Each Saturday during the college football season, we’ll highlight five prospects with locally televised matchups who could be a fit for the Detroit Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, based on projected needs.
The list aims to highlight early-, mid- and late-round prospects. This will give you a chance to watch the players performing live, instead of playing catch-up in the weeks before the draft.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia (No. 88)
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Let’s kick this series off right, hitting on one of the top names expected to be available next April.
A true junior, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Carter was absolutely dominant as a sophomore, racking up 3.0 sacks and 33 pass-rush pressures with a quick first step, powerful upper body and solid repertoire of rush moves.
The Bulldogs lined him up across the defensive front, from true nose alignments, directly over the center, to 5-tech, just outside the offensive tackle’s shoulder. He’s projected to be best in an attacking front, which coincidently is the direction the Lions have shifted schematically.
Carter could immediately solve Detroit’s lack of an interior rush, replacing veteran Michael Brockers, who is trending toward becoming a cap casualty at the end of this season. Even if Levi Onwuzurike is able to put the back issues that have plagued him the past two seasons in the rear-view, Carter would be difficult to pass up if the Lions have a shot to land him, likely within the top 10 picks.
Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Cincinnati (No. 0)
No. 23 Cincinnati at No. 19 Arkansas, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
A first-team, all-MAC performer at Miami (OH) last season, Pace transferred to Cincinnati, where he’ll have the opportunity to share the field with his brother DeShawn in the second level of the Bearcats’ defense.
Although slightly undersized, Ivan offers the more NFL-ready frame of the brothers, measuring in at 6-feet and 238 pounds. Logging more than 800 snaps at Miami a year ago, his first full season as a starter, he showed an impressively well-rounded skill set and motor.
Pace draws praise for his aptitude to play downhill, both against the run and when asked to rush the passer. He tallied 4.0 sacks on just 50 rush attempts. And in coverage, he more than held his own in the pass-happy MAC, allowing 17 catches on 26 targets for 162 yards, keeping his assignments out of the end zone while snagging an interception.
If Pace can show his skill set ports to a higher level of competition in 2022, he can be a mid-round selection.
Clark Phillips III, CB, Utah (No. 1)
No. 7 Utah at Florida, 7 p.m., ESPN
The Lions have some decent talent at cornerback, but it’s tough to get a read on the long-term vision. Amani Oruwariye, Mike Hughes and Will Harris are all on expiring contracts and the team has a pending decision on Jeff Okudah’s fifth-year option, although his 2022 play should provide clarity there.
Regardless, Detroit will likely be in the market for cornerback help next offseason, whether it’s for a starter on the outside, at nickel or simply depth.
Phillips is one of the top options in this class, currently projected to be a Day 2 pick. Addressing the obvious concern, he’s undersized. He’s listed at 5-foot-10, 183 pounds, and oftentimes, colleges inflate numbers. But don’t get it twisted, his frame doesn’t hinder his physical competitiveness.
Excellent in coverage, he limited opposing quarterbacks to completing just 63.2% of the 87 throws in his direction last season. He broke up nine passes, intercepting two, rarely allowed a deep completion and limited receivers to a reasonable 180 yards after the catch because of his solid open-field tackling.
Brandon Joseph, S, Notre Dame (No. 16)
No. 5 Notre Dame at No. 2 Ohio State, 7:30 p.m., ABC
Joseph appeared on this list last year while playing for Northwestern. But the 2020 first-team All-America selection wasn’t able to replicate that success in 2021 and opted to transfer and finish out his college career at Notre Dame, where he’ll look to revamp his draft stock.
The first thing that sticks out about Joseph’s profile is his playmaking. He’s intercepted nine passes the past two seasons, almost always completing the turnover any time he’s able to get his hands on the ball.
Additionally, you feel good about Joseph’s size. He’s listed at 6-foot-1, 196 pounds and appears to have good length, which he puts to good use when patrolling the deep parts of the field.
As a run defender, he’s adequate at best. In 2021, he was actually something of a liability, as his missed-tackle numbers more than tripled to an unsightly 20 in 12 games for the Wildcats.
Still, with Deshon Elliott playing on a one-year deal, and Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph both projects with unknown potential, it’s certainly conceivable the Lions could be on the hunt for a long-term complement to Tracy Walker in the back end of the defense.
Thomas Greaney, TE, Albany (No. 89)
Albany at No. 10 Baylor, 7 p.m., ESPN+
It’s always nice to squeeze a small-school standout in this space and we don’t know how often you’ll have a chance to catch an Albany game.
Solidly built at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, Greaney is a willing and physical blocker whether lined up off-tackle or detached in the slot. He’s a developing pass catcher who hauled in 17 passes for 234 yards as a junior in 2021.
Modeling his game after Baltimore’s dual-threat Mark Andrews, Greaney is a selfless, team-first player who would be as easy cultural fit in Detroit.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers