Detroit Lions mock draft round up: No consensus in final predictions

It’s been an interesting offseason for the Detroit Lions and mock drafts. We’ve seen big shifts in projections before and after the Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade, but even once the dust settled from that deal things have yet to clear up. There was a brief period where wide receivers were heavily mocked to the Lions, but it quickly passed and there now appears to be no clear consensus.

This week we looked at 32 mock drafts and the Lions have been paired with 11 different players. Now, a lot of that is due to 12 of the mocks projecting the Lions trading out of their original spot. Even then, who they trade with is all over the map: there are different mock drafts where the Lions trade back with the Broncos (No. 9), Chargers (No. 13), Patriots (No. 15), and Cardinals (No. 16).

Let’s take a look at this past week's mock drafts in the final weekend before the 2021 NFL Draft.

Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State

Currently being mocked by Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports)

Wilson: “We’d imagine several teams will try to move up to get Fields, but if he’s here the Lions should pounce. Jared Goff struggled with Sean McVay.”

Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State

Currently being mocked by Benjamin Solak (The Draft Network), Nick Farabaugh (Pro Football Network)

Solak: “I think this is a good landing spot for Lance, who is generally viewed as a developmental prospect in need of a long runway. Lance can see the field as QB2, given his dual-threat ability. Goff essentially is on a two-year deal with the Lions in terms of cuts, but can be traded after next season, so Lance could see the field as early as 2022.”

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Currently being mocked by Jared Dublin (CBS Sports), Oliver Hodgkinson (Pro Football Network), C.J. Doon (Baltimore Sun)

Dublin: “Detroit loaded up on speed receivers in free agency, and here gets a No. 1 guy who is more physical and able to succeed in the short and intermediate areas of the field, providing a solid baseline for Jared Goff, and eventually, whichever quarterback the Lions tab as their long-term starter.”

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Currently being mocked by Tyler Sullivan (CBS Sports), Sam Farmer (Los Angeles Times), Jess Root (Sportsbook Wire), Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports, Trade with Broncos No. 9)

Sullivan: “Detroit could look to trade down or even grab a QB at this spot. However, it instead elects to give the Jared Goff experiment a go for 2021 and provide him with a speedy pass catcher, who also has promise as a returner.”

DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Currently being mocked by Steve Palazzolo (PFF), Pete Prisco (CBS Sports), Mike Tanier (Pro Football Network), Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News), Jordan Dajani (CBS Sports, Trade with Denver No. 9), Luke Easterling (The Draft Wire, Trade with Chargers No. 13)

Palazzolo: “With a new regime in Detroit, the Lions can be patient and grab the best players in this draft. In this scenario, they add to a depleted wide receiver corps with the most decorated college wide receiver in recent college football history. Smith’s 2020 Heisman campaign showed off his entire skill set, as he has fantastic ball skills to go with the seventh-highest YAC per reception numbers among recent NFL prospects dating back to 2014. His 94.9 PFF grade is the best single-season mark from a receiver, and Smith’s only major question mark is how his 170-pound frame will hold up at the next level. So far, there’s little evidence that it will be a factor at the next level.”

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Currently being mocked by Dave Birkett (Free Press), John McClain (Houston Chronicle), Eddie Brown (San Diego Tribune), Brian Johannes (The Huddle Report), James Fragoza (Pro Football Network)

Birkett: “I had a scout speculate to me the other day that the Lions might go Rashawn Slater over Sewell if both are on the board. Slater is the safer pick, and can play any position. But Sewell is a stud with the potential to be one of the premier tackles in the game.”

Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern

Currently being mocked by Nate Davis (USA Today)

Davis: “Given the state of their rebuild – which is pretty much at square one – and new QB Jared Goff’s restructured deal, they could be out of the quarterback sweepstakes for now. A receiver makes sense after Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones signed elsewhere. But adding a quality blocker like Slater, who can play anywhere on the O-line, seems to align with new coach Dan Campbell’s personality and new OC Anthony Lynn’s desire to run the ball – something the Lions have rarely done effectively since Barry Sanders retired.”

Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech

Currently being mocked by Peter Schrager (NFL.com, Trade with Cardinals No. 16), Josh Norris (Underdog Fantasy, Trade with Cardinals No. 16)

Schrager: “The Lions could be a team that trades back not once but multiple times in this draft. With Detroit in re-build mode and with just six draft picks this year, look for GM Brad Holmes to be wheelin’ and dealin’ during the entire three-day exercise. Darrisaw is a former lightly recruited prospect out of prep school who has been magnificent the past few years with the Hokies.”

Kwity Paye, EDGE, Michigan

Currently being mocked by Ryan McCrystal (Sharp Football Analysis, Trade with Patriots No. 15), Marcus Mosher (The Game Day, Trade Chargers No. 13)

McCrystal: “At his introductory press conference, GM Brad Holmes discussed the importance of “intangibles.” And in an interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Eric Edholm, Holmes stated: “I am so much focused on the intangible traits way more so than the physical traits. Now I am like, ‘OK, yeah, he’s fast, but does he work hard?’” He’ll likely be drawn to a team captain and Academic All-Big Ten player like Paye.”

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

Currently being mocked by Bryan Fischer (Athlon Sports), Chad Reuter (NFL.com, Trade Broncos No. 9), Hayden Winks (Underdog Fantasy, Trade Patriots No, 15), Brendan Donahue (Sharp Football Analysis, Trade Patriots No. 15), Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports, Trade Patriots No. 15)

Benjamin: “After moving out of the top 10 in their swap with the Patriots, the Lions end up with the best LB in the class — a high-upside difference-maker for the middle of Dan Campbell’s overhauled defense.”

Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama

Currently being mocked by Josh Edwards (CBS Sports, Trade Patriots No. 15)

Edwards: “If Detroit were able to acquire another 2022 first-round pick and still manage to pick Patrick Surtain II, it would be a home run in Brad Holmes’ first draft.”