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We’re full into mock draft season, and one of the bigger names in draft experts, for better or for worse, is ESPN’s Todd McShay. On Thursday morning, McShay dropped his latest mock draft (insider required), and his selection for the Detroit Lions was one of the earliest names linked to the Lions in the draft: LSU cornerback Greedy Williams.
It’s an interesting choice for the Lions, considering a lot of the hype around Williams has recently died down. The deeper we get into draft season, the more it seems analysts agree there is no top cornerback talent worthy of a top-10 pick. Even a couple of Lions insiders believe Detroit is not likely to take a corner early in the draft.
As for Williams specifically, the biggest concerns are his lack of physicality, both in disrupting routes and in run defense. The 6-foot-1, 182 pound defender has the body type to throw his weight around, but either doesn’t seem to know it or doesn’t seem to care.
Greedy Williams was an extremely good cornerback for LSU and will be a force at the next level. pic.twitter.com/ZhgF8I7YCD
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 23, 2019
That being said, Williams has the ball skills that Detroit’s secondary has been missing with the No. 2 cornerback spot. Nevin Lawson still doesn’t have an interception to his name, but Williams had 21 passes defended and eight interceptions in his two years at LSU.
Additionally, Williams’ best ability is his stickiness in man-coverage, something that Matt Patricia’s defense values quite highly.
McShay cedes that the Lions may have bigger needs facing their team, but thinks Greedy possesses the most value at their draft spot.
“Detroit needs an edge rusher with Ezekiel Ansah likely headed out of town, and the Lions would love to add a solid tight end, but Williams is the best need-value match at No. 8,” McShay notes, adding that this would be the first time Detroit took a cornerback in the first round since Terry Fair in 1998.
Other players that McShay passed on at this spot was Houston DT Ed Oliver (14), Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell (16), Mississippi State DE Montez Sweat (18) and Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson (19).