What They're Saying: CB Devon Witherspoon 'Perfect Dan Campbell Pick'
Heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions are very likely going to continue to shore up areas of need on defense.
In the days leading up to the league's marquee event, many supporters will debate which rounds the team should target various areas of need.
It appears selecting a cornerback on Day 1 would raise some eyebrows, especially after Jeff Okudah was previously drafted with the No. 3 overall pick and ended up not living up to expectations.
Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon has been talked about as being a "perfect" fit, that Lions head coach Dan Campbell would welcome coaching and adding to the roster.
"Witherspoon, a feisty cover man who plays an aggressive style, is a perfect Dan Campbell pick," writes ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller. "The Lions could play the board in this scenario and consider a quarterback, but team sources said Detroit is confident in Jared Goff and can address other needs here. Witherspoon has the ball skills, toughness and speed to become the team's CB1; he grabbed three interceptions in 2022, with 14 pass breakups."
In previous mock drafts, many pundits also landed on defensive lineman Tyree Wilson, due to his pass-rush potential at the next level.
Now, many are considering the possibility that Wilson, Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr. will be off the board by the time it is the Lions' turn to hand in their draft card.
Detroit Free Press beat writer Dave Birkett expressed in his latest mock draft, "My sense is the Lions prefer a pass rusher, but with the top three linemen off the board they pivot to a player who is the cornerback version of Aidan Hutchinson, someone Dan Campbell said last year deserved to be coached by his staff because of the personality fit."
