ESPN just published a 7 round NFL mock draft - Michigan players
It's ESPN+, so subscriber only. Hopefully not "stealing" too much premium content...
Michigan and Detroit only because I'm speaking to the fanbase (even though I grew up in ATL, live in Chicago, and never cared much for the Lions outside of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson).
Round 1
1. Jacksonville - Aidan Hutchinson
2. Detroit - Malik Willis (QB, Liberty)
As I wrote in my QB mock draft last week, either you love this idea or you're absolutely against it. Jared Goff is under contract for two more seasons, which would allow the Lions to bring Willis along slowly.
There's no guarantee that the franchise can position itself next year to be in contention for a top 2023 signal-caller. This is an ideal situation for Willis, as the team is set to have plenty of draft capital to continue to build the roster in the future.
32. Detroit (via LAR) - Nakobe Dean (LB, UGA - not that we need the reminder of who he is)
Round 2
33. Jacksonville - Daxton Hill (Urban leaves and it's suddenly a Michigan free-for-all)
34. Detroit - Christian Watson (WR, NDSU)
Watson is a 6-foot-4 receiver who could be the X receiver while Brown occupies the slot and Chark plays the Z. Perimeter pass-catchers are near the top of the Lions' list of holes.
50. Kansas City - David Ojabo (dropped from first due to achilles, blah blah, hope he rehabs and tears up the league)
Round 3
66. Detroit - Cameron Thomas (DE, SDSU)
97. Detroit - David Bell (WR, Purdue)
Round 5
157. Jacksonville - Hassan Haskins (Seriously, this mock draft is getting a little craycray)
177. Detroit - JoJo Domann (S, Nebraska)
Round 6
181. Detroit - Josh Thompson (CB, Texas)
217. Detroit - D'Marco Jackson (LB, Appy St)
Round 7
234. Detroit - Chase Lucas (CB, Az St)
237. Philadelphia - Chris Hinton (maybe he should've come back?)
Crap. Total crap.
It's to be expected from ESPN. They fired all their writers who knew anything or provided any insightful analysis. They're all-in on talking heads spouting hot takes now. Scrolling down their front page, it's all either AP-style news briefs or "Stephen A. says..." crap. They probably had an intern throw together this mock draft just because it's all but required for every site to put out a mock draft.
I think the Lions and Lions fans will seriously regret it if they take Malik Willis at #2
Yes, but it would be so *Lions* for them to do that. Embrace the ongoing dumbshittery of that franchise.
The fff - fucking ford family - says hi!
All the talk of Willis to the Lions has to be the Lions trying to get that out there so a team will trade up to get him. HAS to be. Right? It has to be...
This is the only possible way it makes sense. ESPN's D-team assembled this draft, and they have to be unwittingly doing work for the Lions front office.
You say that but see, it doesn’t matter if they pick him or not. If they do pick him he will suck. If they don’t, he will be good at wherever he goes.
Willis would be a positive in the locker room, and that's about where the positives would end. I watched the first half of the one meaningful game he played this season against Ole Miss. He got sacked three times on his first possession; and these were not coverage sacks. He did not allow routes to develop and often went straight to tucking the ball and running; and not by design. He would make a decent backup, but that's about it. Honestly, there are no quarterbacks worth drafting in the first two rounds this year. But it's the Lions, so who knows?
April 14th, 2022 at 12:03 PM ^
I heard Joey Harrington has been staying in shape.
I have no clue how Willis has exploded into a #2 overall pick. I don't see how this makes any sense as far as the Lions are concerned. That said, I'm not really a Lions fan either, so it feels pretty on brand for the team.
Feel bad for DO. I really hope he has a stellar NFL career and his second contract is a big one.
I mean, to the vast majority of scouts he has not. I haven't seem him this high in a mock.
This could show how very little I know about football... but does playing at Liberty University even count as playing college football?
