247 Sports has Kwity Paye going to the Lions as the #7 Pick
It also has Jalen Mayfield listed as "One to Watch"
https://247sports.com/ContentGallery/2021-NFL-Mock-Draft-The-First-Round-145681526/#1396686_1
January 27th, 2021 at 11:48 AM ^
I'm so sorry Kwity. I hope this doesn't happen. Nobody should have to deal with that kind of sorrow.
January 27th, 2021 at 11:53 AM ^
The new coach has a 6-year contract, so we don't need to rush a QB choice. TBH I would think it's a mistake to pick one at 7 just because we are moving on from Stafford. To win a Super Bowl, your QB needs to be on a sensible contract so you can afford a deep & talented team. The Leos should boost the team's talent a bit before they fold in the Franchise QB. Additionally, pass rush has been a neglected need for this team for years. Kwity would make a ton of sense for the Lions at 7.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
There’s no more sensible QB contract than a rookie contract. I say they get a QB in Round 1.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:35 PM ^
You have to like the guy. After Lawrence it gets dicey. Lance has little experience. Wilson did great for one year. Fields has issues. Jones may just be a system guy.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:56 PM ^
The Lions should absolutely take a chance on Lance (assuming it is agreed he has the most upside). If he ends up being terrible so what, the Lions are always terrible. They should be looking for the next Kobe, or Mahomes etc. Someone who can be amazing in time because Stafford showed that even good isn't always enough in Honolulu Blue.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:53 PM ^
Yeah but do you have a team around him? I honestly don't know much about the Lions but I would think the Lions should improve the remainder of the roster so they don't break their rookie QB like the Bengals did to Burrow or I think like the Colts did to Andrew Luck.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:09 PM ^
There’s no more sensible QB contract than a rookie contract.
Agreed Entirely. Mahomes is in his 4th year and is already making $50M/yr for the next 10 seasons. It won't be long until they turn into the Seahawks - great super bowl winning QB without the team to win another one. You have roughly a 3-year window after drafting a great QB to do damage before that contract becomes a burden. The Lions aren't going to be contenders in three years, so why start that window this season?
January 27th, 2021 at 12:33 PM ^
This is a very sensible take. Clearly you've never worked for the Lions organization.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
This is the deepest QB draft in a long time. Next year's draft is not nearly as strong. The #1 pick is supposed to be Sam Howell who I have watched a bit of, and to be honest, I'm just not seeing it with him.
You are now (likely) going to be getting an additional 1st round pick that you did not anticipate. The first pick HAS to be a QB- waiting the QB rebuild out another season or two is silly, especially considering that if the Lions trick around and win a few games more than they should next year, they are going to be on the outside looking in at an elite QB.
You can draft your QB first, and then use the rest of the draft to address defense.
Kwity at 7 would be a mistake; there are a lot more bigger needs, mostly in the secondary and linebacking core than taking a rush edge. But, they have to get their QB now.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
Mac Jones 2nd round would have been perfect risk if you were holding onto Stafford. He’s gonna play at a high level for years.
Now you may need to be more aggressive in getting a QB.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:18 PM ^
I'm not sure. If you can get a quality option at second, if Mac Jones grades out to be that, you take it. History is not kind to first round QBs. Jameis Winston on a three year deal that is back heavy to help with the cap pressure brought on by Stafford gives the team time to build around the QB spot and fill other holes while the QB develops.
I don't like Paye at 7, at all. Measurements be damned.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:56 PM ^
Mac Jones doesn't move the needle for me.
They need to use their first round pick on a QB. Gotta do it right. The odds of you landing a successful QB or ANY player are higher in the draft. Yeah, they could get lucky with a 2nd or 3rd rounder, but I don't feel like seeing them do that.
Me neither. I guess I was not super impressed watching him live, maybe he'll prove me wrong. But at no point did I think he was a top 10 pick.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
I'm not advocating to take the QB next year too. A bad NFL team gets great QBs hurt and breaks them. Look at Stafford, who ended up broken his first two seasons while fans called for trading him because he's too soft. Look at the Bengals/Burrow this year. Look at Andrew Luck who had to retire after 6 seasons of getting absolutely obliterated every season.
The Lions are in full rebuild mode right now. Franchise QB shouldn't be your starting point. Get this team able to compete with a Nick Foles level QB behind center and then take your golden boy.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:31 PM ^
In my opinion, it should be part of the whole process. This new QB should be growing with the new coach and GM and first draft class with everyone else. Next year's draft class sucks, and by then, you've kicked the can two years down the road, heading into the THIRD year of a new GM and coach who don't have a starting QB of their own.
It's a new franchise. You have to get the new face of the franchise. There was not an expectation they would have two first round picks, now they will. Get your QB, and use the rest of the draft to fix the defense. Next year's class sucks; I want nothing to do with those guys.
January 28th, 2021 at 12:23 AM ^
One problem with this route. If you build your team up well enough to compete with a mediocre QB you won’t be drafting high enough to get your stud. So that would mean either excellent scouting and identifying of talent or having a free agent/trade situation available for an already known commodity at the position.
January 27th, 2021 at 11:53 AM ^
But he's not a TE or WR!
January 27th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
They should take a RB at #7. The lack of a running game since Barry threw up his hands in disgust is absurd.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
You're joking right? Tell me you are joking. If not statistically, their defense is the worst in every category in football. That is where they need the most help. They might not have a guy that could start for any other defense in the NFL.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:34 PM ^
Don't follow NFL football much? Running backs outside of "generational talents" are poor value in the first round nowadays. Even a really good back like Najee Harris is projected to go in Round 2, only Travis Etienne is projected to go in the 1st, and in the back half at that. But the Lions just spent a high draft pick on Swift in round 2 last year.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:22 PM ^
I just don't see Najee sliding outside the 1st round. Awesome talent.
