7-round Detroit Lions mock draft after Senior Bowl week
The Senior Bowl in in the bag. After a full week of practice, a lot has gone down. Some guys rose up the board and some guys fell. Some guys got hired by the Lions to be the team's new defensive line coach. After a week of watching the practices and hearing the rumblings, I'm ready […]
The Senior Bowl in in the bag. After a full week of practice, a lot has gone down. Some guys rose up the board and some guys fell. Some guys got hired by the Lions to be the team's new defensive line coach. After a week of watching the practices and hearing the rumblings, I'm ready to put out my post Senior Bowl mock draft. Here it is for eyes to see:
Pick No. 29: T’Vondre Sweat, IDL, Texas
There is no player that was more impressive this past week that Sweat. He wowed everyone with the way he was able to move his 6-foot-4 350+ pound frame. He showed he could rush the passer and stop the run. Whatever he was doing, he was moving offensive linemen around with ease.
Sweat came into this week as a late second round or early third round pick. He has definitely moves himself up to the first round. He'll likely be there in the first round of everyone's mock draft after this week. The good thing is that there's still a pretty good shot that Sweat could find his way to the Lions at 29 based off what teams ahead of the Lions need. We'll see where things go at the combine in March. If he goes off there, we could see him move up more.
Plus he knows Matthew McConaughey. That seems like a plus.
Pick No. 61: Christian Haynes, Guard, UConn
The Lions seem like they're likely going to move on from Jonah Jackson this offseason after down play and multiple injury issues. Haynes would be well worth the second round pick. He also had a big week at the Senior Bowl and there was a moment where he really showed that he could be a Dan Campbell type guy when he just balled so hard that his opponent ripped his helmet off and threw it.
Just hard nose stuff right there. Haynes is going to be the top guard off the board in a April and that was the plan before the Senior Bowl. He did a good job of trying to cement that this week.
He does not know Matthew McConaughey, but he can catch a pass and that's cool.
Pick No. 73: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan
Most Lions fans are well aware of Sainristil's credentials. he was a big part of Michigan winning the National Championship this season. Sainristil finished the season with six interceptions and six pass breakups. He's a scrappy corner that can hang with just about anyone he goes against. The thing that holds him back is his size. There's concerns that he just might not be big enough to handle some of the bigger and stronger guys.
The good news is that the Lions should have a better situation at corner by the time the draft rolls around and they won't have to put Sainristil on the outside a bunch where he could struggle.
He does not know Matthew McConaughey, but Lions safety Kerby Joseph is a big fan of him.
Pick No. 92: Johnny Wilson, WR/TE, Florida State
I’m going with Wilson here because he solves multiple little problems. I believe it was Good Charlotte who said that it was the little things that kill. Bush said that too. Lots of bands are writing songs about how little things could be an issue. They’re totally right about that.
It seems like Wilson is headed more towards being a tight end in the NFL and that still doesn't change the thought process here. Wilson brings a big 6-foot-7 frame to the forefront and creates a red zone threat that can high point the ball and be a mismatch for smaller corners and linebackers. He also brings a nice 4.42 speed to the table as well. He's not just a lumbering big man. He can move.
If the Lions have him at receiver, he could be a problem on the outside. If they have him at tight end, he can be a problem on the inside. It's win/win. There's things he needs to work on for sure. He did have a problem with drops in college, but you're not asking this guy to be your number one, two or even third option. As part of an ensemble, he could play a nice role in Detroit.
It's unclear if he knows Matthew McConaughey.
Pick No. 166: Jaylen Harrell, Edge, Michigan
Two Michigan guys in one draft? I feel like I ripped out my Michigan State heart and threw it at Matthew McConaughey's face. But hey, this Harrell kid is alright. I know you thought I'd do three alright's to keep up this whole McConaughey thing that I'm weirdly doing, but I will not do three alright's.
Harrell had a good season for the Wolverines in 2023. He notched 6 sacks and31 pressures. He also had some highlights at the Senior Bowl that made people turn their heads. Stuff like this.
I know Lions fans are going to want someone like Bralen trice or Chop Robinson, but here's the price of being a good team. You're more than likely not going to be be in the kind of spots you want to be to draft guys like that. At this point, I think the Lions would be better off prioritizing this position in free agency and then adding depth like this in the draft.
Pick No. 207: Willie Drew, CB/S, Virginia State
"Mike, haven't you drafted enough defensive backs today?" the answer is no. Now it's time to go with guy that you can coach up and make something. Drew is that guy for multiple reasons. The big one is that he is a ball hawk. Drew had a 11 interceptions in the last two seasons with Virginia State. He also had 22 PBU's this season alone.
It's division two and you can wonder about the competition he saw, but scouts felt he was good enough to play in the Senior Bowl this year and he turned heads when he was there.
Pick No. 250: Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
While the rest of the Senior Bowl watching media was paying close attention to guys stretching and what not, I was watching Karty banging home 55 yard field goals on multiple occasions. I'm not sure he missed once this week.
I don't really need to go into a whole spiel as to why the Lions should draft a kicker. You know exactly why and I'm not going to bring it up and cause you pain again.
Karty can hit from distance for sure. He kicked a 61-yard field goal for the win over Cal in his junior year. he has the leg and he has the clutch.
The Lions suddenly find themselves having an advantage at the Senior Bowl
What a difference a day makes. On Wednesday the Detroit Lions were on the sidelines watching Senior Bowl practices the same way a lot of other teams were. Suddenly on Thursday they're now on the field with all of the prospects from the American team at the Senior Bowl because the Lions have hired the […]
