Notes: Detroit Lions have fourth-most draft capital in NFL

As we are now just a week away from the 2020 NFL Draft, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most important in recent memory for the Detroit Lions. With the third overall pick, and extra third-round pick and the potential to add more, the Lions are in a unique position among other NFL teams to really make the most out of this draft class.

Field Yates over at ESPN put a numerical number on just how valuable the Lions’ current slate of picks is, based on the value chart created by Pats Pulpit’s Rich Hill. Based on his formula, the Lions’ nine picks are worth a total of 865 points—good for fourth best in the NFL.

Unsurprisingly, the only teams ahead of the Lions are the Bengals (holder of the first overall pick), the Dolphins (14 picks!) and the Jaguars (12 picks). As for the rest of the NFC North, the Vikings come in at 10th, largely due to their two first-round picks. The Bears and the Packers are both in the bottom 10, with Chicago and their seven picks valuing as the fourth-lowest in the NFL.

• I joined the “Lions on the Prowl” podcast on Wednesday night to talk about the NFL Draft, give my thoughts on the Matt Patricia era and Detroit’s offseason thus far:

• Is the third overall pick too early for Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown to come off the board? Mel Kiper Jr. thinks so.

• Time to relive and vote on your favorite Matthew Stafford moments:

• Dane Brugler of The Athletic had a full 7-round mock for the NFL. Lions Wire’s Jeff Risdon broke down his thoughts of the Lions’ nine draftees.

• Kerryon Johnson and Darius Slay talking trash on Twitter is fun:

• Tim Twentyman has a nice profile on local Michigan center Cesar Ruiz.