The Detroit Lions had a rough 2019-20 NFL season and find themselves picking third overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Detroit has the potential to turn things around if they make smart decisions on draft day. While Detroit has many needs to fill in this draft, they have the ability to acquire quality talent with their selections in each round being at the front of the round. With the potential to build a winner in Detroit, here is my 2020 Detroit Lions mock draft.
2020 Detroit Lions Mock Draft
Round 1 – Jeffrey Okudah, Cornerback, Ohio State
The Detroit Lions have needed a cornerback for a few seasons now to play alongside pro bowl corner Darius Slay. Their secondary overall has been a weak spot for them and their recent trade of Quandre Diggs amplifies this. Having a top-three pick in this draft allows Detroit to select nearly anyone in the draft and lets them land a potential all-pro cornerback in Jeffrey Okudah.
Okudah is a lockdown man coverage cornerback who has the skillset to dominate an entire side of the field. Okudah can develop into a cornerback who can take away a team’s top offensive threat for an entire game. Pairing him with Darius Slay gives Detroit an incredible cornerback duo that can change their defense entirely. Adding a consistent pass rush to this duo would give Detroit a top defense in 2020 and beyond.
Round 2 – Raekwon Davis, Defensive Tackle, Alabama
Coming off of the last selection for the Lions, Davis can help provide the pass rush mentioned above. Davis has come into his own as a run defender, but in his second year at Alabama Davis recorded 8.5 sacks. He has shown his ability to get to the quarterback and to defend the run. He would make a great impact on the Lions’ defense in both aspects of the offense.
Round 3 – Netane Muti, Offensive Guard, Fresno State
Muti is exactly what Detroit needs on their offensive line. He brings fierce aggression that would pair well in the run game with Kerryon Johnson‘s style of play. He also has the ability to dominate defenders in pass protection to allow veteran Matthew Stafford to do his job. Muti has an injury history that may concern some teams, but if the Lions are willing to take the chance they could end up with a dominant offensive guard for the foreseeable future.
Round 4 – Tyler Johnson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota
Johnson is an agile receiver with quick feet and a good release off the line of scrimmage. His ability to run routes makes him dangerous in short passing situations. Johnson is 6’2″ and has good short burst speed. He can break away long plays if you get him in stride, but his mid-level speed is moderate. He has solid hands but has struggled at times with some drops.
His footwork is exceptional and that has contributed to his agility and overall ability to dominate inside of 15 yards. This would be the perfect compliment to Kenny Golladay who excels at the long ball and has the ability to catch in traffic. Johnson would fill the gap that may be left by pending free agent Danny Amendola.
Round 5 – Jason Strowbridge, Defensive Line, North Carolina
Strowbridge is similar to Davis in that he is a combo lineman who can defend the run and flash pass-rushing ability. He’s an interior lineman converted from an edge rusher so he has knowledge on how to get after the quarterback. Strowbridge differs from Davis in that Davis has the natural talent to play at the NFL level right away where Strowbridge may take some time to develop into a complete player. If Detroit is willing to put some stock into Strowbridge, they could get a solid return in a year or two from this North Carolina product.
Round 6 – Shaquille Quarterman, Linebacker, Miami
Quarterman is a ferocious tackler who commands his presence on the interior. He has serious hit stick ability and could be a problem for any running back with weak interior linemen. Quarterman doesn’t possess significant coverage skills. However, he can hold his own in certain zone coverages but can’t pass defend at a high level.
Quarterman could develop into a strong physical linebacker and a potential leader of a defense given time. He could also be a benefit on special teams with his hitting ability. While Quarterman lacks significant speed for a linebacker, he has the ability to disrupt any run play with his vision and tackling.
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