Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
On the verge of Super Bowl Sunday, here’s a new seven-round mock draft for the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions will have the second overall pick in April’s draft, then either No. 31 or No. 32 near the end of Day 1 depending on if the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI or not (and assuming no trades).
Either way, they’re in pretty good spot, with three of the first 34 picks and five of the first 100 based on the likely draft order once compensatory picks are locked in.
As their former quarterback gets set to play in the Super Bowl, here’s a new seven-round mock draft for the Detroit Lions.
Note: Draft order via Tankathon, and I actually did this mock on the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator (with a forced edit late).
Detroit Lions: 7-Round Mock Draft-Super Bowl Week
First Round
2
Aidan Hutchinson
DE Michigan
Hutchinson is a legit candidate to go first overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But as buzz builds about Jacksonville taking an offensive tackle to protect Trevor Lawrence and the shine comes off fellow edge prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux in pre-draft negative buzz, the Michigan native and former Wolverine falls to No.2 and the Lions snap him up.
Beyond his talent and production (14 sacks, 62 total tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2021), Hutchinson also looks like just the type of player Lions head coach Dan Campbell loves.
32
Jahan Dotson
WR Penn State
Going 2-for-2 on the first-round “win now picks from NFL.com’s Cynthia Frelund, Dotson was here for the Lions at No. 32.
Dotson is not a big receiver (5-foot-11, 184 pounds). But he can play inside and outside, with a nose for the end zone (20 touchdowns over his last two seasons at Penn State) and reliable hands (two drops on 93 catchable targets last season, according to Pro Football Focus).
Dotson is another weapon to help elevate Jared Goff, and he also looks like an ideal complement to Amon-Ra St. Brown.