As much as I can't stand them, they've dramatically improved the program since joining the FBS in 2018. They're roughly on the level of MAC school and have won three straight bowl games (including last year against Eastern Michigan).
Hugh Freeze may be a terrible person, but he's not a bad football coach.
Any draft without Brad Hawkins is a fraud.
Yikes.
The next time I watch one play from a Liberty U game will be the 1st time.
Bob Sturm from the Ticket in Dallas I believe went there. That’s all I’d heard of the school until they started upsetting teams a few years ago. Have never watched a snap of theirs either
Based on the LieDowns draft history, this makes 100% sense, though they'll likely take a TE instead of an all world LB like Dean because, as we all know, Detroit LOVES to draft TEs then pick up a couple TE free-agents as well. Every. Year.
If they do take a TE, it will guarantee Willis will become a pro-bowl QB. Such is the way of the lions. As it is written, so shall it be done.
Chris Hinton going into the draft was a big error. His production numbers weren't great at Michigan and his combine results were completely underwhelming.
He and Mazi were due for breakout seasons as the headliners for the defense. Another year in the weight room and greater production and he could have been a second day kinda guy.
Jenkins will be better. He is a more explosive athlete and plays fast every down.
The caveat is can he hold up to the double team at his size. Good plus this year great the next.
Campbell is a pretty straight up dude and he said he wants a day 1 player and not a project.
This "prediction" is by Jordan Reid, who knows as much about NFL draft as my dog, and I do not have a dog.
The entire reason behind his posts is to be different so that he generates a buzz and clicks, and it worked.
I can not think of anything that screams Lions draft more than them selecting a QB with the second pick in this draft.
I like the later round picks for the Lions but it'd be tough to leave the first two rounds without an edge or a safety. I believe the Lions are very comfortable with the idea of pushing the franchise QB decision off for another year, Goff's close to last season earned him another year as the starter and the QBs in this class are not worthy of a top 5 selection. As a Lions fan, I want them to leave their first 3 picks with any combination of:
EDGE:
Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, Walker, George Karlaftis, Boye Mafe, Drake Jackson, Ojabo
S:
Hamilton, Lewis Cine, Dax, Jaquan Brisker
LB:
Nakobe Dean, Devin Lloyd
WR:
Drake London, Christian Watson, Wilson/Olave
DT:
Jordan Davis, Perrion Winfrey, Devonte Wyatt
Love almost all of this. Don't like Christian Watson this early--would prefer Burks, Dotson, and Moore. Don't want a DT early (unless we add picks or Wyatt is there at 34).
I don't think they'll go for a LB early (though I would consider it). We can get a starter at LB in round three in this draft.
Totally agree. I think the Lions are more set at WR for next year than most of the media is saying, and the Lions just said they feel set at LB (they are decidedly NOT). I don't hate the idea of a trade down from 2, hence the increase in positions as it might give them the opportunity to pickup value at the LB or DT spots in addition to getting the edge and safety spots filled.
No Stueber, Hawkins, Ross, Gray, or Baldwin?
Of that group, I wouldn't be surprised if Steuber was the only one drafted.
Mark it here. Stuebler still available late, Belichick drafts him. Checks all the Bill boxes. Also think Belichick trades down into late 20's and gets Dax Hill.
No way Detroit drafts a QB at 2...just no way. Doesn't seem to fit any comments made by Campbell. Maybe at 32 (if want 5th year option) or 34 if they like someone who fell. Personally I hope they go edge rusher at 2 (walker or thib) and then Dean falls to 32...that would be a dream scenario to me.
I think Hawkins will be the guy that's the surprise draft pick in round 5-7 and sticks on special teams/backup role. Hinton definitely should've come back if you just look at football field, but I think there were other factors/expectations there.
Lions are taking Hutchinson or Thibodeaux. Anything else would be mindboggling dumb and I would lose all faith in this regime.
Agree with either Hutchinson or Thibodeaux and anything else would be dumb but keep in mind, we are talking about the Lions.
