NFL Draft - BigDahm Picks - Round One

Information sourced from: DLP Consensus Big Board, NFL Mock Draft DB, RAS, Lions Collective

Spring has nearly sprung, and the NFL Draft (as well as April) is nearly upon us. As we get closer to the draft, I will dive into who I think the Lions will pick as of now. This weighs in the Lions historical best player available approach, along with their tendency to draft for need in round one. Let’s dig into what holes exist in the Lion’s roster today and what I feel is their biggest need.

Roster Holes

This offseason, Taylor Decker, left due to pay disputes (can’t we go one offseason without losing a very important veteran offensive lineman?). I tend to lean the way of the Lions in this battle. You can’t pay an aging tackle with durability concerns the same way you pay a younger more durable offensive tackle. It’s simply good business. However, this leaves a gaping hole in the Lions roster. After listening to Brad Holmes’ exclusive interview with The Lions Collective I am left to think that it would be acceptable for Larry Borom to start at right tackle for a short period of time (I would guess around 4 games).

Moving over to defensive end, the Lions signed DJ Wonnum to slot in across the line from Aiden Hutchinson. However, he is not as much of a pass rush specialist as he is a run blocker. Given this, defensive end is likely just as much of a need as offensive tackle. However, this draft is much deeper at defensive end than it is at offensive tackle. It is likely the Lions can find a starting caliber complement to Aiden Hutchinson in the second round. So, I am going to go with the bigger need here: offensive tackle.

With the Lions 1st Round Pick, I Select Max Iheanachor, Offensive Tackle Arizona State.

So, if I had my choice, I would lean towards the Lions trying to trade down and taking Max Iheanachor out of Arizona State in the first round. Both Detroit Lions Podcast Consensus Draft Board and NFL Mock Draft DB have him sitting at pick 38. I have a gut feeling there will be a run on tackles given the shallow options left in free agency. That would push Max Iheanachor up into a Lions trade down scenario and allow the Lions to pick up more draft capital along the way.

Max is extremely athletic and a mammoth man (per RAS):

While he may need a little bit of time to settle in, I think there is a reasonable possibility that he could be ready to start at right tackle day one. To quote the exclusive interview with Brad Holmes by Lions Collective once again, Brad stated that he is very open with moving Penei Sewell to left tackle. Given he played here in college, and it is easier to slot in at right tackle than left tackle, he likely will be just fine and just as dominant.

Circling back around to Larry Borom, if Max needs 4 weeks into the season before he is ready, Borom has plenty of starting experience. On top of that he will be playing next to Tate Ratledge who quietly had a standout rookie season. I’m not saying he will be perfect in his first start. However, I think the value to talent proposition here is what drives this pick home. The Lions still need to build depth, and perhaps they can pick a 3rd round pick up while trading down in the first.

I know this is a lot of what ifs, however all mock drafts are guessing. This is something (give Holmes’ history in the draft) that I could easily see him doing. The only kicker is, he has to have a “partner to dance with” to trade down. Only time will tell what really will happen.