2020 NFL Draft, Day 3, Detroit Lions are on the clock.

The final stretch

On day 3 of the 2020 NFL Draft the Detroit Lions the Lions had the 3rd pick of round 4 (109th overall) which they traded to the Raiders for the 121st overall pick (12 spots lower in round 4) and gained the 172nd pick (towards the end of round 5). That brought their total draft picks back up to 9 in all.

With the 121st pick of the draft the Lions selected Offensive Guard Logan Stenberg. This gives the Lions two new guards to compete for roster spots on the offensive line. With neither Dahl nor Wiggins winning a starting spot outright last year, and with the Lions not re-signing Glasgow, this makes sense. I had thought maybe they'd draft a tackle and move big V to guard but that isn't the way they played it.

Logan has an RAS score of 6.18 and (like most 4th round picks) needs some quality NFL coaching. I had him ranked as the 107th player on my board. Here is what the draft network has to say about Logan:

PROS: Physical and nasty mauler that works to finish every block. Violent, well-paced and properly timed punch that can jolt pads and create opportunities to accelerate his feet and bury opponents. Has tremendous grip strength which helps him sustain. Assignment driven player that understands his role. Effective puller/trapper. Thick, burly frame to match his play style. Exploits leverage points on his opponents. No question about his ability to widen gaps and generate vertical push in the run game. Started every game over the last three seasons.

CONS: Only average foot speed, that combined with his tall pass sets creates some challenges in pass protection. Lateral mobility is disappointing and staying square to twitchy interior rushers requires him to work overtime. Has to play with better bend. Committed way too many penalties in 2019 (14). Has only ever played left guard.

BEST TRAIT - Power

WORST TRAIT - Bend

RED FLAGS - None

Kentucky guard Logan Stenberg enters the NFL after starting every game across the last three seasons for the Wildcats at left guard. Stenberg shines in the run game where his power and tenacious mentality lead to considerable movement. While no pass rusher is simply going through him, Stenberg’s tight hips, slow feet and sluggish lateral movement skills will create problems maintaining the depth of the pocket on passing downs in the NFL. Stenberg has the upside to start in a gap-power run scheme but his modest range isn’t ideal and consistency in deeper pass drops could be problematic.

In summary, he's a mauling run blocker that needs to work a lot on his pass protection. That gives the coaching staff something to work with and work on. Assuming he makes the roster, and I've no reason to suspect he won't, he should end up a backup guard at a minimum for the team.

The Lions and fans then have to wait until pick 166 in the 5th round for their next pick. With the 166th overall pick the Lions select WR Quintez Cephus. Cephus has an RAS score of 4.54 and was ranked 197th on my board (the 6th round). Now I mocked Cephus to the Lions multiple times leading up to the draft so was kind of excited about this pick until other fans started throwing various items at me. The first issue was he has 8 3/4" hands (which to me is small, more prone to fumbling as I said yesterday). The next issue was his forty time, which is only 4.73 seconds. He has great explosion, good size, but doesn't have the second gear or break-away speed. He does have great body control and can block himself open though, plus his yards after the catch makes him a promising prospect. I wanted to compare him to Golden Tate, but Tate has poor size and great speed... so I'm not sure how well Cephus' game will translate into the NFL. The Lions must feel more confident though. Here's what the draft network has to say about him:

Route Tree - I like his releases, shows balanced and intentional footwork to create freezes and false steps off the LOS vs. press. He's not the most dynamic on hard angles but he's a deliberate mover and if he's not impacted in the contact window, he'll build speed and can create/roll through shallow breaks for separation.

Hands - He's got plucky hands and snatches the ball out of the air with confidence — really like his work in traffic, high point situations and in uncontested scenarios. He has illustrated some good hand-eye coordination on hot throws that test his catch radius to tip himself the football.

