2014 NFL mock draft: Lions select Deone Bucannon

With the 45th pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2014 NFL mock draft, the Detroit Lions select Washington State safety Deone Bucannon. Jeremy Reisman is serving as the Lions' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

Deone Bucannon isn't my favorite safety in the draft by any means. On film, his play is iffy. His instincts aren't always the best, he misses more tackles than he should and he has some coverage questions. But Bucannon could be a hit in the NFL (pun intended) if utilized properly. His huge frame at 6'1, 211 pounds would add a sense of physicality and meanness that the Lions secondary has been missing for some time. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has already expressed his affinity towards bigger defensive backs, and Bucannon perfectly fits that profile. Bucannon's large frame and aggressive tendencies have led to some crushing (occasionally illegal) blows:

Bucannon was a productive four-year starter in college. While most have praised Deone on his tackling (most tackles in Pac-12 history) and rough style of play, he also has very good ball skills. His 15 career interceptions are more than Calvin Pryor and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix combined. If he has a chance at the ball, he'll likely come down with it.

This isn't a particularly deep draft for safeties, and with the top three prospects already off the board, the Lions can't wait any longer to fill their biggest need. With some proper coaching, Bucannon could develop into a very productive pro player. James Ihedigbo already has the strong safety position filled for now, so there wouldn't be any hurry in getting Bucannon on the field. He could take a year to learn the position while providing help on special teams, and he could become the big, physical force in the secondary that the Lions have been looking for.

--

Check out the 2014 POD Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.