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Notes: Detroit Lions 2019 NFL Draft class ranked 5th by The Athletic

At least one prominent draft analyst was high on Detroit’s 2019 class.

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NFL: NFL Draft Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in the day, we noted that pulling in draft grades from 13 prominent NFL analysts resulted in the Detroit Lions’ 2019 draft class ranking in the bottom 10 in the NFL. Interestingly, the Lions didn’t get a grade above a B+ nor a grade below a C-.

However, there’s at least one voice out there that believes the Lions nailed this draft. Dane Brugler of The Athletic power ranked all 32 draft classes and the Lions came in fifth overall. The only teams with better drafts were Washington, Buffalo, Arizona and Tennessee.

“I was also a huge fan of LB Jahlani Tavai and several of the Lions’ picks on Day 3, but Hockenson can be a true difference-maker for the Detroit offense,” Brugler wrote. “He will make an immediate impact as both a blocker and pass catcher, helping spring runs for Kerryon Johnson and providing Matthew Stafford with a valuable target.”

If you’ve been following draft coverage all weekend, you may remember Brugler’s name as one of the few NFL Draft analysts that had Lions second-round pick Jahlani Tavai as a Day 2 prospect. He was Brugler’s fourth-best linebacker in this class.

It’s just one opinion, but it’s nice to see some support for Detroit’s draft picks.

  • Check out this emotional video of T.J. Hockenson reading a letter from his mentor after being drafted by the Lions.

  • If you don’t know the story of Lions seventh-round pick PJ Johnson, read it now. The Lions’ new nose tackle grew up witnessing drive-by attacks, seeing close friends killed, had his appendix burst, but persevered through it all.

  • Here’s what a few Lions draft picks tweeted out after being named to the team:

  • Interesting note from the draft: had Josh Allen not fallen to the Jaguars at seven, Jacksonville likely would have taken Hockenson with their pick. (full article here)

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