Contested Catch - Has mistimed a few opportunities to elevate but he's got a fair amount of bounce and typically will still win favorable positioning when he's got to go above the rim. He's tough and shows good timing with back shoulder balls and timing routes that require body control along the sideline to peel back to the football.

RAC Ability - Doesn't have a lot of explosive cuts in his game, he's more sudden and fluid than he is dynamic unless you give him a notable runway to build speed and accelerate. Good toughness — but he's lost his footing on light contact a few too many times to write off and say he'll rip through light contact down the field.

Football IQ - Was really impressive to see him step back into offense in 2019 after missing full season and be as effective and polished as he was. Innate feel for the position and appreciate his timing, ball skills and nuance. He's a cerebral player whose got a terrific foundation to build upon.

Vertical Receiving - Play him off or in bump and run, he'll challenge you — his flying 20 is effective and he's shown some easy separation beyond 10-15 yards as he opens his strides. He's pretty effective with his releases against press but hand fighting is where he'll really burn DBs and he's got tracking skills and body control to win in tight space.

COD Skills - He's not super explosive with his cuts and hard angles aren't the easiest for him to transfer speed through — he loses his appeal some when he's got to fold back across his momentum. He's fluid at the LOS and does have effective release ability to slip contact — just don't expect dynamic speed cuts.

Speed - Long speed is better than short area burst. Quick game has to feature slants or shallow breaks — he'll allow DBs back into his body on hard breaks because he can't really sell vertically vs. off coverage inside 10 yards. He's got effective open field juice, but not a burner by any means.

Competitive Toughness - He's scrappy and when he flips the switch, he can be pretty tenacious in just about every measure of a WR. Whether that be as a blocker, at the catch point, at the LOS or in RAC scenarios, he's got a good blend of quickness, strength, balance and intensity that blend for a fun mix.

Blocking Skills He can be hit or miss here, not because of effort but rather there are some angles that are too flat pressing into a challenge and he'll leave himself out to dry and let DBs shoot across his face when he's stalk blocking or looking for inside leverage. Mobility and hand strength is effective.

Best Trait - Route Running

Worst Trait - Short Area COD

Best Film - Ohio State (2019)

Worst Film - Michigan (2019)

Red Flags - Missed 2018 season facing sexual assault allegations (case was dismissed)

Player Summary - Quintez Cephus is one of the more undervalued receivers in the class of 2020. Cephus can win from the outside, he can win from the slot and if he played in about 100 other offenses in college football he'd have had drastically better production. Significant off-field allegations (since cleared) kept him off the field in 2018 but Cephus bounced back with a strong 2019 campaign, showing effective releases, strong hands and an assertive mentality with the ball in the air. Potential starter.

At pick 172 in the 5th round the Lions select running back Jason Huntley. Huntley has an RAS score of 8.08 with great speed, elite explosion, okay agility, and poor size... because he's all of 5' 8 1/2" tall. He also only has 8.25 inch hands. He's not known for fumbling though, so he must also work on it constantly. Huntley was the fastest RB at the combine... which may be why he was picked up despite already drafting a RB in round 2. More info and a video; https://nfldraftrite.com/2020/04/08/stop-sleeping-on-jason-huntley/ That article speaks of his ability to break tackles, that could also come in handy when you don't want to be held up and have the ball stripped out from your small hands. This is not my favorite pick, but he is an intriguing pick none the less.

At pick 197 in the 6th round the Lions selected NT John Penisini. He does not have a RAS score as his pro day was canceled as well. I wonder if more players will now participate fully at the combine just in case pro days are canceled again. Anyway, Penisini is a huge run stuffing DT. Think Snacks Harrison only younger (and cheaper). He'll start out backing up Danny Shelton. Here's what the draft network has to say on John:

PROS: Dude is tank against the run. Squatty frame with built-in leverage that is difficult to move. Anchor is stout and he’s aggressive when competing for his gap(s). One guy isn’t moving him off his spot. Doesn’t have great length but he’s deliberate about getting his hands fit and playing with extension. Hands are violent with a ton of pop. Contact balance and leverage are terrific. When he fires into the neutral zone, he does so with urgency and frequently resets the line of scrimmage. Holds his own against double teams.

