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.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State (No. 7)
No. 2 Ohio State at No. 13 Penn State, 12 p.m., FOX
The biggest case against Jared Goff as Detroit’s long-term answer at quarterback is his propensity for mistakes. For all of his early-season success, he’s been killing the offense with critical errors, throwing six interceptions and losing three fumbles through six games.
Last year, Goff significantly trimmed the turnovers, but that’s largely because he rarely threw the ball downfield. So you’re left with the choice of a conservative passing game with no threat of going downfield, or more shot plays at the price of an untenable amount of giveaways.
Stroud isn’t the sexiest quarterback option in the draft, but, in many ways, he offers the counter to Goff’s flaws. The Ohio State passer is one of the best anticipatory throwers in the country, has touch and accuracy at all depths and rarely puts the ball in harm’s way. He’s thrown 72 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions in the past two seasons.
While you should always scout the player and not the jersey, there’s the unshakeable stigma of playing for a school that has struggled to produce QB prospects who have translated at the next level. And, it can admittedly be difficult to separate Stroud’s success from the unbelievable amount of talent the Buckeyes have at receiver.
Saturday will be a good test, against a Penn State squad with a talented secondary, led by cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr. and Kalin King. Stroud’s resume is reasonably established at this stage, but it’s another opportunity to rubber-stamp what he can offer an NFL franchise.
Garrett Williams, CB, Syracuse (No. 8)
Notre Dame at No. 16 Syracuse, 12 p.m. ET, ABC
Any thoughts that Amani Oruwariye was a foundational piece to the Lions’ puzzle took a hit when the team benched the long-time starter a couple of weeks ago. For a player in a contract year to have experienced that kind of regression, it’s difficult to see the franchise forking over a significant multi-year contract to the free-agent-to-be this offseason.
With Jeff Okudah looking like the real deal, and Jerry Jacobs finally getting back into the mix after a year-long recovery from a torn ACL, Detroit might have a starting tandem they like going forward, but there’s always room to add talent to the secondary.
Williams, a three-year starter for Syracuse, has been a solid performer since his redshirt freshman season in 2020. The 6-foot, 190-pounder has held opposing quarterbacks to a 66.4% completion percentage, while breaking up 21 passes and recording four interceptions in 27 games.
He offers a physical playing style that would fit nicely alongside Okudah and Jacobs. Williams fires downhill in run support and on short throws, showing good burst and acceleration when needed to change directions. Adept in man and zone coverages, he might need some development with his press technique, given he’s frequently asked to play off for the Orange.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Edge, Kansas State (No. 91)
No. 9 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Kansas State, 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX
Just like you can never have too much talent in the secondary, you can also never have enough pass rush on the roster. The Lions are certainly looking like they’ll need to add more pieces to the mix next offseason with Austin Bryant’s contract expiring, Julian Okwara entering a contract year and no assurance the team will retain Romeo Okwara, coming off an Achilles injury and carrying a $14.5 million cap hit.
Anudike-Uzomah’s skill set is somewhat reminiscent of Julian Okwara’s coming out of Notre Dame. There’s no denying the athleticism and ability to affect the pocket (11.0 sacks and 43 total pressures in 2021), but the pass-rush move set is in need of development, particularly with his counters, plus he’s a work in progress as a run defender.
But with Aidan Hutchinson and Charles Harris (presumably) holding down the starting jobs, the Lions could afford to add a developmental option who can be unleashed as a flame thrower on clear passing situations to start his career.
Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois (No. 4)
No. 17 Illinois at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Where Lions general manager Brad Holmes came from, the selection of an undersized, pass-rushing defensive tackle changed the course of the franchise. And while no one is saying Newton is the next Aaron Donald, or anything close, the 6-foot-2, 295-pounder has been disrupting the pocket at an incredible rate this season.
Through seven games, Newton has 35 quarterback pressures, more than double what he produced in 12 games last year, all while getting home to drop the quarterback behind the line 7.5 times in 19 games across the two campaigns. And his game isn’t one-dimensional. He’s made a similarly big jump as a run defender and his overall performance is one of the key reasons Illinois boasts the country’s No. 1 defense.
After a good showing last week against Minnesota’s John Michael Schmitz, one of the best centers in college football, Newton could feast against a Nebraska offensive line that has struggled to protect the quarterback this season.
Blake Corum, RB, Michigan (No. 2)
Michigan State at No. 4 Michigan, 7:30 p.m., ABC
A mid-season All-America selection according to ESPN and Pro Football Focus, Corum has been exceptional for the Wolverines, racking up 936 yards from scrimmage, averaging 6.2 yards per carry and finding the end zone 13 times. He’s tallied 23 carries that have gained 10 or more yards, forced 37 missed tackles and is comfortable running behind both zone and gap-blocking schemes.
Corum has also been excellent in pass protection in 2022, showing he’s not afraid to do the thankless work required at the position and increasing the likelihood he could quickly gain the trust of Detroit assistant head coach Duce Staley, who demands his backs pass-block effectively.
With D’Andre Swift continuing to struggle with durability issues and Jamaal Williams on an expiring deal, the Lions are lining up to be in the market for backfield help. If the team doesn’t want to invest an early-round pick in the position, Corum could be a value play in the middle rounds.
jdrogers@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @Justin_Rogers