Detroit Lions

An Early 2017 Detroit Lions Mock Draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:33 p.m. ET

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The Detroit Lions draft table in Selection Square in Chicago. Photo by Jeff Risdon

It’s time to look forward to the 2017 NFL Draft with our first Detroit Lions Mock Draft

Six weeks into the 2016 NFL season and the Detroit Lions are 3-3. With so many teams stuck in the NFL’s middle class and so many games left to play, it’s hard to forecast just where the Lions will wind up selecting in each round.

I’m basing this Detroit Lions mock draft on the team picking 14th in each round. That’s where Detroit would pick if the season ended today, at least in the first round.

Justin Evans

Safety, Texas A&M

Evans is a do-it-all kind of safety with all sorts of talent. At 6′ and 200 pounds, the Aggie is a big-time hitter who rarely misses a tackle. He’s at his best picking up tight ends and closing on underneath routes. His closing burst and 1-2-3 step controlled quickness are outstanding. Sound like someone the Lions can use? Expect Evans to continue to rise up draft boards as the senior continues to thrive in one of the best defenses in the nation.

Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Justin Evans (14) in action during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

I strongly considered Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster here, but this is too high for an off-ball LB even though Foster is a fantastic prospect and it’s clearly the Lions’ biggest need. His Crimson Tide teammates Tim Williams and Jonathan Allen would be nice alternates here, too.

Isaiah Ford

Wide Receiver, Virginia Tech

Isaiah Ford is the pure vertical threat the Lions lack on offense. He’s built similarly to Marvin Jones but has more explosive speed, able to blow past soft cushion and force the safeties to the outside. Unlike Corey Fuller, Ford can actually track and catch the ball. As an added plus, he’s a strong blocker on the edge despite not being a powerfully built guy.

Sep 24, 2016; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford (1) catches a touchdown pass against East Carolina Pirates defensive back Corey Seargent (5) during the second quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

There are many quality options here, but in this Detroit Lions mock draft I addressed wide receiver. If Corey Davis from Western Michigan is on the board, he’s the pick over Ford. There are many defensive linemen and a few linebackers here too, but the dropoff at wideout is more pronounced than those positions of need.

Caleb Brantley

Defensive Tackle, Florida

The Lions need an interior disruptor. That’s Brantley, a vivacious penetrator with quick feet and good power in closing on the ball. His strong hands and ability to quickly shift his weight and get narrow are both NFL-caliber. He’s been a bit of an all-or-nothing player for the Gators, but his “all” is better than anything the Lions currently have inside.

Oct 15, 2016; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators defensive lineman Caleb Brantley (57) against the Missouri Tigers during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Defense will be a recurring theme for the rest of this edition of the 2017 Detroit Lions Mock Draft. Unless a tight end really strikes my fancy, every remaining pick will try and help bolster the anemic Lions defense. For more on Brantley, check out what With The First Pick had to say.

Kendell Beckwith

Inside Linebacker, LSU

Beckwith is the latest in a line of LSU linebackers, a group that has tasted NFL success more often than not. He’s bigger than most at 252 pounds but moves quite well. The senior is great at snuffing out runs and short passes in the box, and he can chuck and run with tight ends capably. His game echoes of Stephen Tulloch, who the Lions miss more than fans could have possibly imagined. 5

Josiah Price

Tight End, Michigan State

Price has proven to be a bright spot in a down year for the Spartans, and what he does well translates nicely to the next level. He is a solid in-line blocker who excels at chipping and releasing into the short range. The 6’3″, 260-pound Price is a reliable hands catcher who has some polish to his routes. Louisville’s Cole Hikutini figures to also be available in this range and he’s a more athletic target but isn’t near the blocker in space Price is for MSU. 6

Treston DeCoud

Cornerback, Oregon State

The Lions have an extra seventh round pick, so this mock draft gets two final-round selections.

Tanoh Kpassagnon

Defensive End, Villanova

His name might be a mouthful, but the 6’6″, 285-pound defensive end is a name you need to know. NFL scouts love his length, freaky quickness for his size and his relentless nature. The child of African immigrants, Kpassagnon is relatively new to football but continually impresses with his sheer athleticism and quick learning curve. Sound like a certain Lions defensive end who needs an understudy…?7

D'Nerius Antoine

Safety/Linebacker, Southern Mississippi

D’Nerius Antoine is another under-the-radar prospect who fits what we believe to be the Bob Quinn profile. A hybrid safety/linebacker, Antoine isn’t as big as Miles Killebrew but has more of a playmaking knack. One promising tidbit on the senior JUCO transfer–he’s grown 1.5 inches and added 8 pounds in the last year (now listed at 6’1″ and 223) but looks even faster on the field. Antoine is athletic enough to get some run as a return man. He jumped off game film last year while evaluating USM cornerback and 2016 Mr. Irrelevant Kalan Reed.