Let’s jump into it. As I have with the volumes one and two of my mock draft series, I used Pro Football Network’s mock draft simulator to do this draft. Here are the first five picks leading up to the Lions being on the clock.
Bryce Young
C.J. Stroud
Wait a second, there’s been a trade. Let’s got to Adam Schefter to see what this is all about.
TRADE with the Arizona Cardinals
Trade parameters:
Lions acquire picks No. 3 and NO. 168
Cardinals acquire picks No. 6 and NO. 48 and a 2024 second-round pick
Pick No. 3: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
It’s really simple. If you want a player, you go get that player. The Lions are in a position where they have the ability to do big things in 2023 and beyond. In order to make sure they get those things done, they need to make sure their defense is up to par. Pairing Will Anderson on the other side of Aidan Hutchinson can totally do that.
Anderson is by far the top defensive blue chip player in this draft. There’s no way he makes it to six unless something happen Tyree Wilson, who the Cardinals reportedly have interest in. Even then, you have to hope that nobody trades up and then hope the Seahawks like Jalen Carter more.
Instead of going through all that, control your own destiny and go get your man. Problem solved. The Lions now have a scary defensive line that features a guy that does this.
Pick No. 18: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU
Things have really changed for the Lions recently. Jameson Williams has been suspended by the NFL for six games after gambling in an NFL building. Now the Lions need some receiver help.
Can the Lions survive six games with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Jones, Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds? Probably. Could they thrive even more if they take the top X-receiver in the draft? Yes, they can. Then they can thrive even more once Jameson Williams returns.
Johnston is not the top receiver altogether in this draft, but he’s the best one left at this point. Jaxon Smith-Njigba went to the Texans at 11 and Jordan Addison went to the Packers at 15. It’s not just the receivers that are gone. All the blue chip corners are gone. The Lions were probably going to take a receiver at some point anyways, may as well get the best one you can. I drafted Johnston in the first round of my Volume 1.0 mock. Here’s a bit of what I had to say about him:
“Drafting Johnston adds a big 6-foot-4 X receiver to the mix. But Johnston can do so much more than that. He has great YAC ability, he make the contested catch, and he has a knack for getting behind the secondary and making wide open catches.”
No. 55: Siaki Ika, DT, Baylor
Oh, you thought I was done building the Lions defensive line? Well, I’m not. It’s time to add my original 2023 draft crush to the mix. At this point the Lions have a very nice group on the outside with Aidan Hutchinson, Will Anderson, James Houston, Romeo Okwara and John Cominsky. The interior could still use some help.
What was it that I liked so much about Ika? It was probably this.
Ika tested out poorly in the RAS category. He had a bad combine. That did not dissuade me. Some guys are just gamers. I think Ika fits that exact description. There’s no doubt that he can be athletic on the field despite not being athletic in pajamas. The interesting thing is that Ika’s biggest comp was Damon Harrison, but I see more athleticism and more power here. This defensive line is going to be dangerous.
No. 81: Daiyan Henley, LB, Washington State
A third straight mock draft, a third straight selection of Daiyan Henley. This guy is very high on my list. I know the Lions may not feel like they need any upgrades to their linebacker room, but this guy’s coverage ability is invaluable. Here’s what I said about him in mock 1.0.
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