Mock draft round: Detroit Lions beat writers entering fray



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In the absence of Combine NFL in 2021, the end of February has become a period of dead news for the league. And with free will in a few weeks, many writers have turned to mock drafts, including six of the Lions beaten writers.

Fake drafts in general shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but they can be used to let fans get to know some of the top players in this year’s draft class.

As we head into the draft at the end of April, we’ll be using mock drafts wrap-up articles to review mock drafts from the previous week, discuss players, and identify player connection patterns to Lions from. Detroit.

So far this offseason, a few patterns have emerged. Once the Lions season was over and the void of their wide receiver depth chart was revealed, most of the draft sims matched the Lions with one of the top 3 receivers available. When Matthew Stafford called for an exchange, almost all of the fake drafts went to the flaggers alone. But now that the dust has settled on the Stafford for the Jared Goff trade, tipsters have started to open their pair and a variety of players are on the line for Detroit.

Let’s take a look at projections from last week.

Trey Lance, QB, State of North Dakota

Currently mocked by Dave Birkett (Freep), Tyler Olsen (Professional football network)

Birkett: “Zach Wilson is a more polished prospect and will be ahead of (Trey) Lance. Justin Fields probably will too. But when it comes to the cap, when it comes to being the type of player you draft and look at 15 years later and think about how lucky you got, Lance is second behind. Lawrence in his dream potential.

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Currently ridiculed by Kyle Meinke (MLive), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports), Ian Cummings (Professional football network), Kyle Yates (Fancy Pros)

Wilson: “It would be a surprise if Detroit allowed Kenny Golladay to walk this offseason. However, even if he returns, the team must add more to the post. Ja’Marr Chase is still the top wide receiver in this draft and the Lions have the opportunity to pick him. Jared Goff began his NFC North career with TJ Hockenson, Kenny Golladay, Ja’Marr Chase and D’Andre Swift. “

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Currently ridiculed by Ben Raven (MLive), And tariffs (Akron Beacon Journal), Vinnie Iyer (Sports news), Brad Gagnon (Launderer report)

Raven: “The choice between DeVonta Smith and his Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle was more scary than expected. Smith enters the draft after having one of the most productive seasons of all time for a college receiver. Winner Heisman caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He torched Ohio State to the tune of 12 catches for 215 yards and three scores in two quarterbacks in the CFP Championship.

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Currently mocked by Nate Davis (USA today), Luke Easterling (Wire draft), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Doug Hyde (DraftTek)

Davis: “With new coach Dan Campbell looking beyond 2021 and maybe even 2022 as this team resets, it might make sense to be in ‘best available player mode’ rather than immediately enlisting a successor for Goff. And a fair assessment of the QB would involve having a No.1 target on board – Waddle seems better suited for the role than his lightly built Crimson Tide teammate DeVonta Smith – and Detroit could be in desperate need of help with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. unsigned.

According to Sewell, OT, Oregon

Currently ridiculed by Chris Burke and Nick Baumgardner (Athletic)

Interestingly, Burke and Baumgardner are using a simulated draft machine in this exercise and admitted that Sewell would run into No.7 would be surprising, but with him on the board …

Baumgardner: “Sewell feels like a potentially generational offensive line prospect who can potentially wear multiple hats. Knowing Campbell and Anthony Lynn’s desire to start the racing game, it would make sense. And that would be like stealing, if I’m honest, with his talent.

Azeez Ojulari, JACK, Georgia

Currently mocked by Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports)

Trapasso: “This is the highest you will probably see Ojulari. But I do believe he is the super-explosive, flexible type of edge rusher who usually flies the boards during the pre-draft process.

Micah Parsons, LB, State of Penn

Currently mocked by Mike O’Hara (DetroitLions.com), Mel Gardien (ESPN), Charlie Casserly (NFL.com), Brian Johannes (The Huddle Report), Anthony Treash (Focus on professional football), Ben Rolfe (Professional football network)

O’Hara: “Linebacker was the Lions’ weakest position in 2020, and Parsons is in the top 10 with dynamic abilities.

It’s worth noting that Parsons is widely regarded as the best defensive player in this draft class and that’s why O’Hara, Casserly, Treash and Rolfe asked the Lions to catch him in 7th place. But not everyone is sold on him as evidenced by Kiper. and Johannes moved the Lions to 12 and 20 respectively as still being able to select him.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre-Dame

Currently mocked by Doug Farrar (Touchdown wire)

Farrar: “You might also notice that I have a ‘linebacker’ – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah of Notre Dame – taken with the seventh overall pick. It might seem like an overdraft if you haven’t watched the Owusu-Koramoah Gang and are content with the linebacker designation. After all, NFL teams have played more than dime than baseline in 2020, according to Sports Info Solutions. But as was the case with Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons in 2020, Owusu-Koramoah transcends any position designation. He is the very model of the modern versatile defender. Simmons was taken eighth overall by the Cardinals, and I think Owusu-Koramoah could be coveted as well.

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