The sadness has to end at some point, right? But every few years, Detroit Lions begin to rebuild from scratch. It’s a tenuous and predictable cycle, but hopefully, it ends here. This Lions 7-round NFL Draft Mock for 2021 attempts to bring a new era in motion.
have a series of promising candidates to be the next Lions head coach. Southeast Michigan native Robert Saleh is a favorite, but Lions also interviewed Eric Bieniemy, Darrell Bevell and Marvin Lewis. They requested interviews from Dan Campbell and the Titans’ offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith.
Lions need to hire the head coach in the right way, but they also need to complement the list with talent and make a crucial decision as a defender, while the team turns a new page again. With only five choices in the 2021 NFL Draft, Detroit may want to make some moves to acquire more choices on Day 3. But in this simulated Lions 7-round NFL Draft for 2021, they have the initial ammunition to restart the franchise.
Pre-Senior Lion Bowl 7 Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft
- Round 1, pick 7: Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State
- Round 2, choose 41: Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
- Round 3, choose 72: Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
- Round 4, choose 102: Dayo Odeyingbo, DL, Vanderbilt
- Round 5, choose 136: Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Selection analysis by selection of Lions 2021 NFL Mock Draft
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio
It is painful for Lions fans to accept a reality in which Matthew Stafford’s Detroit career has been lost, but the reality is trending so. Despite the underestimated quarterback’s consistent production, the dysfunction around him has borne little fruit. Now, almost 33 years old and with a long list of injuries, Stafford and the Lions probably need a fresh start.
Lions can download Stafford in some ways, but we are not here to talk about it. We are here to talk about who can be your replacement. With the seventh choice, Lions are at stake for a quarterback. They may need to trade upwards, as the 2021 quarterback class is strong at the top. But they are in a better position than other poor teams, at least after the first two. This is very clear – if one of the top three defenders is there, they will have to pull the trigger.
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In this simulated 7-round project from Lions, Ohio State QB Justin Fields dropped to the 7th overall choice. Fields would be an excellent value here, and it is worth negotiating for him too. Fields has been somewhat volatile this year and he can improve his decision making under pressure. But Fields has elite athletics, talent in his arm and competitive stamina and, as we saw in the CFB semifinal, he has the ability to take control of the games. The present may be obscure for Lions, but with Fields, the future is bright.
Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Lions may end up reviewing their wide receiver group in the off-season of 2021. Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Mohamed Sanu are all free agents. Lions should only be interested in signing Golladay or Jones again, and even then, they have no space to sign both.
Without much loot capital or limit space, it looks like it’s going to be a year in the bargain can for Lions, but they can use one of the first choices to get some established talent. They win one in this Lions 7-round NFL Draft Mock.
For a young defender like Fields, Rondale Moore it’s a solid addition, especially in the middle of the second round. Moore may be a choice in the first round, but by the same token, your injury concerns can take you to Day 2. Lions fans have many reasons to worry about injury story prospects, but Moore’s talent worth the risk. He is an explosive and dynamic threat at all levels of the field, which can quickly adjust to Fields’ game trends.
Jabril Cox, LB, LSU
Lions defense needs help at all levels, which is ironic, considering that Patricia was hired to repair the defense. It is now clear that he did more harm than good. The unit was one of the worst in the league in 2020 and is in danger of staying in the cellar if Lions cannot add more talent or add a coach to properly develop that talent.
This choice does not solve the coaching problem, but Jabril Cox can help provide versatility and playability at the second level. At 6 feet-4, 231, he is a long, slim linebacker with borderline elite athletics and agility. He made the leap from FCS to SEC in 2020 and it looked like he was part of it. With the usefulness of a passing defender, running defender and passing pitcher, Cox can make plays in early Detroit.
Dayo Odeyingbo, DL, Vanderbilt
At this point in our 7-round Lions NFL Mock Draft, Detroit can go in several different directions. They could return to the attack and stack the receivers, but there is still a great need for help on the defensive line. Lions ranked last in the NFL as a percentage of pressure in 2020. This lack of disruption returns to the second and third levels and impedes the ability of linebackers and defenders to succeed.
A player in the fourth round will not solve this problem independently. Still, for a team that needs internal and edge penetration, Vanderbilt’s Dayo Odeyingbo is an almost perfect fit. Odeyingbo still has room for development, but it weighs 1.80 m, 275 pounds. He is a long, explosive and restless lineman who has the talent and the engine to line up anywhere from limit to zero technique. Its versatility for rushing from various positions can free the Lions line, while maximizing Odeyingbo’s production capacity.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, CB, Syracuse
Ideally, Lions don’t end here. They can make some deals in the off-season to get more choices in Round 6 and Round 7. But until then, this is their last choice in the 2020 NFL Draft. Thus, they need to catch a player with advantage, even if it is a little reach. Syracuse Ifeatu Melifonwu’s cornerback is an attractive addition at this point.
Melifnowu is raw, but he is big and physical, and he is also an elite athlete in the cornerback position. In a group of young cornerbacks that already includes Jeffrey Okudah from the first round of the NFL 2020 Draft and titleholder Amani Oruwariye, Melifonwu has the athletic build to be versatile in positions with the proper development.
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