Mock draft season is about to really ramp up with the NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week. The last gasp of pre-combine mocks are rolling out, and one of them piqued interest for Detroit with the projected plan to build up the Lions’ defensive backfield.
The latest two-round mock draft from Trevor Sikkema at Pro Football Focus goes straight to the heart of the matter. Both of the Lions’ first-round picks are in the secondary.
First up is Oregon CB Christian Gonzalez with the No. 6 overall pick, acquired from the Rams in the Matthew Stafford trade. With three QBs (Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson in order) off the board along with DT Jalen Carter and EDGE Will Anderson gone, the natural inclination is to go DB. Or, as Sikkema explains,
This is a popular spot for Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon. But for as much as I love Witherspoon, I wonder if there will be some size concerns with him, especially when the debate is between him and Gonzalez, who boasts ideal measurables at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. You can’t go wrong with either, but I opted for Gonzalez as the top cornerback off the board in this mock.
At No. 18, Sikkema calls on one of the more familiar names getting projected to Detroit, Alabama safety Brian Branch. He’s a natural projection as the No. 9 overall prospect on PFF’s board,
Branch is a very high-floor defender with a skill set that can fit into every defense in the NFL.
The two second-round picks go in divergent directions than most mocks do for Detroit. At No. 49 overall, Michigan DT Mazi Smith gets the nod. Smith is a physical freak with potential to help bolster the pass rush and depth on the defensive line.
The other second-rounder, the one acquired from the Vikings in the T.J. Hockenson trade, is the first to hit the offensive side of the ball. Tennessee WR Cedric Tillman is a big target on the outside who can win jump balls and get reliably open on comebacks and combo routes. He is also one of the best blockers in the class, a trait the Lions absolutely value in their wideouts.
It’s an interesting strategy in doubling down on the defensive backfield, but with no free agency additions in the mix, it makes sense. Both Smith and Tillman are projected higher here than they normally are, but they do fit the Lions’ scheme and needs.
