NFL Draft 2018: Day 2 mock draft for Lions

Let’s pick right back up where we left off last night, with the Baltimore Ravens trading back into the first round to select Lamar Jackson—when they should have just drafted him at 25. But that’s neither here, nor there. It’s Day 2, and while a man like Lamar Jackson waited for the draft. the draft waits for no man.

The Detroit Lions made a selection last night that wasn’t exciting. It didn’t earn cheers or celebration like any other number of picks could have, but this was Bob Quinn’s final brush stroke to the offensive line he’s spent the last three offseasons building from the floor up. Not a single holdover from the Martin Mayhew era is starting along this offensive line, and it’s so entirely clear where Quinn’s vision began for this team when he took over as general manager back in 2016.

Now, with the offensive line more athletic than its been in you or your father—or even his father’s—lives, Detroit will look to Day 2 with a host of players many fans were pining for at 20 still on the board. Harold Landry, Derrius Guice, and Maurice Hurst are all still for the taking, and Detroit, picking 19th overall in the second round, won’t have to wait long to call a name.

As always, I’m using FanSpeak.com’s “On the Clock” tool to accomplish this mock draft, and if you jump on over there, they’re updating things live, so you mock draft junkies can get your fix pick by pick.

Round 2, Pick 51: S Justin Reid (Stanford)

It’s a safety, which may not appear to be an immediate need for the Lions, but hear me out: the Lions are definitely interested in Justin Reid, spending one of their 30 pre-draft visits on the three-year contributor from Stanford.

Many perceive the Lions to have an absolute need at running back, or along the edge on defense, but safety is another position that will look much different under head coach Matt Patricia in 2018. In New England, Patricia’s defense often featured three-safety looks when in their nickel set, and after an underwhelming sophomore season from Miles Killebrew, Justin Reid is the versatile, rangy safety Detroit needs; a player who lines up at multiple positions, and excels both in coverage and up in the box as a run defender.

Other potential targets available at No. 51: Nick Chubb, Nathan Shepherd, Kerryon Johnson, B.J. Hill, and Mike Gesicki.

Round 3, Pick 82: EDGE Kemoko Turay (Rutgers)

Turay would be a bit of a project for Patricia and his assistant coaches, but he has a lot of the things you can’t teach. At 6-foot-5, 253 pounds, he has checkmarks filling the boxes marked size and length. Add his athletic profile to his sheer size—a 4.24 shuttle and a 6.84 cone are some eye-popping numbers for agility—and Turay is a toolbox, but is in need of some tools. With some work done to refine his skills, like developing some pass-rushing moves outside of getting by on athleticism and speed alone, Turay could end up being a fixture in the Lions’ plans on the edge for years to come.

Other potential targets available at No. 82: Shaquem Griffin, Genard Avery, Tyquan Lewis, Ian Thomas, and Royce Freeman.