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We are still in the midst of the 2022 NFL Playoffs, but here at DSN, and plenty of other outlets, we are already knee-deep in our talks about the 2023 NFL Draft. Of course, we are mostly focused on our Detroit Lions, especially when it comes to what they will decide to do in the opening round, where they have the No. 6 and No. 18 overall picks. On Wednesday, NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper released his 2023 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 and he has Detroit addressing the defensive side of the ball.
Why it Matters
If you paid attention to the Lions in 2022, you are well aware of the fact that the offense is light years ahead of the defense. Because of that, it is crucial that GM Brad Holmes makes some moves during the offseason, both via free agency and the 2022 NFL Draft, to improve the defensive side of the ball.
- The Lions had the No. 28 ranked defense in the NFL according to the DVOA rankings on Football Outsiders
- No. 23 against the pass
- No. 26 against the rush
Detroit Lions attack defense in Mel Kiper’s 2023 NFL Mock Draft 1.0
As noted earlier, Detroit currently has the No. 6 and No. 18 overall picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. Here is what Kiper believes they will do with those picks, along with his rationale.
- Round 1, Pick No. 6 – Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech
- Round 2, Pick No. 18 – Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
Kiper’s thoughts on Detroit selecting Tyree Wilson with the No. 6 overall pick.
Wilson, the top true defensive end in this class, would help both. He can use his burst at the snap to beat offensive tackles on passing downs or use his 6-foot-6 frame to hold up against the run. An edge-rushing duo of Wilson and Aidan Hutchinson would be formidable, with surprise rookie James Houston working in on obvious passing downs.
Plus, if Detroit plays its cards right, it could use the No. 18 pick on a cornerback — this is a little too high to take one. And if you’re curious about the quarterback position, general manager Brad Holmes likely will take a close look at this class and weigh each passer against veteran Jared Goff, who had a stellar second half of the season. (This pick is from the Matthew Stafford swap with the Rams.) In this scenario, though, the top three are off the board.
Here are Kiper’s thoughts on Detroit selecting Christian Gonzalez with the No. 18 overall pick.
Remember when I mentioned earlier that the Lions have cornerback issues? Well, hopefully at least Lions fans were reading. Jeff Okudah flashed the talent that made him the No. 3 overall pick in 2020, but he was still inconsistent, and there’s no surefire starter on the other side of the field. Gonzalez was a lockdown defender at Colorado before transferring to Oregon last year, where he picked off four passes and improved every week. He’s going to test really well at the combine in March, too. This pick makes too much sense for a Detroit defense that badly needs an infusion of young talent in the secondary.
Final Thoughts
In this scenario laid out by Kiper, the following players were selected with the first five picks.
- 1 – Jalen Carter – DT (Bears)
- 2 – C.J. Stroud – QB (Texans)
- 3 – Will Anderson Jr. (Cardinals)
- 4 – Bryce Young (Colts)
- 5 – Will Levis (Seahawks)
If those players are off the board when Detroit is on the clock with the No. 6 overall pick, my hope would be for the Lions to do whatever they can to trade down and acquire more draft capital. That being said, if they are not able to pull off a trade, it does take two to tango, I agree with Kiper that Tyree Wilson should be the pick. Though the Lions already have multiple edge rushers, that is a rotational position, and adding even more depth would not be a bad thing.
As far as taking Christian Gonzalaz with the No. 18 overall pick, I would be absolutely thrilled as CB is a position of need and Gonzo could very well be the best one in this draft when all is said and done. If Gonzalez is off the board (I think he will be), then Joey Porter Jr. or Devin Witherspoon would be solid options for Detroit.
