2020 Mock Draft Roundup #2

Sporting News (12. Detroit Lions (3-3-1) - Tyler Biadasz, G, Wisconsin:  The Lions need to keep upgrading their power run blocking, because it clearly hasn't been good enough this season. Biadasz (6-3, 321 pounds) is next in the strong line of Badgers interior blockers (Travis Frederick, Kevin Zeitler). (11-9-19):   https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-mock-draft-2020-tua-tagovailoa-joe-burrow-alabama-lsu-players/n9ix0ze5elbs1b76oeld18kp7

Walterfootball Charlie (12. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE/3-4OLB, Penn State:  The Lions could use an edge rusher to go across from Trey Flowers, and this would be a good fit.  In 2019, Gross-Matos has 26 tackles with 5.5 sacks. He enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2018, recording 54 tackles for a loss, 20 for a loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.  The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder has a lot of upside to improve as he gains more experience. He has the strength and physicality with the quickness to get upfield. Gross-Matos is a good run defender and emerging pass-rusher.  44.  Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah:  Teez Tabor was a bust for the Lions, and they could use more corner talent to go with Darius Slay.  Thus far this season, Johnson has 25 tackles with eight passes broken up and two interceptions. He put together a strong 2018 season for Utah with four interceptions, four breakups and 41 tackles. As a freshman, he recorded 25 tackles with an interceptions and six passes broken up.  The 6-foot, 190-pounder has quality height and ball skills, but pro evaluators are very concerned with how skinny Johnson is, especially in the lower body. They're worried that Johnson will get pushed around by pro receivers. Johnson could be better off returning for his senior year to add weight before going to the NFL.) (11-8-19):  http://walterfootball.com/draft2020charlie.php

CBS Josh Edwards (12. Lions - OL Lucas Niang:  Detroit is doing some good things right now. Although they are losing the chase within that division, they are not far from being right there the next few years. Niang could aid them on the edge.) (11-7-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-bengals-bucs-land-new-qbs-in-top-10-as-andy-dalton-jameis-winston-get-the-boot/

Walterfootball (18.  Detroit Lions - DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa:  You can never have too many talented players rushing the passer, so I imagine that the Lions will be very interested in a talented player who can do so early in the 2020 NFL Draft.  A.J. Epenesa was a five-star recruit who showed some major promise as a freshman, registering 4.5 sacks. He was excellent in 2018.  44.  Shane Lemieux, G, Oregon:  It was surprising to see the Lions fail to address the offensive line in the 2019 NFL Draft. They'll need to do that next spring. ) (11-6-19):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2020.php

CBS Chris Trapasso (12. Lions - CB Trevon Diggs:  Diggs is the exact type of cornerback Matt Patricia would love to deploy in press man for the Lions.) (11-6-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-jets-pick-chase-young-raiders-stop-jerry-jeudys-slide/

PFF Mock Draft (12. DETROIT LIONS – S GRANT DELPIT, LSU:  With each passing missed tackle, we start to worry about Delpit a little more. He now has 13 misses this season on 54 attempts. That’s bad. On the other hand, he’s only allowed 5-of-9 targets for 68 yards all year. That’s good. The latter carries more weight, but the former is a massive concern.) (11-6-19):   https://www.pff.com/news/pff-2020-nfl-mock-draft-joe-burrow-tua-tagovailoa

CBS Ryan Wilson (12. Lions - CB Trevon Diggs:  There were reports that Darius Slay was on the trade block last week. Lucky for the Lions, he stayed put. Either way, Diggs would bring a physicality to the secondary. If he didn't suffer an injury last season he would've been a first-round pick. At 6-1, 200 pounds, he has the prototypical size and speed for today's NFL cornerback and he has the strength, speed and athleticism that will likely see him go in Round 1 next spring.) (11-5-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-justin-herbert-slides-but-lands-in-perfect-spot-dolphins-win-to-cost-them-qb/

Draft Tek (18 Lions - LB Isaiah Simmons:  It seems we are in familiar territory, Lions' fans. After what seemed to be a team on the rise, Detroit's late-game defensive meltdowns against Arizona, Kansas City, Green Bay, and recently Minnesota, find the team at 3-3-1. In other words, they are in the proverbial "fork-in-the-road" situation. With the Packers at 7-1 and Minnesota at 6-2, Detroit finds themselves on a path to yet again miss the playoffs unless something drastic happens with their play on the field in the coming weeks. However, today, they had control of the direction for their season. Today (edit: this comment prepared on 10/29 the trade deadline) was the day to make something drastic happen. Something that could push them to the main goal of why Bob Quinn hired Matt Patricia in the first place --to make the playoffs. The ball was in their court, and they didn't take the shot. The Lions chose to stand pat with their current roster despite the defensive woes that are severely costing this team wins. Detroit currently ranks 7th-most in points allowed per game (26.6), 2nd-most in yards allowed per game (420.4) right behind the winless Cincinnati Bengals, and the 7th-most in yards per play allowed (6). In other words, the defense is getting gashed, despite the amount of money invested in it this past offseason. Not to mention the trading of Quandre Diggs now has Darius Slay upset. It's clearly a frustrating situation for everyone, player and fan alike.  Perhaps the most frustrating thing about these Lions is that it seems Quinn and Patricia cannot commit to a plan, and there are inconsistencies aplenty in that regard. If the team is in win-now mode, why was no move made to bolster a defense that desperately needs it? If Patricia was hired in to win big games and make the playoffs, why now in Year 2 of the Patricia Era are these Lions performing as if it's the Caldwell Era by, as Quinn put it, not "beating the really good teams" the day Caldwell was fired. Ultimately, they just might surprise us, but we've seen this script before, haven't we? - Doug Hyde, Lions Analyst. 50 ILB Jacob Phillips.  82. QB Jacob Eason.  114.  WR Collin Johnson.  145.  CB TJ Carter.  177. OT Jon Runyan.) (10-30-19):   https://www.drafttek.com/2020-NFL-Mock-Draft/2020-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round-1b.asp

Draftwire (18. Detroit Lions - CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama:  Darius Slay is one of the best shutdown corners in the entire NFL, but the No. 2 corner spot needs an upgrade in Detroit. Diggs is finally living up to his lofty potential in 2019, and could easily make himself worthy of a top-20 pick with a strong predraft process.  49. Detroit Lions - WR Tylan Wallace, Oklahoma State.  80. Detroit Lions - RB Najee’ Harris, Alabama) (10-29-19):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/10/29/2020-nfl-mock-draft-updated-week-8-joe-burrow-tua-tagovailoa/4/

Round 1 Pick (3 CB, 2 DE, 1 LB, 1 S, 1 G, 1 OL):

3 CB Trevon Diggs
1 DE AJ Epenesa
1 DE Yetur Gross-Matos
1 LB Isaiah Simmons
1 S Grant Delpit
1 G Tyler Biadasz
1  OL Lucas Niang

Round 2 Pick (1 WR, 1 G, 1 ILB, 1 CB):

1 WR Tylan Wallace
1 ILB Jacob Phillips
1 CB Jaylon Johnson
1 G Shane Lemieux

Round 3 (1 RB, 1 QB):

1 RB Najee Harris
1 QB Jacob Eason

Round 4 (1 WR):

1 WR Collin Johnson

Round 5 (1 CB):

1 CB TJ Carter

Round 6:

1 OT Jon Runyan