CONS: Wish he offered more as a pocket pusher on passing downs but his bull rush isn’t that effective. Could use a bit more length. Is not consistent in clearing contact and finishing. One-dimensional player. How will his anchor fare against NFL blockers? Phone booth guy with minimal range.

BEST TRAIT - Run Defense

WORST TRAIT - Pass Rush

RED FLAGS - None

Utah John Penisini is a stout run defender that projects best to the NFL as an early down run stuffer, serving as a nose tackle. His squatty and powerful frame is tough to uproot for blockers and Penisini plays with a hot motor. Overall, he’s simply a load to deal. With that said, his pass rushing profile is underwhelming, even as a pocket pusher. Penisini shouldn’t have trouble finding work in base defense but his pass rushing upside is minimal at best.

In the 7th round at pick 235 the Lions selected DT/EDGE Jashon Cornell. The third Ohio State player. He hasn't yet got an RAS score but he will eventually. Here is his bio from Ohio https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/roster/jashon-cornell/ and here is what pro football network has to say:

Jashon Cornell, DT Career Snapshot: First-year starter who was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and made 30 tackles (6.5 for loss) with four sacks as a senior in 2019. Combined to make 29 tackles (5.5 for loss) with three sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons. Positives: Quick, explosive three-technique prospect who comes off a terrific season. Flashes athleticism and displays the ability to get down the line of scrimmage and make plays in pursuit. Plays with leverage, works his hands throughout the action and gets the most from his ability. Shows great quickness and the ability to make plays in any direction. Negatives: Lacks bulk. Easily out-positioned from the action by opponents. Did not move into the starting lineup until his senior season. Marginally productive. Analysis: Cornell comes off a terrific senior season after he was not even graded by scouts coming into the year and performed well as a starter. He must get bigger, but his quickness, ability to change direction and movement skills lend well to the three-technique tackle spot at the next level.

That for a 7th round pick isn't bad. If he makes the roster he'll be backing up Nick Williams and maybe some of the other DL jobs, depending on how coachable he is and how long it takes to learn all involved.

So, to summarize the draft, the Lions got the best corner back in the draft in Jeff Okudah, a decent RB in D'Andre Swift, and Jack/OLB/DE in Julian Okwarea, a guard in Jonah Jackson that can in a pinch play center, another run mauling guard in Logan Stenberg, a body control WR in Quintez Cephus, the fastest RB at the combine in Jason Huntley, a huge run stuffing nose tackle in John Penisini, and a inside/outside DL 3t DT in Jashon Cornell. It did not address all the needs, and some of the picks won't be looked upon as good choices by fans who wanted someone else (what's new there) but the Lions did address a lot of roster spots that I spoke about before the draft started.

By the way, speaking of before the draft... I had by draft board (posted at http://www.thenetrat.com/draft.html) and 98 of the first 100 were selected in the 2020 draft. In addition, the huddle report keeps track of how many picks of a top 100 list get drafted with the first 100 picks. Mel Kiper, who I always want to beat but have only once, got 81 this year. I got 83 for my second win. ESPN still pays me nothing so I guess it doesn't really matter.

One final tidbit, here is the CBS grade for the Lions draft:

Round Overall Player Selected Grade
1 3 CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State B
2 35 RB D'Andre Swift, Georgia C+
3 67 EDGE Julian Okwara, Notre Dame A-
3 75* G Jonah Jackson, Ohio State A
4 121* G Logan Stenberg, Kentucky D+
5 166* WR Quintez Cephus, Wisconsin B+
5 172* RB Jason Huntley, New Mexico State D+
6 197* DT John Penisini, Utah A-
7 235* DT Jashon Cornell, Ohio State C+

You may not agree with CBS, or me, or the Lions, but this is what we have to work with on the roster, now it's time to see who they sign as undrafted free agents. Then let the competition (for roster spots) begin!

