Welcome to another Detroit Lions mock draft. This time we’re going to do things a bit differently. Lions GM Brad Holmes has already teased the idea of trading down multiple times and we’ve done a mock draft to reflect that. But what if he decides to trade up again? That’s a question that a lot of Lions fans have asked.
I personally wrote about it not long ago and said that I think it’s a mistake because the Lions don’t have the high draft assets to move like they did in the past. They’re trading from the bottom of the rounds now. So they’d have to likely trade away a player along with picks.
With that in mind, I made two trades in this one. I traded up in the first round and then traded down in the third. Let’s jump into things.
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The goal here was to move up high enough to where I could do it without giving up the farm. The Eagles 22nd pick was the right pick that allowed me to move up without giving up too much, but I still had to give up quite a bit. Here’s the deal the Eagles agreed to.
Lions get: 22nd pick and 172nd pick
Eagles get: 29th pick, 201st pick, 2025 fourth-round pick and Malcolm Rodriguez
I knew a player would sweeten the deal for the Eagles and they were in need of a linebacker. Since Rodriguez is sitting behind Alex Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Derrick Barnes and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, I saw this as an opportunity for him to get more playing time elsewhere. I also gave the Eagles their fourth-round pick that they traded for D’Andre Swift back.
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Recent events with the Lions didn’t change my thoughts on what the Lions will do in the first round if given the chance. I think that’s drafting their number two receiver and their big bodied X guy. The Lions could have the most dangerous offense in the league.
With Josh Reynolds possibly moving on, the Lions now have a big spot to replace. Thomas can come in and do what Reynolds could do plus a lot more. He can separate like Reynolds can’t and he can go up and get it like Reynolds can’t. Thomas is a game changer for the Lions.
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If you’ve read all my mocks, you’re familiar with Abrams-Draine because I think this is the fourth time I’ve mocked him to the Lions. He keeps climbing up the board for a reason. It’s because he’s that good. I may have taken him a bit high, but I wasn’t going to pass him up by hoping I could maybe get him lower.
The big thing is that he’s not just good in coverage, he’s a tacking machine. The guy will tackle anything that moves and he rarely misses. That was something that Lions GM Brad Holmes said he wanted in a cornerback at the combine.
With Sutton gone now, Abrams-Draine has a real shot to come into camp and challenge Amik Robertson for that CB2 spot.
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I had to give up some stuff to move up in the first round, so I decided to trade down a few spots in the third round and pick up a fourth-round pick. The Colts were nice enough to be a partner in this trade. Here’s what went down:
Lions get: 82nd pick and 117th pick
Colts get: 73rd pick and 172nd pick
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The Lions got DJ Reader and that was a huge get for the Lions defense, but they could use more in my opinion. Brodric Martin is a project that’s going to keep coming along, but here’s a guy that can play right away and can help be a run stuffer in the middle like Benito Jones was. Only Taylor has some pass rush ability as well.
Maybe I’m putting too much into the middle, but the thought of a room with DJ Reader, Alim McNeil, Leonard Taylor, Brodric Martin and Levi Onwuzurike just seemed to good to pass up on.
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Yeah, I waited a little too long to get an edge, but the edge class is so top heavy in this draft. You either get the guys in the first or the small amount in the second or you just figure it out later. I had to figure it out later.
What we wind up with is a guy that had 14 sacks last season for Colorado State. That’s the fourth most in all of college football in 2023. Kamara can ball, but he didn’t have the most outstanding combine and there are guys that are better than him. Still, he’s a player that can make an impact with the right coaching. Terrell Williams has shown he can be that guy.
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I mean come on, his name is Steele Chambers. How can you pass up a name like that? It’s like an 80’s wrestler name. You expect to see Randy Savage take on Steele Chambers at SummerSlam 88.
In all seriousness, Rodirguez is gone. He’s an Eagle now. Still, the Lions get a guy that can not only play linebacker, but can run the ball too. Chambers was a running back for the first two years of his Buckeye career. He became a linebacker in 2021.
The thing that interests me is that he’s going to be a special teams guy for sure, but can he play fullback? It certainly seems like the Lions won’t be bringing back Jason Cabinda. Could this be his replacement?
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Another guy I’ve mocked to the Lions multiple times. I waited this long to find an offensive lineman because I believe that the Lions want to see what they have in Colby Sorsdal and Kayode Awosika more than they want to spend a high pick on a guy they don’t plan to play at guard right away.
McMahon presents a guy that can come in and play all three positions on interior because he’s started at all three. He also presents the possible option of being the replacement for Frank Ragnow down the road since center is where he was his best.
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How about a kicker with the Lions last pick? Mevis has a big leg and could come in and challenge Michael Badgley right away. He also has some clutch to him. There he is in the picture getting carried off the field after a game winning 61-yard field goal against Kansas State.