Not confident in Thibodeaux at #2. Lots of chatter about not interviewing well, cocky, and on tape, he is not an all out every down player like Aiden, he takes plays off. I'd take him if I was further down in the first round, not at 2.
Does Nakobe Dean have an injury I don't know about?? why is he not a projected top 15 pick?
undersized.
So was Devin Bush.
Agreed. Size is Dean's only real knock and I have a really hard time imagining he will still be hanging around after Thursday night. He can't be any taller than Devin Bush, and Bush was picked up #10 overall by Pittsburgh.
Dean checks every other box with absolute authority so I'd be shocked if he's still on the board after the first 20 picks are in. If he is somehow still around when the Lions pick at 32, they'd be getting an absolute steal.
So was Devin White too for that matter
Though Devin Bush really struggled last season and had an absolutely terrible PFF rating, in the 30's I believe. So I'm not sure if Bush's performance so far is helping the cause of undersized LB's.
If the Lions drafted a QB at #2 it would be a definitive sign that Campbell & Holmes are just as big a pair of fools as any GM/HC combo in the past 60 years of the Lions.
The holy trinity: Andre Ware, Joey Ballgame, ... Malik Willis?
I suppose I would argue that the third horseman isn't due until 2024.
Barf for the lions on this draft.
This would be a terrible Lions draft. If we take Willis at #2 and don't trade him immediately, this regime is doomed to failure and we can get ready for the next reboot in two years. That said, this is a garbage take and the Lions do not appear interested in taking a QB at #2. My guess is:
- Hutchinson
- Thibodeaux
- Hamilton
The Lions should try to get out of round one with an edge rusher and a safety. At 32:
- Hill
- Cine (I'd actually prefer Cine to Hill, but I know I'm in the minority)
- Karlaftis, Ojabo, or Mafe (if we take Hamilton early)
- Dotson, Burks, or Moore if got an edge and the safeties are gone, the get Brisker at 34
As for Michigan, I think Steuber will get drafted. Hawkins has a real shot. Even Vincent Gray could have his name called on day three.
That may be early for Haskins and late for Hinton.
Hawkins reminds me of one of those undrafted guys who hang around for 5-10 as a special teams star.
Haskins in the 5 round is a steal
There is no QB in this year's draft class that you can justify using a top-10 pick on, much less a top-2 pick. If the Lions want to grab Malik Willis at 2 overall, that's their own grave to dig. Malik Willis has potential for sure, but he's a project any way you slice it. If you take someone at #2 overall, you're bringing them in with the intention of starting them on Day 1. You don't need that with Goff already on your roster.
If I'm the Lions, I take Hutchinson at 2 if he's there, but if he's not, I'd take my chances with Travon Walker or maybe Thibadoux. Thibadoux is more boom/bust than Hutchinson, but if he pans out he could be really stinking good.
If you really want a QB, wait until Day 2 and see if a guy like Desmond Ritter falls to you. That's a guy with a winning pedigree that you can sit behind Goff and bring him along slowly. Matt Corral is an intriguing prospect as well, but my guess is he's gone just before the Lion's last pick that night.
Dean would be a great choice as well, but I have a hard time believing he's still going to be there at 32. If he is, then yes, by god take him. But he's likely going to be gone within the first 20 picks, unless the Lions want him bad enough to move up to get him. I just can't imagine teams are worried enough about his size to not draft him the first night. Size didn't stop the Steelers from drafting Devin Bush at #10 overall.
The Lions are 100% not taking Willis number 2 overall.
Lions aren’t taking Willis at 2. Not with his accuracy issues. They haven’t exactly shown much inclination to take a QB this year based on their actions(re-signing backups, sending only a QB coach to Willis pro day…these are things you do when you are pretty you aren’t taking a guy).
Methinks it’s Thibodeaux, Dean, and Brisker/Hill in first threee rounds.
I would love for my Eagles to draft a Michigan player for once. They seem determined to let every good Michigan player go to the Cowboys or Giants.