January 27th, 2021 at 11:24 PM ^
They should definitely not take a running back at #7, and for a few reasons
1. Lions run the ball decently well and Swift appears to be one of the better runners in the league as a rookie
2. The Lions were 31st and 32nd defensively against the run and pass. The need talent immediately on defense
3. the days of franchise running backs is over. It's a multiple back league these days, and if you have a top 10 pick, you use it on a guy you believe is a high impact, multi-year starter for your franchise (i.e. QB, DL, OL, LB, and occasionally WR)
If the Lions draft RB at #7, we'll know they have no idea what their doing.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
Mock draft season, you gotta love it. I doubt this happens, especially since they are trading Stafford. This pick will be lower or higher. If they get (and they should) get a 1st rounder + for Stafford they should be able to get exactly who they want in the 1st round, except Trevor Lawrence, and I don't think they want Paye that high. No disrespect, but he isn't impactful enough to go that high.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:02 PM ^
I pray for him that he gets taken with the 8th pick and someone else's career is ruined.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:03 PM ^
I like this a lot better than Mel Kiper's prediction of Justin Fields to the lions.
Lions need to rebuild their defense. CBS Sports mock draft has Paye 11th to the Giants. It wouldn't be that big a reach to get him at 7. They also have Parsons 3rd to the dolphins. If Parsons slips (Kiper had the first 6 picks all on the offensive side,) I'd take him. Surtain would be good, too.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:09 PM ^
Sorry but Justin Fields to the Lions seems like a very Lions thing to do.
Let's bet the franchise on the next great NFL Quarterback from Ohio State.
I mean, the first great NFL Quarterback from Ohio State.
Well... the first decent NFL Quarterback from Ohio State would be fine. Let's get back to the heady days of 9-7 records and first round playoff losses!
January 27th, 2021 at 12:48 PM ^
Yeah the Chiefs screwed themselves by taking that Mahomes guy from Texas Tech. The only QBs the Red Raiders ever got drafted to the NFL were BJ Symons, Kliff Kingsbury, Billy Joe Tolliver, Ron Reeves, Tom Duniven, and Joe Barnes, who COMBINED for only 15 career wins (all by Billy Joe)and ZERO PLAYOFF APPEARANCES!
Stupid Andy Reid! You will never win drafting QBs from non-QB schools! And don't get me started on the Buffalo Bills destroying the future of their franchise by picking a QB from freaking Wyoming! Idiots!
Everyone knows the BEST QBS come from IDAHO!
January 27th, 2021 at 1:21 PM ^
You are funny, Rico.
Mahomes>>>>Fields. From the start, not after time. Way better arm talent.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
You can do the same game with basically every program in college football- 99.99 percent of the starting QBs are going to flame out. Before Herbert, how many great Oregon qbs are in the NFL? Dennis Dixon? Kellen Clemens? This game can be played over and over again.
I think we've seen enough of Fields- he's a beast. I'd be OK with him, Wilson, or Trey Lance, just going to depend on which QB the franchise likes in combine.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^
Is Rico a BOT? Click his name, you get a weird prompt.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:39 PM ^
You obviously aren’t remembering the legendary Mike Tomczak.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:04 PM ^
Kwity, it's not too late to stick around for another year to avoid this drafting fate.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:08 PM ^
Are they in the lead for Watson, or are they going with Orlovsky?
January 27th, 2021 at 12:16 PM ^
L O L
January 27th, 2021 at 12:17 PM ^
Anyone but Fields please.
Oh and no Kwity, i dont want to waste the first 4 years of his career like that.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:40 PM ^
Where else could he get a chance to bite kneecaps?
January 27th, 2021 at 12:22 PM ^
Not going to happen. Lions are going to pick a QB after trading Stafford. I feel for that guy...
January 27th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
As long as they dont draft Fields I am ok with it.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:26 PM ^
I was looking at some 2022 prospects to see what QBs might be available and the top of the list were: Rattler, Nix, and Howell.
This same mock has Chris Hinton at 16 overall....
January 27th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Howell is gonna be the top QB next year imo
January 27th, 2021 at 4:09 PM ^
You've also got Slovis and JT Daniels.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
I’m happier now than yesterday’s prediction of Fields!!!
January 27th, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
That poor child. . .
I certainly hope this doesn't happen. He is better than that.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:46 PM ^
Is Kwitty 7th overall pick material? Does his performance at UM warrant going at number 7? I don't recall seeing the 7th best player in the nation line up at end any point in the last 2 seasons. Lions definitely need help on Defense and DE is a great place to start. I like Kwitty and think he's a great player but number 7(!). Seems like a reach to me for a team with as many needs as the Lions.
January 27th, 2021 at 3:23 PM ^
Who are they going to take with the other first round pick they get from trading Statford?
January 27th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
Hate to be the downer and I’ll always root for him but Paye is in no way a top 15 talent. Honestly getting him in the 2nd wouldn’t have me jumping threw hoops, it’s about where he belongs. This is a covid year draft however and evaluations based on a covid year film study is going to be extremely difficult
January 27th, 2021 at 5:44 PM ^
Please DONT take a DII QB that played one game last year ,
January 27th, 2021 at 6:33 PM ^
January 27th, 2021 at 7:20 PM ^
If it weren't for the Stafford problem the Lions have, Kwity make a good deal of sense of 7. There's not much higher value from the DL position than him right now.
January 27th, 2021 at 10:28 PM ^
So many NFL players. So little to show for it.
Both teams.