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.