2013 NFL mock draft: Why I picked Larry Warford for Lions

My second pick for the Detroit Lions in SB Nation's 2013 NFL writers mock draft has been posted. With the 36th overall pick, I selected Kentucky offensive guard Larry Warford. He joins BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah as my top two picks in this mock draft.

After addressing the Lions' need at defensive end in the first round, my main focus was offensive line in the second round. I gave some thought to potentially taking a wide receiver, tight end or even a linebacker, but most of my main targets were selected before the Lions went back on the clock. As a result, it became clear that Warford made the most sense.

In a perfect world, I would have addressed the Lions' need for help on the offensive line with Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher in the first round, allowing me to take the top defensive end on the board in the second round. I'd feel much more comfortable going down that road than taking Ansah fifth overall. However, making the best of the situation at hand, I do like the combination of Ansah and Warford in the first two rounds. Ansah brings a pass-rushing ability, while Warford brings an ability to stop opposing pass rushers. He also will be a big help in the run game as a starter at right guard.

I know that the current plan is to have Bill Nagy, Rodney Austin and perhaps even Riley Reiff compete for the starting right guard job, but I think Warford would come in and win it. This would allow Nagy and Austin to turn their attention to potentially pushing Dominic Raiola out of the starting center job, and it would allow the Lions to keep Reiff at tackle.

The Lions can obviously go a number of different ways with their second-round pick, but given what went down in the first round, Warford seemed like a no-brainer to me.