• Edge defender in Round 1: The Lions may use extra depth on the place after the Aidan Hutchinson damage.
• Finding a Kevin Zeitler alternative?: Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson may step in for the veteran instantly.
• Draft and commerce for your self: Try PFF’s Mock Draft Simulator — commerce picks and gamers and mock in your favourite NFL staff.
Estimated studying time: 3 minutes
The Detroit Lions are the very best staff in soccer proper now, they usually look poised to make a critical run on the Super Bowl in 2024.
They have drafted very properly in recent times, and if that continues, then they need to be capable to preserve their title window open for an prolonged time frame.
Here, we check out how we might method the draft if we have been Detroit.
Round 1 (32): EDGE LT Overton, Alabama
The Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith on the commerce deadline after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending damage earlier within the 12 months, so including extra depth on the place would make a whole lot of sense. Overton has earned an 80.8 total PFF grade in 2024, together with a 78.2 PFF pass-rushing grade, having registered 31 complete pressures from 207 pass-rushing snaps.
Round 2 (64): G Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Kevin Zeitler is properly into his profession now, so discovering a possible alternative for him within the second spherical may doubtlessly land the Lions a starter instantly. Jackson has recorded an total PFF grade above 68.0 in all 4 of his seasons at Ohio State, although he’s at present in the course of his lowest-graded season in go safety with solely a 59.7 mark.
Round 3 (96): S Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Depth within the defensive backfield hardly ever hurts, even when the Lions aren’t out there for a beginning security proper now. Bowman has notched PFF protection grades above 70.0 in every of the previous three seasons, and his 70.6 PFF run protection grade in 2024 is a profession excessive as issues stand.