The Detroit Lions were one of the fun surprises of this past NFL season, rallying from a 1-6 start to finish with a winning record.
Oddsmakers are expecting the Lions to play more like the second-half version of themselves this fall, evidenced by the team’s +3000 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII (11th-shortest odds).
Detroit could put itself in an even better position for next season if it nails its two first-round picks in this year’s NFL Draft.
I’ve circled three names the Lions should target if they want to reach the playoffs this year, but before I get into that, you’ll want to learn about how you can bet on the Lions with FULL INSURANCE at Caesars Sportsbook.
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If you’re a die-hard Lions fan, it might be tempting to bet on your favorite team to exceed expectations again this season. I don’t think that’s such a bad idea, especially if the Lions target some of my top fits for them in this year’s draft.
Three Players Lions Should Target to Boost SB Chances
It’s no secret that defense held Detroit back this season. Both the Lions’ pass and rush defense finished in the bottom half of the league while its offense was top-five in both yards and points per game.
If Detroit doesn’t come away from the first round with at least one defensive player, this draft will be off to an ugly start.
Devon Witherspoon, Cornerback (Illinois)
The last time the Lions took a cornerback in the first round (Jeff Okudah No. 3 overall in 2020) it wasn’t an instant success.
But that doesn’t mean the Lions should shy away from addressing their biggest area of need.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Witherspoon recorded three interceptions and 14 (!!) pass deflections last season. A consensus top defensive back in this year’s draft, the Lions HAVE to draft Witherspoon if he’s still there at the No. 6 pick.
Myles Murphy, Defensive End (Clemson)
If Witherspoon isn’t around at the No. 6 selection, Murphy would be nearly as good.
The Lions had an awful pass rush before adding Aidan Hutchinson in last year’s draft, and they could turn a former weakness into a strength this year by drafting Murphy.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Clemson standout is a former top-five national recruit out of high school and was First Team All-ACC this past season with 45 tackles (11 for loss), 6.5 sacks, three pass breakups, and a forced fumble across 11 starts.
Adding Murphy would still help the defensive backfield, too, by giving opposing quarterbacks less time to pick apart the Lions’ secondary.
Michael Mayer, Tight End (Notre Dame)
Let’s say the Lions nail the No. 6 pick by selecting either Witherspoon or Murphy. It would be wise to double down on defense here at No. 18 overall, but it’s also VERY intriguing to add a potential game-changer on offense.
The Lions traded TJ Hockenson to Minnesota last season and don’t have a starting-caliber tight end on their roster.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Mayer was a weapon for the Fighting Irish this past season, leading his team with 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns.
Adding Mayer to what was already a top-five offense could make Detroit hard for just about any team to stop.
If the Lions do well in this year’s draft, their futures odds are only going to get shorter. Why wait for that? Jump in on the value now and secure yourself some bet insurance, too. Sign up with Caesars today before this offer ends.
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