2020 NFL Draft, Day 2, Detroit Lions are on the clock.

Hitting their targets.

The Detroit Lions spent day 2 of the NFL Draft either staying and drafting where they were or moving up to select specific targets as I knew they would. It didn't help, I'm sure, that the Patriots used their draft capital to keep jumping in front of the Lions and most likely drafting other targets. Still, I think the Lions got a lot of the players they wanted day 2.

At overall pick 35 the Lions drafted running back D'Andre Swift. I had him ranked 30th overall, so he went about where I thought he would. Swift has an RAS score of 7.56 (just short of the 8.0 or higher elite athlete rank). My biggest issue with the pick is he only has 9" hands. I consider anything under 9 3/8" hands to be small. The difference isn't much but it does mean the player has to be self conscious of fumbling and must protect the ball every time they come into contact with it. It also makes it progressively harder to catch the ball when playing like a receiver. Swift is noted for his routes and pass catching so it's possible he is aware of this and does work to keep his hands strong and the ball protected when running.

Drew over at the huddle report has this to say about him and I think it pretty much sums it up completely.

D’Andre Swift RB Georgia by Drew Boylhart • February 18, 2020 STRENGTHS D’Andre has good size, quickness, and speed and has been one of the more consistent productive Running Backs in college for the last two years. He does a solid job blocking and in the right offense can impact both running the ball and as a receiver on check-downs or down the field. D’Andre has the quickness to make players miss and when running from the right system and has the vision to bounce the ball to the outside and gain yardage in chunks. He is smart and works well with his teammates and shows leadership skills through his consistency on the field and workmanlike play. CONCERNS D’Andre runs light and high, very much like the Rams Todd Gurley. This makes him susceptible to injuries and fumbling although to my knowledge, neither of these two concerns has been an issue at the college level. When D’Andre lowers his pads, he seems to lose the vision to make yardage when there is no yardage to make. That sends a signal that D’Andre needs to be in a spread offense to impact in the running game more so than a conventional QB under center offense because of the bigger splits in the offensive line.

BOTTOM LINE 2.86
D’Andre will impact in the right offensive system. He has the hands to catch the ball down the field and when his QB is in the shotgun D’Andre does very well running the ball between the tackles when the holes are bigger and the linebackers are spread out. He is not a true speed running back and is not necessarily the type of running back who has explosive lateral agility to make his own yardage but he is a smart player with the talent to run well between the tackles and catch the ball making yardage, that is need to move the ball in chunks and make the important yardage an offense needs to make. I can see some teams rating D’Andre higher on their boards than other teams if I’m correct about him fitting a certain offense to impact. I can also see teams looking at his combine numbers to decide where they might select him. As for me, what you see is what you will get when watching film of him at the college level. For me, D’Andre is an RB that has to be in the right system to impact and not put into situations his talent will not allow him to impact. Don’t ask him to block a blitzing player on third and long. don’t ask him to make the tough yardage on third and short for a first down and don’t ask him to be a goal-line RB. He needs to be in a two-back system.

On to round 3 of the draft. At 67 the Lions selected OLB (Jack)/DE Julian Okwara. If the name sounds familiar it's because his older brother (by 3 years) Romeo Okwara has been a Lion for going on 3 years now. I had Julian ranked 49th overall (2nd round), so he is a pretty good value where the Lions drafted him. Julian has no RAS score as his pro day was canceled due to COVID-19.

The draft network profile on him pretty much sums up what the Lions will get to work with where it comes to Julian Okwara.

