Without NFL Combine in 2021, late February became a period of dead news for the league. And with the free agency still within a few weeks, many writers have turned their attention to mock drafts – including six of Lions’ best writers.
Simulated drafts in general should not be taken too seriously, but they can be used as a way for fans to get acquainted with some of the best players in this year’s draft class.
As we move on to draft in late April, we will use articles from simulated draft rounds to examine simulated drafts from the previous week, discuss players and identify patterns of how players are being connected to Detroit Lions.
So far, in this off-season, some patterns have emerged. After the Lions season ended and the emptiness of its wide receiver depth chart was revealed, most of the simulated drafts combined Lions with one of the first three available receivers. When Matthew Stafford requested an exchange, almost all simulated drafts became strictly signal callers. But now that the dust has settled on Stafford for Jared Goff’s switch, the prognosticators have started to open their pair back and a variety of players are at stake for Detroit.
Let’s take a look at last week’s projections.
Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota
Currently being ridiculed by Dave Birkett (Freep), Tyler Olsen (Pro Football Network)
Birkett: “Zach Wilson is a more polite candidate and will lead (Trey) Lance. Probably Justin Fields too. But when it comes to ceiling, when it comes to being the kind of player you select and look back on 15 years later and think about how lucky you are, Lance is second only to Lawrence in his dream potential. “
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Currently being ridiculed by Kyle Meinke (MLive), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Tom Fornelli (CBS Sports), Ian Cummings (Pro Football Network), Kyle Yates (Fantasy Pros)
Wilson: “It would be a surprise if Detroit allowed Kenny Golladay to walk this off-season. However, even if he returns, the team needs to add other people to the position. Ja’Marr Chase is still the best wide receiver in this draft and Lions have the opportunity to choose him. Jared Goff begins his career at NFC North with TJ Hockenson, Kenny Golladay, Ja’Marr Chase and D’Andre Swift. “
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Currently being ridiculed by Ben Raven (MLive), Dan Kadar (Akron Beacon Journal), Vinnie Iyer (Sports news), Brad Gagnon (Bleachers report)
Raven: “The choice between DeVonta Smith and teammate Jaylen Waddle was more agonizing than expected. Smith enters the draft after delivering one of the most productive seasons of all time to a college receiver. The Heisman winner took 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns. He set Ohio State on fire with the sound of 12 receptions in 215 yards and three hits in two quarters in the CFP championship. “
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Currently being ridiculed by Nate Davis (USA today), Luke Easterling (Wire draft), Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports), Doug Hyde (DraftTek)
Davis: “With new coach Dan Campbell recognizedly looking beyond 2021 and perhaps until 2022 as this team reconfigures itself, it may make sense to be in“ best available player mode ”instead of immediately enlisting a successor for Goff. And a fair assessment of QB would imply having a # 1 target on board – Waddle seems more suited to that role than Crimson teammate Tide DeVonta Smith – and Detroit might desperately need help with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones without a contract. . “
Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Currently being ridiculed by Chris Burke and Nick Baumgardner (The Athletic)
It is important to note that Burke and Baumgardner are using a simulated draft machine in this exercise and admitted that Sewell falling for choice # 7 would be surprising, but with him on the board …
Baumgardner: “Sewell feels like a prospect of a potentially offensive line of generations, who can wear many hats. Knowing Campbell and Anthony Lynn’s desire to kick-start the racing game, that would make sense. And it would be like a robbery, to be honest, with how talented he is. “
Azeez Ojulari, JACK, Georgia
Currently being ridiculed by Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports)
Trapasso: “This is the tallest one you’ll probably see Ojulari. But I really believe that it is the super-explosive and flexible type of edge that normally flies upwards during the pre-draft process. “
Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Currently being ridiculed by Mike O’Hara (DetroitLions.com), Mel Kiper (ESPN), Charlie Casserly (NFL.com), Brian Johannes (Huddle Report), Anthony Treash (Focus on professional football), Ben Rolfe (Pro Football Network)
O’Hara: “Linebacker was Lions’ weakest position in 2020, and Parsons is one of 10 potential candidates with dynamic ability.”
It is important to note that Parsons is widely considered to be the best defensive player in this draft class and that is why O’Hara, Casserly, Treash and Rolfe caused the Lions to grab him in 7th position. But not everyone is convinced of it, as evidenced by Kiper and Johannes caused the Lions to drop to 12 and 20, respectively, as they could still select him.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Currently being mocked by Doug Farrar (Landing wire)
Farrar: “You may also notice that I have a linebacker – Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from Notre Dame – chosen with the seventh overall choice. This may seem like an overdraft if you have not watched the Owusu-Koramoah tape and simply use the linebacker designation. After all, the NFL teams played more cents than the base in 2020, according to Sports Info Solutions. But, as was the case with Isaiah Simmons of Clemson in 2020, Owusu-Koramoah transcends any positional designation. He is the very model of the modern versatile defender. Simmons was taken eighth overall by the Cardinals, and I think Owusu-Koramoah could be equally coveted. “