their final 10 games, but their explosive offense papered over massive holes on the other side of the ball. They ranked last in the league in yards per play allowed (6.2) and opposing QBR (55.9); they had issues defending the run and the pass. Wilson, the top true defensive end in this class, would help both. He can use his burst at the snap to beat offensive tackles on passing downs or use his 6-foot-6 frame to hold up against the run. An edge-rushing duo of Wilson and Aidan Hutchinson would be formidable, with surprise rookie James Houston working in on obvious passing downs.

Plus, if Detroit plays its cards right, it could use the No. 18 pick on a cornerback -- this is a little too high to take one. And if you're curious about the quarterback position, general manager Brad Holmes likely will take a close look at this class and weigh each passer against veteran Jared Goff, who had a stellar second half of the season. (This pick is from the Matthew Stafford swap with the Rams.) In this scenario, though, the top three are off the board.

Remember when I mentioned earlier that the Lions have cornerback issues? Well, hopefully at least Lions fans were reading. Jeff Okudah flashed the talent that made him the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, but he was still inconsistent, and there's no surefire starter on the other side of the field. Gonzalez was a lockdown defender at Colorado before transferring to Oregon last year, where he picked off four passes and improved every week. He's going to test really well at the combine in March, too. This pick makes too much sense for a Detroit defense that badly needs an infusion of young talent in the secondary.

Adding another trench warrior to the Lions' defensive line will help head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn build a bully in Motown.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn needs more cover corners to maximize the blitz-heavy scheme that helped the Lions emerge as a playoff contender in 2022.

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