PROS: The athletic profile here is exciting. Has the type of juice out of his stance that puts considerable stress on offensive tackles to keep pace up the arc. Surprisingly good ability to convert speed to power and condense the pocket. There is room for technical growth but his hands are active and sudden. Dip and rip/cross-chop are his best moves. Complements his burst with good flexibility throughout his frame and the ability to corner. Comfortable worker in space and he flows well in all directions. Has upside as a standup 3-4 OLB defending the run. Motor runs hot.

CONS: Needs to become more consistent with pad level and surface area reduction to keep hands off his frame. Want to see him take the next step in terms of disengaging when on the same level as the quarterback as a rusher. Can be a touch calculated both initiating his pass rush plan and diagnosing the run. The more space the better and he’s not likely a candidate for even fronts. Had plenty of struggles defending the run and he frequently gets blasted out of his gap. Adding functional strength is critical for his success in the NFL.

BEST TRAIT - Burst and Bend

WORST TRAIT - Functional Strength

RED FLAGS - 2019 broken left fibula

NFL COMP - Barkevious Mingo

Julian Okwara is a bursty, bendy and lean pass rusher who impressed in 2018 but did not quite take the step many expected in 2019 and final season at Notre Dame was cut short due to a broken left fibula. Okwara has a solid foundation of traits to serve as a 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. His warts as a run defender would be mitigated in that role and he has the movement skills to execute responsibilities in space. I’m not sure he’ll ever be an impact run defender but his flexibility and twitch gives him a chance to affect the passer which is of great value in the NFL. He isn’t a fit for every team, but he should be able to carve out a meaningful role as a situational pass rusher at a minimum.

The Lions later traded the Darius Slay pick (85 overall) to the Colts. The Colts traded their third-round (75th-overall) and sixth-round (197th-overall) picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for their third-round (85th-overall), fifth round (149th-overall) and sixth-round (182nd-overall) picks. In other words, the Lions moved up 10 spots in the third, gave up the 149th pick (5th round) completely, and moved down 15 spots in the 6th round. With the 75th overall pick the Lions selected Guard Jonah Jackson. Jackson has an RAS score of 6.44 and I had him ranked 97 overall (late 3rd). The Lions didn't wonder all over my board this year like year's past, they pretty much got value for all their picks save the first one.

This is one of his three draft profiles over at the draft network which gives you some insight into how the Lions need to coach him up and have him work on his technique and physique at the same time.

Functional Athleticism - His cadence is really strong, appreciate his ability as a puller, climbing to the second level and in pass protection to slide or hit his marks with swift efficiency and without overextending himself. His mobility is boosted by loose hips and a wide base to stay tethered and balanced.

Football IQ - Transfer from Rutgers who has been exposed to play at both guard and center throughout the course of his college career. Rave reviews for his football IQ and ability to process action up front, which is backed up by rarely being caught out of position or panicking when penetration threatens his gap.

Anchor Ability - Effective hop technique to gear down rushers looking to attack him with power. He's got a well built frame with ample density through the hips and showcases good e-brake in the interior to halt penetration. Boosted by effective length and striking timing to put off defender's momentum.

Hand Technique - He puts his extension skills to good use and does well to adjust as defenders look to slip his first punch to ensure he's set the hook. Pretty potent and well timed punch power — he's not overwhelmingly powerful but he's compact and clean with his hands, even when playing laterally at the LOS.

Balance - Watch him work and enjoy the show, he'll slide effortlessly and pops his hips open to transition and ride out defenders and create vacancies at the POA for his ball carriers. Body control is really smooth and he's effective to break down on the second level and square up LBs, too.

Pass Sets - Rarely caught out of position, he'll take compact but smooth steps to set up on his hips and shows comfort driving to wall off gap penetration or converting into squat to gear down power rushers looking to destroy up field momentum. Like his lower body density and hip mobility to drop and hold ground.

Flexibility - Fluid. Pretty smooth in pulls and can open himself effectively to get width. When he's stringing out blocks, he's effective to work across face and rarely looks to have issues with opening his base to gain ground and build leverage as the play is strung out along the LOS. Good initial pad level and hip drop.

