2012 NFL Mock Draft: Why I Went With Kelechi Osemele For Lions

My second-round pick in the 2012 SB Nation NFL writers mock draft was posted earlier this week. For the Detroit Lions, I went with Iowa State offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele with pick No. 54. This came after I selected North Alabama cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the first round.

After addressing the Lions' need at cornerback in the first round, I really wanted to address the need for help on the offensive line in the second round. Of course, I was open to going with a player at another position, but based on who had been taken before him, I opted to go with Osemele.

Interestingly, Osemele was someone many were talking about as a potential pick of the Lions in the first round just a couple months ago. Now it looks like he will end up being taken in the second round in real life, and I'm very pleased to have landed him in this mock draft. He is a player who can begin his career on the inside at guard and give the Lions depth and perhaps give Stephen Peterman some competition. At the same time, the Lions can start grooming him to eventually make the move to tackle and perhaps one day take over for Jeff Backus.

Osemele has said he feels more comfortable at tackle, but the fact that he can play both that position and guard is a big plus. His versatility would give the Lions depth at multiple positions, and based on how thin depth is right now, that would be a big upgrade going forward.

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