The NFL Draft is still a ways away, but the Detroit Lions are currently preparing for it. The Lions finished with a record of 9-7, and will be heading into the 2018 season with a new head coach (Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is the guy if you believe the reports). This is a team that has a lot of holes, and GM Bob Quinn is hoping his third draft is the charm. Without further ado, let’s get into who I’d choose in the first three rounds:
First Round: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
The Lions are in need of a pass-rushing interior lineman, and Payne fills that need. Payne is also a great run stuffer, which is something Detroit struggled with after veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata went down with an injury. This move pairs the Lions with another Nick Saban product in fellow interior lineman A’Shawn Robinson, and gives Detroit a bit of depth, which has something they also need.
Second Round: Isaiah Wynn, OG, Georgia
The Lions are likely to lose starting center Travis Swanson in free agency. If this happens, it’s likely that Graham Glasgow will transition from guard to center, which will leave the left guard spot open for grabs. 2016 fifth rounder Joe Dahl will get a look, but drafting Isaiah Wynn here would be a smart move and create some competition. Due to his lack of size and length, he figures to be a guard, as he played left guard in 2016. Wynn is an amazing run blocker, another thing Detroit needs, and would add some versatility to the line as he could play tackle or take over at center if need be.
Third Round: Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa
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Wadley is an excellent athlete who go from zero to sixty very quickly and has patience to allow blocks to develop. He contains a lethal jump cut, so there’s no need for him to dance around in the backfield. Wadley would join Theo Riddick and Ameer Abdullah in the Lions backfield, as well as save Bob Quinn a few dollars. Quinn has said that he plans on bringing in a running back this offseason, and if he’s smart, he’ll draft one instead of throwing a bunch of money at one and potentially being stuck with a bad contract.
This is my three round Lions mock draft. I plan on doing another one after free agency, and then one more about a week or so before the draft. Let me know what you think of my selections, as you can follow me on Twitter @SickeningSum86 and you can follow The Athletes Hub @HubOfAthletes.
Featured Photo Credit: AP Photo
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