Power at POA - He's not necessarily the most powerful mauler when he's tasked with charging forward and gaining real estate, but his functional strength is at a better place than some of the past OSU IOL to have passed through the NFL draft process and he'd be fine in gap/power concepts if charged with it.

Length - His anatomical reach is effective, especially in zone to stay sticky on blocks and ensure he's maintaining control of the play while defenders look to press or shuck the block. He does well to establish contact early in reps and won't give up his chest very often.

Competitive Toughness - He's pretty tenacious thanks to his foot mobility and balance. He's persistent to push and stay into the body of defenders throughout the play — mirror skills aid in his stickiness in pass pro and shows good effort to recover on reps when he's conceded some initial penetration into a hip to hip relationship.

Best Trait - Balance

Worst Trait - Raw Power

Best Film - Michigan State (2019)

Worst Film - Clemson (2019)

Red Flags - None

Player Summary - Jonah Jackson projects as a viable NFL starter at the next level. Jackson, who transferred from Rutgers to spend his final college season in Columbus, has ample body control and strong cadence on the interior to set up clean framing of his blocks and was a consistent catalyst for big plays in the run game throughout the 2019 season. Jackson projects best to a zone scheme, given his lateral mobility and footwork — but he would be a viable option in a gap heavy scheme as well.

Updated: 02/24/2020

He played some center and mostly right guard at Rutgers and played left guard at Ohio State earning him awards for his work there.

The Lions did a good job hiding their interest in these players and that will likely carry on into day 3 which makes it very hard for me to guess who they might target there. Here are a few names that just might come up though.

DT Larrell Murchinson RAS of 7.1
OT Colton McKivitz RAS of 4.35
QB James Morgan RAS of 3.87
S Jalen Elliott RAS of 4.1
S Josh Metellus RAS of 7.79 (better)
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones RAS of 9.63
WR Antonio Gandy-Golden RAS of 6.15
WR Gabriel Davis RAS of 6.89
WR John Hightower RAS of 8.03
WR Joe Reed RAS of 9.35

They may select one slot WR and one deep threat WR yet this draft. They could also look at a 4th QB, maybe a safety, possibly a DT or NT, even an offensive tackle. They could also double up and take another corner or linebacker. Day 3 is all about potential, usually unrealized, so this is where the scouting department needs to shine the most.

2020 NFL Draft, Day 1, Detroit Lions are on the clock.

Not what I wanted.

With the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select CB Jeff Okudah. Many fans wanted the Lions to trade down using the third overall pick as draft capital to acquire more picks. That didn't happen. Word is there were no solid offers, only general discussion of possibilities, which basically means no team was all that overly interested. If a deal for them was there, then maybe, but if the Lions were serious about any offer needing to be extreme, then it was a no go. Many fans won't think that is the way to go, that any extra pick would be worth it, but that's not how Quinn sees things. He had his target and unless you made such a huge offer as to get him to move off that target, it was never going to happen. That is his operating method and I'm not surprised by it at all.

Many fans including myself preferred that the Lions draft Isaiah Simmons. He can play all over the defense and if used correctly would make a huge impact for his team. A difference maker. The Cardinals drafted him at 8th overall, so we'll see if he used correctly there (I suspect he will be) and just how much of a difference he makes. But we won't be seeing him do that with the Lions.

Other fans had their eyes set on QB Tua Tagovailoa, but that was never going to happen. Those fans just can't fathom that the Lions are quite happy with Stafford as the starting QB. They have absolutely no intention of replacing him any time soon. That doesn't mean a QB won't be drafted at some point, for a 4th camp QB and competition for the backup jobs, but it does mean that high draft capital won't be used at that position.

