On Tuesday, NFL Draft ‘guru’ Mel Kiper of ESPN released his latest two-round 2021 NFL mock draft predictions, and what he has the Detroit Lions doing, in the second round especially, would be a monumental mistake.
Here are the players Kiper has going in the top 6.
1 – Trevor Lawrence (QB)
2- Zach Wilson (QB)
3- Mac Jones (QB)
4 – Kyle Pitts (TE/Playmaker)
5 – Penei Sewell (OT)
6 – Trey Lance (QB)
First of all, the goal for Lions GM Brad Holmes in the 2021 NFL Draft should be to trade down out of the No. 7 overall pick to acquire as much draft capital as possible. Unfortunately, Kiper has the Lions standing pat with the No. 7 pick and selecting WR Ja’Marr Chase, even though QB Justin Fields is available in this scenario. Now, I am not high on Fields and I don’t believe the Lions should select him at No. 7, but I do think they would be able to trade down if they found themselves in this situation. But even if the Lions cannot find a draft partner who wants to come up and select Fields, taking a wide receiver at No. 7, even if he is the best WR in the class, would not be a value pick. Instead, in this scenario, I believe the Lions should select OT Rashawn Slater out of Northwestern. Slater is not the ideal pick but in this situation, he would be the best value selection for the Lions.
In Round 2, Kiper has the Lions making what would be a monumental reach to draft DE/OLB Malcolm Koonce. Now, I am not going to claim to even have a remote clue who Koonce is. In fact, I have never even heard of him. That being said, Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Koonce listed as the No. 33 ranked defensive end in the class and he projects him as a 7th round pick. Brugler has forgotten more about scouting players than Kiper knows so I will defer to him.
Here is Kiper’s “rationale” for his first two picks for the Lions.
No. 7 Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
The 2019 Biletnikoff Award winner led the country that season with 1,780 receiving yards and 20 touchdown catches, and he’d instantly be the Lions’ top receiver on a depth chart that includes new signings Tyrell Williams and Breshad Perriman. He’s great at making contested catches and can break tackles and run after the catch. He’s a legit No. 1 wideout, which is sorely needed in Detroit.
No. 41 Malcolm Koonce, DE/OLB, Buffalo
Trey Flowers hasn’t lived up to his free-agent price tag, and the Lions’ pass rush as a whole has disappointed the last two seasons. Koonce is a natural pass-rusher who had 14 sacks over the past two seasons. He has great length and can be disruptive as a situational edge defender. He’s being underrated in the lead-up to this draft, but I love his tape.
Nation, how would you feel about this?
