We’ve reached the halfway point of our look at each team’s perfect draft and few teams have the opportunity to better themselves more in the NFL’s annual amateur player selection meeting than the Detroit Lions.
The Lions have 10 picks in this draft and, if they follow my guidelines here, can add an impact player at pretty much every one. Let’s not waste anymore time than we have to. Here is my Perfect Mock Draft for the Lions.
To see every team’s Perfect Draft, click in this general area.
Round 1, Pick 16 – Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
2015: First-team Big-10 and first-team All-American, 6-foot-6, 308 pounds
When you need to shore up your offensive line, you could do a hell of a lot worse than adding an All-American tackle from a team that runs a pass-first, pro-style offense. Conklin knows how to work hard too. After being overlooked out of high school he walked on Michigan State’s team as a freshman. Now he’s about to be a first round pick.
Round 2, Pick 46 – Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
2015: 62 tackles, 24 for a loss, 12.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, 6-foot-5, 277 pounds
If Dodd is here at 46 the Lions will waste no time at all in turning in his card, adding him to an already pretty decent pass rush. Dodd played a little second banana to Shaq Lawson but his stats don’t back that up. He has good rush speed and power and makes tons of plays behind the line.
Round 3, Pick 95 – Zack Sanchez, CB, Oklahoma
2015: 45 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, seven interceptions, one defensive touchdown, seven passes defended, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds
Sanchez was a shut-down corner for the Sooners and just got better every season. His interception total speaks for itself, but he’s not afraid to stick his nose in for a tackle or haul down a running back, even though he’s a little on the skinny size. The Lions will need to bring him to the buffet table the day after the draft him.
Round 4, Pick 111 – Kenyarris Garrett, WR, Tulsa
2015: 96 catches, 1,588 yards, eight touchdowns, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds
No wide receiver in college football piled up more receiving yardage in 2015 than Garrett did for Tulsa. His catches and touchdown production were not bad either. Garrett is a prototypical NFL receiver when it comes to his size. If he’d ran a faster 40 at the combine (he put up a 4.53) he’d be second round pick.
Round 5, Pick 151 – Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington
2015: 56 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, eight sacks, two passes defended, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds
A little light for an outside linebacker, Feeney makes up for it in playmaking ability and a nose for the ball. That 230 pounds may seem about 20 pounds too small, but it comes with a 4.50 speed rush off the edge and the ability to chase down receivers and running backs in the open field.
Round 5, Pick 169 – K.J. Dillon, Safety, West Virginia
2015: 54 tackles, 6.4 for a loss, two interceptions, eight passes defended, 6-foot-0, 210 pounds
Dillon can do it all at the strong safety position, playing close to the line in the run game or covering tight ends, running backs and slot receivers in the passing game.
Round 6, Pick 191 – Alex Lewis, OT, Nebraska
2015: Second-team All Big-10, 6-foot-6, 312 pounds
Lewis is big, bruising tackle with a mean streak. He spent 45 days in jail back in 2013 after beating up an Air Force cadet. That temper and lack of discipline showed up from time to time on social media and on the field, but a good coach can harness that into a tremendous NFL offensive lineman. The only problem in Detroit is, they may not have one.
Round 6, Pick 202 – Nile Lawrence-Stample, DT, Florida State
2015: 36 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one pass defended, 6-foot-1, 320 pounds
A key player for the No. 6 scoring defense in the nation, Lawrence-Stample consistently got a push in the middle, piled up running backs and freed up Florida State’s linebackers to clean up the mess.
Round 6, Pick 210 – Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford
2015: 67.8 completion percentage, 2,867 yards, 27 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 85 rushes, 336 yards, six touchdowns, 6-foot-3, 218 pounds
Andrew Luck’s successor at Stanford has plenty of NFL tools, but none that make him a viable starter as a rookie. With just two quarterbacks on the roster, the Lions need to add one in this draft and Hogan should fit that need. He’s a smart kid who excelled at Stanford and should be a solid NFL back up.
Round 7, Pick 239 – Cre’von LeBlanc, CB, Florida Atlantic
2015: 43 tackles, 0.5 for a loss, four interceptions, 11 passes defended, 5-foot-10, 192 pounds
LeBlanc was a dominant corner against lesser competition at Florida Atlantic as you’d expect an NFL prospect to be. He’s not afraid to tackle or take on blockers and has only gotten better in coverage over the last two seasons.
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