Another fan favorite was DT Derrick Brown. He will be a pretty good defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers who drafted him 7th overall in their 4-3 defense. The Lions run very few 4-3 defensive plays however, and Browns talent would've been wasted in the Motor City. The Lions defensive line needs big players who can move, who are strong and can play inside or outside depending on the play set. The big nose tackle, two DT/DE combo players, and outside linebackers to can fill in outside of them on occasion. Look for the Lions to yet draft an EDGE (a bookend to Flowers) and a Jack LB (to rotate in and play coverage or pass rush, depending on the play call). I'm not sure which rounds those picks will come in though.

Anyway, some info on the Lions new CB Jeff Okudah. Drew over at www.theHuddleReport.com has this to say about him:
2020 Player Profiles
Jeff Okudah CB Ohio St
by Drew Boylhart • January 2, 2020

STRENGTHS
Jeff has the size, strength, football intelligence any sure tackling skills to play any one of the defensive back positions in any style defense. He shows the agility, quick feet, and adjustment to the ball in the air to make receivers wish they had his skills. He is smart in zone coverage and communicates well with his teammates showing the leadership needed to become a core player for any style defense at any position as a safety, cornerback or used in the slot. He shows a good burst to the ball and shows solid makeup speed. He can be used as a single free safety because he shows on film the speed, quickness, and football IQ to anticipate and roam from sideline to sideline. Jeff’s best attribute is his passion to impact and understand down and distance. Jeff is a potential shut down defensive player who shows the hands to make interceptions and the size and talent to play any position in your defensive backfield.

CONCERNS
My biggest concern would be trying to replace Jeff’s impact when he gets injured. He throws himself around making tackles and defending passes and this could be a problem staying on the field. Of course, that truly is not a reason to not select him early in this draft, isn’t that obvious?

BOTTOM LINE 1.48
Remember what I always say, “when you see the obvious, you draft the obvious”. Jeff is obvious. Because of his size and skillset and sure tackling Jeff is not only a talented player, he is also a value player and that will make him rated high on most team’s draft boards. Jeff also shows the maturity needed to accept millions of dollars from the team that selects him and still show up for work. He is one of those players that teams will select even if they have depth at the defensive back position because his talent and skillset and size are obvious and you always draft the obvious when it is sitting there right in front of you.
Drew Boylhart
dboylhart@thehuddlereport.com

When you read that you can ascertain what the Lions see in Okudah as a player. It's never good to read just one source though, so allow me to paste a couple tidbits from www.pff.com 's draft guide (it's behind a pay wall):

Ohio State’s Jeffrey Okudah looks to be about as complete a cornerback prospect as we’ve seen in our time grading college football. He’s not only got the on-field performance, but he also has the longest wingspan of any corner in the draft class. There are no sure things at the position, but his on-field dominance and physical tools look close to it.

Okudah really does have it all. The 'cons' on his scouting report were some of the most difficult to write of any prospect in the class. He not only has a high floor, but everything you want for a high ceiling.

Cons:
Needlessly physical down the field. Grabs even in good position because he can get away with it.

Pros:
Ideal size and length for the position. Can execute any coverage asked of him.

No fear of getting beat deep. Longest completion allowed last year was 28 yards.

Exceptional feet for larger corner. Rare to see a slip or stumble on his tape.

Immediately closes space between him and WR. Not content running on back hip.

Jolts WRs in press. Packs a lot of punch.

0 dropped interceptions.

In summary, the Lions weren't able to convert their draft capital into more picks (in the first round, not to say the can't in other rounds). They didn't select the player many fans wanted (there is never a consensus on this anyway). They did select the safer pick, but if he manages to get an interception to seal a win in the playoffs all will be forgiven by nearly everyone I am sure. Now to firm up the rest of the roster in order for the team to even make it to the playoffs. There is still a ton of talent to be found.

Day 2 Round 2 prospects for the Lions (other then a trade down) include:
EDGE A.J. Epenesa
RB Jonathan Taylor
DL Ross Blacklock
OT/OG Erza Cleveland
LB Terrel Lewis
WR/TE Chase Claypool
WR Denzel Mims

and many many others. I listed those above merely due to the fact that the Lions have been tied to each in some form of meetings or other interest.

