• Round 1, Pick 30: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo — Mitchell posted elite coverage grades in both 2022 and 2023 and forced the most incompletions (36) of any cornerback in the FBS during that time.
• Round 2, Pick 62: DI Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson — Orhorhoro can complement Alim McNeill as someone who can get on the field early in run defense and then develop into more of a pass rusher throughout his rookie season.
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The Detroit Lions have built their team the right way — through the draft — over the past few offseasons, and the results have propelled them to an NFC championship game appearance. Though they are still in reach of a Super Bowl this year, there’s no reason to not take a peek at the potential of this coming offseason and how they can make even more upgrades.
The Lions are next up in our five-round team mock draft series.
Round 1, Pick 30: CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO
The Lions’ most common projected need this offseason is at outside cornerback. Brian Branch has been fantastic as their nickel defender, but they need to continue to invest in the position with an outside type of coverage player.
Mitchell created some of the best ball production in the country over the past two seasons. He posted elite coverage grades in both 2022 and 2023 and forced the most incompletions (36) of any cornerback in the FBS during that time. Not only that, he's an incredibly explosive athlete (former track guy) who has NFL-level click-and-close ability in his off-coverage roles.
Round 2, Pick 62: DI RUKE ORHORHORO, CLEMSON
At 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, Orhorhoro comes with a lot of versatility as a defensive lineman. He started 30 games in his college career, and over the past two seasons, he became a very reliable run defender, even at a lower weight profile. Alim McNeill is coming off his best year in the pros and should be a mainstay along Detroit’s defensive line, but he needs a complement. Orhorhoro can be that — someone who can get on the field early in run defense and then develop into more of a pass rusher throughout his rookie season.
Round 3, Pick 73: G CHRISTIAN MAHOGANY, BOSTON COLLEGE
The Lions field one of the NFL's best offensive lines, a big reason why they’re still playing football in late January. But with Jonah Jackson and Graham Glasgow set to hit the free-agent market, there could be some shifting going on with the unit. Even if they both return, Glasgow's age means they could use some youth in there. Mahogany plays with an in-your-face style that the Lions seem to have built their trenches around. He’s one of the more powerful interior offensive linemen in this class, earning PFF pass-blocking grades above 80.0 in each of the past two seasons.
Round 3, Pick 93: CB KHYREE JACKSON, OREGON
I truthfully went in search of edge rush options for each of the past two picks, but no one of good value was on the board. So, here I have Detroit double-dipping at outside cornerback. Jackson is listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, and he endured a roller coaster of a college football journey.
He played wide receiver in high school, then switched to cornerback while attending Fort Scott Community College. He then transferred to EMCC, featured on “Last Chance U,” for the 2020 season, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. He transferred to Alabama, where he played sparingly for two seasons, and finally ended up at Oregon for the 2023 campaign. This past season was his best yet. His movement skills are intriguing for a player with his length and press coverage abilities. He allowed just 206 passing yards and a sub-50% completion percentage this past year.
Round 5, Pick 167: EDGE BRENNAN JACKSON, WASHINGTON STATE
I couldn’t get out of this mock draft without giving the Lions at least one edge rusher. Jackson is a powerful player at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds. He isn’t a pass-rush specialist, with his career pass-rush win rate hovering around 11%. But he has a strong bull rush and doesn’t shy away from contact. He feels like the kind of football player the Lions gravitate toward as a depth player on the edge.
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