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It’s Thursday. Draft Day. We finally made it, y’all.
And now that the first round is just a mere hours away, NFL writers and analysts have submitted their final mock drafts, giving their best efforts to predict the outcome of what the team they cover will do, along with the rest of the league.
For the Detroit Lions and their media, the overwhelming consensus all offseason has been that Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah will be Detroit’s pick. There have been a dissenter here or there that believed that Okudah’s college teammate Chase Young could drop to Detroit, but Okudah has been that guy since the beginning.
And now that the final drafts are in, there is no debate. Literally every single Lions beat writer has the Lions selecting Okudah in the first round of tonight’s draft. However, there is some disagreement among the masses. The debate is no longer, “Who?” but “Where?” Several writers have the Lions trading down and taking Okudah, while many have them sticking at three.
Here’s an overview of the local beat and their final mocks.
The Detroit Free Press (Dave Birkett)
- Final mock draft link
- The Pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down? No
- Money quote:
“I’m torn between the Lions taking Okudah and Derrick Brown. In one of his first interviews as coach, at the 2018 combine, Matt Patricia championed building “from the ball out.” Brown fits that description better, but Okudah plays the more valuable position in today’s NFL.”
The Detroit News (Justin Rogers)
- Final mock draft link
- The Pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down? Yes, down to 5
- Money quote:
“Bob Quinn’s history of picking players in the first round with a clear path to playing time continues to give Okudah the edge over Clemson’s do-everything linebacker Isaiah Simmons.”
MLive (Kyle Meinke)
- Final mock draft link
- The Pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down: No.
- Money quote:
“Okudah is the highest-regarded cornerback prospect in years. He comes from a program known for producing top NFL talent all over the place, and especially at his position. He was dominant in his one season as a starter, including against the best teams in the country. In a playoff game against Clemson, he allowed five catches on 10 targets for just 47 yards.”
MLive (Benjamin Raven)
- Final mock draft link
- The Pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down: Yes, to 6
- Money quote:
“Patricia is more than fond of lanky, athletic cornerbacks with his coverage skills. The Ohio State star wasn’t just a one-hit-wonder, as he allowed a 37.5% catch rate as a sophomore (only 18 catches allowed on 48 targets).”
ESPN (Multiple reporters, Michael Rothstein with the Lions’ pick)
- Final mock draft link
- The pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down: No (not allowed)
- Money quote:
“Okudah is a strong cover corner with speed. He is fluid in transition and has no problem hitting. The Lions have no issue taking a corner at No. 3, either, as Bob Quinn said last week, ‘I’m not sure why teams have shied away [from taking corners]. ... I think it’s obviously critical and has high value in the league.’”
The Athletic (Multiple reporters, Chris Burke with the Lions’ pick)
- Final mock draft link
- The pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down: No.
- Money quote:
“The Lions tried to move this pick but couldn’t find a taker, at least not one in a realistic range. So, instead, they stay put and add Okudah, a physical cornerback who meshes extremely well with what Matt Patricia wants in his secondary.”
DetroitLions.com (Mike O’Hara)
- Final mock draft link
- The pick: Jeff Okudah
- Trade down: Yes, to 6
- Money quote:
“As GM Bob Quinn said in his pre-draft press conference, teams need three starting-caliber cornerbacks, and Okudah is an opening-day starter.
The Lions would have their starting threesome, with free-agent addition Desmond Trufant on the opposite corner and Justin Coleman moving back to his natural position in the slot.”