7-Round Detroit Lions Thanksgiving mock draft, the Lions solve two major issues early

The Lions find their future center in Auburn’s Connor Lew

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Yeah, I know it’s Thanksgiving week, but I have no desire to go to rehab.

I will continue to feed this uncontrollable addiction to Detroit Lions mock drafts. I have too much draft stuff in my head right now, and now you’re all forced to see it. Let’s get into it.

Trade down with the Seahawks

The Lions are currently holding the 18th pick. I saw that as a chance to move down and still get a great player while also picking up an extra second-round pick. Thank you, Seattle.

Lions get: 25th pick in the first round and 59th pick in the second round
Seahawks get: 18th pick in the first round and 231st pick in the seventh round

25th pick: Connor Lew, C, Auburn

It’s never been clearer that the Lions need to invest in their future at center, and while I think Tate Ratledge moving there is something Detroit is considering, getting the best center and arguably the best interior lineman in the draft is the better route.

That allows Detroit to keep Ratledge on the right side, where he’s been pretty good. Fans might not see it as the sexiest pick Brad Holmes has ever made, but when the offensive line is moving bodies, and Goff has a clean pocket, they’ll love it.

Lew has allowed 19 pressures and three sacks in three years at Auburn.

50th pick: John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma

I say for the 10th time this season, the Lions are paying a lot of attention to quarterbacks right now, and this is a solid quarterback draft. I say again for the 10th time this season, that does not mean that Goff is out or will be out any time soon. But here’s your chance to grab a good player who can grow over time, and when he’s ready, he’s ready.

Mateer reminds me a lot of Jaxson Dart: he’s a dual threat with a solid arm, but maybe he needs some time to cook. In Detroit, Mateer gets to cook while not having to be the starter right away. When he hits the field, he could be a baller in the NFL.

59th pick: Isaiah World, OT, Oregon

Some Lions fans may have wanted me to double down on the interior, but I would feel pretty good about Ratledge, Lew, and Miles Fraizer. That’s a solid group. I’m going with a tackle here because we don’t know how much longer Taylor Decker will play.

The Lions have to find their next left tackle, and considering they’ve been out to Oregon multiple times this year, they might see World as a possible replacement.

118th pick: Boubacar Traore, Edge, Notre Dame

We just wrote about the Lions and Traore last week. Detroit has watched Notre Dame three times this season, and it has to be for either Traore or another guy we’ll talk about later. Traore is balling out this season. He has 7.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 31 pressures. He could be that guy opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

  • 159th pick: Jalen Stroman, S, Notre Dame: This is the other guy I was talking about. The Lions might be in the market for extra safety depth this year.
  • 196th pick: Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia: The Lions need some tight-end depth beyond Sam LaPorta, but they don’t have to overdraft for it right now.
  • 200th pick: Desmond Reid, RB, Pitt: As much as I want to tell you that everything will be OK with David Montgomery, I can’t. The Lions have been sniffing around Pitt this year, and Reid is their best player.
  • 255th pick: Jack Velling, TE, Michigan State: The Lions need tight end depth, and I might have just done this pick for myself.

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