Me personally, and this won't be popular either, I would love to see either RB Taylor or WR Claypool in round 2.

Day 2 Round 3 prospects for the Lions (other then a trade down) include:
WR K.J. Hamler
S Kyle Dugger
RB Cam Akers
EDGE Curtis Weaver
EDGE Bradlee Anae
DL Raekwon Davis
EDGE Jonathan Greenard

and many others. Again, listed those with ties to the Lions, though technically any Senior could be on the list as the Lions coaching staff were the Senior Bowl coaches for the North team and know many if not most of the players from that.

Lots of talent, lots of options, lots of ways to tick off more fans. What will happen is still a major question mark, but it's still intriguing none the less, and if the picks work out as well as the Lions (and fans) believe, the team gets a talent boost that is sorely needed.

The 2020 Draft is coming up this week

With the draft coming up this week I wanted to make a quick blog entry to get things started.

I have have updated my estimated depth chart to include the 2020 roster as it stands today. I had to change some of the positions as the Lions have changed some of the job descriptions as they move into a versatile yet 3-4 base. I believe the Lions will look for D-Line players who can play either inside (when in 4-3 mode) or outside (when in 3-4 mode) so versatility is going to be key.

Guys like Chase Young, Javon Kinlaw, and A.J. Epenesa come to mind as some options. LB/S Isaiah Simmons is versatile all on his own, he makes me think of Matt Patricia's desire for versatile players. Jeff Okudah is expected to play man coverage very well in the NFL and that keeps him on the radar, as well as a number of other CBs throughout the draft.

But the Lions can't draft them all. One maybe two, and to get two they'd have to trade down. Now Quinn in the past has always (always) reserved the number of draft picks he has from his roster of 90 people. Up until last week the Lions had 9 draft picks and 81 players under contract. Then they released 3 players last week, taking them down to 78... and they have not signed anyone to take those spots. This, to me, means they have trades lined up that will add 3 more picks to their board. We won't know if that is what will happen until Thursday night, but it could.

I have made my top 123 board http://www.thenetrat.com/draft.html but making a contact list this year was near on impossible with visits primarily being virtual due to COVID-19 but we did get some. DBs, OL, DL, and LB were all looked at all throughout the draft boards (as we understand them). I can't think of one position that is perfectly safe from having a draft pick added to provide depth and competition, though a few are more unlikely then others. I haven't mentioned here in the blog but for the past couple months I've been writing weekly articles for www.sideLionReport.com under my real name. Here's a few of the recent articles... https://sidelionreport.com/author/gnielsen/ go there to click on any of them. I bring it up as the most recent is the one where I talk about the roster and needs and openings, etc.

So my thinking goes like this for day 1 of the draft... a trade down (or more then one maybe) 40% chance. Drafting Chase Young if there 40% chance. Drafting Isaiah Simmons in round one 30% chance (yes that's more then 100% but you can trade down and still draft a guy). Drafting an offensive tackle first pick wherever you are 25% chance. Drafting Jeff Okudah 20% chance. Drafting a QB in the first round 5% chance. Drafting Derrick Brown in the first round 6% chance. Drafting any skill position on offense with the first pick in round 1 is a 1% chance. And screwing up the draft entirely due to internet outages, power outages, or other user error type matters... at least 5 times more likely or a 5% chance.

In other words, I think, probably, the Lions draft Young if there or trade down if not.

Could I be wrong? Yep. Easily. It's just what I think at this point. Even though I have done a number (okay dozens) of mock drafts and posted them in the forum doesn't mean I'm prepared to guess about day 2 or day 3 of the draft yet until day 1 is over. So here's to the 2020 draft, what will likely turn out to be one of the strangest drafts in the history of the NFL draft.