If you’re unfamiliar with how the Detroit Lions Roundup works, each week we collect data from the latest expert mock drafts released in the last seven days and put them (with links to the original pieces) in an easy-to-read accessible articles together . In addition to providing Lions fans with the names of prospects to be paired with Detroit, we also provide commentary indicative of trends, player affiliation and overall team philosophy.
We’re a dozen days into the 2023 free agency period and the Lions’ aggressiveness has filled several big holes in their roster. After several vulnerabilities were fixed and/or updated, it threw analysts’ bogus drafts into a blender and forecasts are everywhere. Most predictions still see the Lions on defense, but there was a noticeable spike in the number of offensive players paired with the Lions this week — including a player who was taunted by two prominent local beat writers after Detroit.
Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwest
No. 6: Justin Rogers (Detroit News), Dave Birkett (Free Press)
It’s worth noting when a player is taunted to the Lions by a local beat writer, but when two project the same player in the same week, one gets attention and attention.
Skoronski is arguably the best offensive lineman in the 2023 draft cycle and currently ranks in the top 15 on most major draft bigboards, including fourth on the board of Dane Brugler of The Athletic, sixth in the NFL’s Lance Zierlein rankings. com and 8th for Daniel by NFL Network Jeremiah, 12th on the draft board by PFF and 14th for The Draft Network.
For context, Skoronski was so good at left tackle that Northwestern kept him on the blind side to Rashawn Slater (Chargers left tackle and #13 pick in 2022) who they used in right tackle.
Though all of Skoronski’s collegiate snaps (2,363) came in left tackles, he’s expected to be able to play all five offensive line spots. His combination of athleticism (RAS: 9.28 as a tackle, 9.89 as a guard), speed, footwork, balance, hand use and perfect technique are the driving forces in this projection. He could build a bit on his core strength but there aren’t many mistakes in his game.
The biggest hit analysts have with Skoronski is his lack of arm length (32 1/4 inches — almost two inches below the NFL offensive tackle average). It’s rare for an offensive tackle in the NFL to survive with 33-inch arms, which is why several teams are rumored to consider him a purely inside offensive lineman.
That being said, Skoronski’s positive traits strongly suggest he has Pro Bowl potential from day one if a team brings him inside — where the Lions would field him if they picked him.
The Lions offensive line is their team’s strength and there is a case for keeping the unit strong to sustain success, but is the cost of acquiring it worth the investment?
Position value is important to the Lions. There’s a reason they’ve drafted offensive tackle, defensive end, and wide receiver in the first round of the last two drafts while waiting until Day 3 to address positions like tight end and linebacker, which are considered less valuable top-down be considered .
While Skoronski has a high positional range, he would be a keeper for the Lions for at least two seasons (if not his entire career), and guards tend to have lower positional value in the league. Let’s take a quick look at where in the five most recent drafts the first guard was chosen:
- 2022, Kenyon Green, Pick #15
- 2021, Aliyah Vera-Tucker, No. 14
- 2020, Robert Hunt, No. 39
- 2019, Chris Lindstrom, No. 14
- 2018, Quenton Nelson, No. 6
Nelson is the anomaly of the group but he absolutely dominates internally for good reason. But he’s the exception, not the rule. Typically, even the best internal offensive linemen walk off the board in their teens, with seed being found throughout the day through day two.
For example, on the inside offensive line, Lions Pro Bowler Frank Ragnow was selected with the #20 pick, Pro Bowler Jonah Jackson with the #75 pick, Graham Glasgow with the #95 pick, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai with the #164 pick (fifth round) overall .
So that begs the question: is Skoronski the dominant player that is Nelson and is he worth the price at pick #6, or is his value closer to 14/15 based on position value?
In my opinion, getting an internal offensive lineman in the top 10 is a luxury pick, especially when you can historically find value on Day 2. But at the same time, the Lions have a long-term need for the position – Jackson, Glasgow and Vaitai are all in their last year of contract. The roster is set up to design some luxury right now, and Skoronski looks like a Pro Bowl-level player right from the start.
Okay, let’s jump to the rest of this week’s recap.
Will Levis, QB, Kentucky
#6: Vinnie Iyer (Sports News)
No. 18: Brentley Weissman (Draft Network)
Eric’s thoughts:
Most mock drafts see Bryce Young (Alabama), CJ Stroud (Ohio State) and Anthony Johnson (Florida) come off the board in the first four picks. So if the Lions don’t move up, it looks like Levis will be their next option at quarterback.
Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas
No. 18: Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports)
Quintin Johnston, WR, TCU
#16: Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) – Lions trade pick #6, receive picks #16, 97 and 2024 1st round
Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame
No. 18: Mel Kiper (ESPN), Nate Davis (USA Today), Pete Prisco (CBS Sports), Jonathan Alexander (Houston Chronicle)
Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia
No. 18: Greg Auman (Fox Sports)
#27: Colton Pouncy (The Athletic) – Lions trade #s 48, 55, 183 and 194 for the bills for #s 27 and 137
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
#6: Vinnie Iyer (Sports News)
Eric’s thoughts:
Hello Bijan.
Johnston has made his way back into projections for the Lions, and with DJ Chark now in Carolina, I expect more wide receivers — particularly WR-Xs — to be paired with the Lions. Notably, the Lions met with Johnston at the NFL Combine.
The greatest impact of Lions free agency efforts appears to be felt most closely. This would be another luxury pick for the Lions, but it’s a little tastier on pick #18. Mayer and Washington represent more of what the Lions are looking for due to their blocking abilities, while Kincaid is arguably the best pass, catching a tight end in the draft but busy as a blocker.
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
No. 6: Mel Kiper (ESPN), Nate Davis (USA Today), Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland.com), Jonathan Alexander (Houston Chronicle)
Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson
No. 18: Doug Farrar (Touchdown Wire), Shane Hallam (Draft Countdown)
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh
No. 18: Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com)
Eric’s thoughts:
As we discussed in last week’s recap, Carter’s projected fall due to off-field concerns is notable but also possibly overblown. In our Friday open thread, we asked the question: Would you support the Lions in drafting Carter? And at the time of this publication, 75% of Lions fans said yes.
Even if Carter isn’t ranked 6th for the Lions — because he was drafted earlier or they’re passing him on — the depth of defensive tackles remains one of Detroit’s most glaring needs, and the Bresee vs. Kancey vs. them debate is being met. will continue next month.
Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
No. 6: Jeff Risdon (Draft Wire)
Tyree Wilson, EDGE, texas tech
No. 6: Colton Pouncy (The Athlete)
No. 7: Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) – Lions trade pick #6 for picks #7 and 70
Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson
No. 18: Dave Birkett (Free Press), Nick Guarisco (Action Network)
Luke Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa
No. 18: Justin Rogers (Detroit News)
#21: TJ McCreight (The 33rd Team) – Lions trade pick #18, get picks #21 and 85
Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
No. 6: Charles Davis (NFL.com)
No. 18: Michael Renner (PFF), Russell Brown (Fantasy Pros)
Eric’s thoughts:
Despite contract renegotiations for Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris all but assuring they will be on the roster for 2023, several analysts continue to work “for the future” for the Lions on the sidelines.
The bottom line is there is value for edge rushers in this draft class and the Lions drawing for value becomes a common projection.
Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
No. 16: Cam Mellor (Pro Football Network) – Lions trade picks No. 18 and 81 for No. 16
Eric’s thoughts:
I like Simpson as a player and his covering skills would be a huge upgrade for the Lions defending, but I don’t like the value here and I’m not sure how he’s coming onto the field in their current scheme – especially with CJ Gardner-Johnson in the mix for the Lions slot/hang reel.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
No. 6: Daniel Jeremiah (NFL.com), Doug Farrar (Touchdown Wire)
#11: Greg Auman (Fox Sports) – Lions trade pick #6 for Titans picks #11 and 41
No. 18: Jeff Risdon (Draft Wire)
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
No. 6: Michael Renner (PFF), Russell Brown (Fantasy Pros), Brentley Weissman (Draft Network), Pete Prisco (CBS Sports), BJ Rudell (Pro Football Network), Nick Guarisco (Action Network), Shane Hallam (Draft Countdown), TJ McCreight (Team 33), Cam Mellor (Pro Football Network)
No. 18: Charles Davis (NFL.com)
Brian Branch, DB, Alabama
#18: BJ Rudell (Pro Football Network)
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
No. 18: Colton Pouncy (The Athletic)
#22: Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports) – Lions trade pick #18 for pick #22 and 2024 3rd round
Eric’s thoughts:
The Lions have invested heavily in defense this offseason, but a potential long-term need remains, so picking a corner in the first round is a real possibility. Witherspoon, Gonzalez and Banks have been the most popular options to pair with the Lions and they all fit the Lions’ scheme and sporting preferences.
Keep an eye on Banks, whose shares have been rising lately. After elite-level testing at the Combine, analysts have started combing through his feature film and there’s a lot to like – especially for the Lions.
Additionally NFL draft Content of Pride of Detroit
Check out Alex Reno’s position rankings and my coverage of the 2023 NFL Combine.
Position Breakdown:
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