Mock Draft Roundup: Lions Target QB, Guard in Latest Projections
It's time for a post-free agency All Lions mock draft roundup.
Over the last week, quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Will Levis have emerged as first-round targets for the Detroit Lions.
Let’s explore now who the draft analysts have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round, starting with the No. 6 overall pick.
Quarterback Will Levis, Kentucky
Levis is currently being mocked by the following:
Pro Football Network (Ian Cummings)
Quarterback Anthony Richardson, Florida
Richardson is presently being mocked by the following:
As Stackpole pens,
"The Lions have expressed the utmost confidence in Jared Goff as their starting QB this offseason, but in this scenario, Anthony Richardson being available is too good to pass up. Making this decision easier is the fact that Detroit has already addressed one of its biggest needs, cornerback, in free agency by signing Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. All of the sudden, this franchise is in position to win now while grooming Richardson, who has the most potential of any QB in the draft, to take the reigns when he's ready."
EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia
Smith is currently being picked by the following:
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Illinois
Witherspoon is is presently being picked by the following:
NFL Draft Bible; NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)
As Jeremiah writes,
"Witherspoon doesn’t have ideal size (5-foot-11 1/2, 181 pounds), but his game is very similar to that of Denzel Ward, who, like Witherspoon, played his college football in the Big Ten. Detroit has some difference-makers on the defensive front and has made some nice additions to the secondary this offseason, but Witherspoon’s instincts and ball skills would fit beautifully in the back end."
Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, Northwestern
Skoronski is presently being mocked by the following:
Detroit Free Press (Dave Birkett); The Detroit News
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston, TCU
Johnston is currently being picked by the following:
*CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso); *indicates trade
Defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Georgia
Carter is currently being mocked by the following:
The Ringer (Danny Kelly); ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr.)
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Gonzalez is presently being mocked by the following:
Pro Football Network (BJ Rudell); The Draft Network (Brentley Weissman); NFL Draft Bible (Bo Marchionte); CBS Sports (Pete Prisco); FantasyPros (Matthew Freedman); Pro Football Network (Cam Mellor); Draft Countdown (Shane Hallam); Walter Football (Charlie Campbell)
As Marchionte writes,
"It might be a stretch, but Jeff Okudah is not the answer, and it leaves the cupboard bare in the secondary for Detroit. Gonzalez, in my estimation, put himself atop all defensive backs with his NFL Combine performance. The tape is the reason he was invited to Indianapolis and his 4.3 forty confirmed his athleticism. The Lions are going to be tempted to add pieces up front with so much talent on the draft board in terms of edge rushers, but not having anyone to cover down covers both ends."
EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
Wilson is currently being mocked by the following:
The Athletic (Colton Pouncy); Walter Football (Walter Cherepinsky); Tankathon; CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); *CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson); *indicates trade
As Pouncy writes,
"The top three QBs were all selected. The two best defensive prospects — Anderson and Carter — were gone, too. I offered No. 6 to see what was out there, but … crickets. No problem. I’ll happily take Wilson and keep adding to one of the best young defensive lines in football. Wilson is a scheme-versatile edge with length, speed and power. He’s also a great fit opposite Aidan Hutchinson. With Charles Harris and Romeo Okwara entering the final year of their contracts, I really like the idea of adding Wilson now and building for the future."
Let's turn our attention now to who the draft analysts have projected for Detroit at No. 18.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Gibbs is presently being picked by the following:
Walter Football (Charlie Campbell)
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston, TCU
Johnston is currently being picked by the following:
Pro Football Network (Ian Cummings)
Linebacker Trenton Simpson, Clemson
Simpson is currently being picked by the following:
*Pro Football Network (Cam Mellor); *indicates trade
Quarterback Will Levis, Kentucky
Levis is presently being picked by the following:
The Draft Network (Brentley Weissman)
Tight end Dalton Kincaid, Utah
Kincaid is presently being picked by the following:
EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
Van Ness is presently being picked by the following:
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Oregon
Gonzalez is currently being mocked by the following:
Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh
Kancey is presently being mocked by the following:
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)
Cornerback Deonte Banks, Maryland
Banks is currently being mocked by the following:
*CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson); The Athletic (Colton Pouncy); *indicates trade
Safety Brian Branch, Alabama
Branch is currently being picked by the following:
Pro Football Network (BJ Rudell)
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Smith-Njigba is presently being mocked by the following:
NFL Draft Bible (Bo Marchionte)
As Marchionte writes,
"The Lions had no issues scoring points last season and that was without coveted rookie Jameson Williams playing in only six games while recovering from his leg injury. Smith-Njigba, Williams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown create a mighty offensive unit. Sprinkle in their open space juggernaut D’Andre Swift and newly signed former Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery and the Lions are going to be downright scary."
Defensive lineman Myles Murphy, Clemson
Murphy is presently being mocked by the following:
FantasyPros (Matthew Freedman); Detroit Free Press (Dave Birkett)
Running back Bijan Robinson, Texas
Robinson is currently being mocked by the following:
CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso); Walter Football (Walter Cherepinsky)
Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, Clemson
Bresee is presently being picked by the following:
NFL Draft Bible; Draft Countdown (Shane Hallam)
Tight end Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Mayer is currently being selected by the following:
The Ringer (Danny Kelly); CBS Sports (Pete Prisco); ESPN (Mel Kiper)
As Kelly pens,
"The Lions boost their ascending offense by grabbing the versatile Mayer here, a combo tight end who can open up lanes in the run game and make hay in the red zone as a receiver. He’s yet another guy who embodies the knee-cap-biting mentality Dan Campbell is cultivating in Detroit."
