How did we get here Lions fans? How are we about to head into year three of the Matt Patricia era when we knew halfway through year one that he is #Bad? Let's face it, this is a make-or-break season for Patricia and GM Bob Quinn. They cannot afford another 3-12-1 season. It has been an aggressive free agency period for the Lions but how can they fine-tune the roster in the draft? I'll be looking into that and once again I'm using the Mock Draft Simulator from TheDraftNetwork.com
The biggest need for Detroit on offense has to be the offensive line. The team cut OT Ricky Wagner and watched OG Graham Glasgow sign with the Denver Broncos in free agency. Then they turned around and dished out one of the worst contracts in free agency this year by giving Halapoulivaati (I was so close to spelling this correctly without looking it up damn it) Vaitai $50 million. So with Big V, Taylor Decker and Frank Ragnow, the tackle and center spots on the line are likely accounted for, but both guard spots are wide open. Oday Aboushi, Joe Dahl and Tyrell Crosby are the in-house options but Detroit would be wise to draft at least one if not two guards to throw into the mix. QB Matthew Stafford was limited to just eight games last season with a back injury and the Lions need to do everything in their power to keep him upright and healthy. Wide receiver depth is also something that should be addressed since Danny Amendola is an older player coming back on just a one-year contract and Marvin Jones has had a rough injury history.
Bob Quinn has been crazy active in free agency trying to inject talent into the defense. Former Patriots LB Jamie Collins was swapped in for Devon Kennard. Nick Williams and Danny Shelton are two defensive tackles that were added after the Lions moved on from A'Shawn Robinson and Damon "Snacks" Harrison. Another former Patriot buddy of Paricia's was added in a trade with New England for S Duron Harmon. And former Falcons CB Desmond Trufant was added on a two-year deal. The bigger headline at cornerback was created when Detroit traded Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles, making their draft pick at number three overall blatantly obvious. So let's see how this draft shook out:
The draft really does start with the New York Giants at number four because you can lock these top three picks in already. Okudah is far and away the top corner available in this year's draft. He will thrive in a man coverage heavy, Cover-1 defense from Day one. Has the athleticism, length and fluidity to stay sticky in man coverage. I watched about five games and it is hard to find a lot of examples of him being thrown at because he is constantly hip-to-hip with receivers. Okudah has a tenacity to him in run support as well. He sheds the blocks of wide receivers really well and has the length to wrap up runners. He'll absolutely stick his face in the fan and get physical to make tackles, which is an exciting trait. I think I'm lower on him than most people as far as his zone coverage goes, but he has all the skills to be excellent there as well, he just was not asked to do it a whole lot at Ohio State. But his click-and-close and ability to make plays on the ball show that he can become an even bigger asset in zone if need be. Here is a great example of it as he breaks up a pass intended for a receiver running a crosser in a game against Washington:
Round 2, Pick 35: Robert Hunt, OG, Louisiana
Former NFL offensive lineman Hank Fraley is taking over the role of full-time offensive line coach from Jeff Davidson, but I doubt that means the Lions are making a change from their power blocking scheme. Hunt is a perfect guard to plug into that type of scheme because of his strength and ability to blow opposing defenders off the line of scrimmage. Hunt is a mauler who gets to the second level of the defense constantly and punishes linebackers. He actually has an incredible amount of fluidity despite his size and uses his hands and feet well to mirror pass rushers and protect the quarterback. Hunt actually played right tackle at Louisiana but will be a better fit on the interior at the next level. And this is not a total projection either because he was often tasked with pulling from tackle much like he will at guard. Here is a good example against Appalachian State of Hunt pulling from RT, becoming the lead blocker for his back and finishing his block at the end:
Round 3, Pick 67: Davon Hamilton, NT, Ohio State
Danny Shelton and Nick Williams each only signed two-year contracts with Detroit so I would not shy away from adding a defensive tackle here. Hamilton would give the Lions two big, space-eating tackles along the interior with Shelton while Williams could be kicked to a depth role replacing John Atkins, who played 411 unspectacular snaps in 2019. Hamilton's strength at the point of attack makes him an obvious asset as a run defender but he shows some serious promise as a pass rusher. He plays with heavy hands and his strength becomes evident on bull rushes much like this one against Clemson:
Hamilton will have to work on improving his pass rushing techniques and specifically some counters that work off his potent bull rush. Hamilton should make an immediate impact as a two-down defender who has the potential to grow into a bigger role if he can improve as a pass rusher.
Round 3, Pick 85: K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
I did not intend to give the Lions so many Ohio State players. I was actually stuck between Hill and Florida WR Van Jefferson here but gave the edge to Hill since he played on the Matt Patricia-coached North Squad at the Senior Bowl. Hill is a good slot receiver with incredibly soft hands who can eventually succeed Danny Amendola as the team's starting slot.
Round 4, Pick 109: Logan Stenberg, OG, Kentucky
Another mauler-type guard for Hank Fraley. If Stenberg and Hunt can develop into starters at left and right guard, the Lions will field one of the toughest lines in the NFL.
Round 5, Pick 149: Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
Lions starting running back Kerryon Johnson is coming off an injury-shortened year and Patricia has seemed unwilling to use him as an every-down player for some stupid reason. Perine gives them a legit back-up to Johnson who can serve as a change-of-pace in order to keep Kerryon healthy and fresh.
Round 5, Pick 166: Tyrie Cleveland, WR, Florida
More Florida players! Cleveland is a speedy, vertical wide receiver that not only improves the depth at the position but gives Detroit a back-up plan in case Marvin Jones gets hurt again. Jones has only managed to play in all 16 games twice in eight seasons in the NFL. Cleveland can effectively replace his role in the offense if Jones misses any more time.
Round 6, Pick 182: Francis Bernard, LB, Utah
I'm not really a huge fan of Bernard but I think teams that run a Patriots-style defense could covet him more because of his usage as a blitzer in addition to his off-ball duties. I might put him on the Dolphins too just because.
Round 7, Pick 235: Braden Mann, P, Texas A&M
Punters are people too! Former Lions punter Sam Martin signed with the Broncos in free agency, necessitating the need to pick up a new one.
So I gave the Lions a new number one corner, added toughness along the interior of both the offensive and defensive lines and restocked the shelves at wide receiver. Will it be enough to keep the Patricia/Quinn regime around past this season? I'm not sure but this is a group that will be on incredibly thin ice, especially if they whiff on this draft.
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