2020 NFL Mock Draft Round Up #8

Walterfootball Charlie (5. DT Derrick Brown:  Detroit's defense has been a massive disappointment this season. A'Shawn Robinson and Mike Daniels are entering free agency and may not be re-signed. Here's a versatile defender who could dominate between Snacks Harrison and Trey Flowers.  Brown has 50 tackles with four sacks, four passes batted and two forced fumbles in 2019. Against Oregon and Texas A&M, he was very disruptive and made a lot of superb plays that showed off his tremendous skill set.  Brown totaled 48 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10.5 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble in 2018. Teams sent consistent double teams at him, but he still managed to stuff runs and cause disruption. Brown also has the quickness to fire into the backfield and pressure the quarterback from the interior. The 6-foot-5, 316-pounder contains a ton of upside and is just scratching the surface of what he is capable of doing.  Brown (6-5, 316) had an impressive 2017 season, playing well down the stretch when Auburn made a run into the SEC Championship. He totaled 56 tackles with 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for a loss, one pass broken up and two forced fumbles on the year.  37.  OG Shane Lemieux:  The Lions could use more talent on their offensive line. Here's an upgrade at left guard.  Lemieux has been a solid starter at left guard for Oregon over the past few seasons, and from an offensive line of future NFL competitors, some scouts like Lemieux the most. The 6-foot-4, 317-pounder has been a good left guard for the Ducks over his career, having made 38 straight starts entering his senior year. He has been one of the top guards in the nation and Pac-12 during that time. In pass protection and run blocking, Lemieux is a well-balanced blocker who is productive in both phases. He redshirted as a freshman in 2015 prior to becoming a starter in 2016.  69.  RB Najee Harris:  The Lions could use another running back in case Kerryon Johnson gets hurt again.  In 2019, Harris has averaged 5.9 yards per carry for 1,088 yards with 11 touchdowns. He has 27 receptions for 304 yards and seen scores as a receiver. Harris has flashed at times, but some scouts don't feel Harris is the same caliber as other recent Alabama running backs like Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris or Derrick Henry.  Harris (6-2, 230) is a big back who has some quickness and athleticism for the NFL. Over the past few seasons, he has not run to his size and has looked to bounce too many carries to the outside rather than using his power to run behind his pads in a physical manner. Lately and especially against LSU and Mississippi State, Harris has been running aggressively downhill with decisiveness. His tape from the back half of the 2019 season will help his draft grade and definitely makes him look like a better pro prospect compared to how he performed at the beginning of the season.) (12-20-19):  http://walterfootball.com/draft2020charlie.php

CBS Josh Edwards (5. OT Andrew Thomas:  Thomas can fill a role on that Lions offensive line. They have bigger needs but it just makes sense with the way the board fell.) (12-19-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-raiders-bring-in-explosive-offensive-talent-cleveland-gets-their-tackle/

Draftwire (5. Detroit Lions - DT Derrick Brown:  This defense needs a dominant, disruptive force in the trenches to build around, whether that’s on the edge or along the interior. In this scenario, Brown is the best combination of value, need and fit. He’s got rare athleticism for his size, and all the strength and power you’d expect. 38. Detroit Lions - DE  Terrell Lewis.  69. Detroit Lions - CB Jeff Gladney) (12-18-19):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/12/18/2020-nfl-mock-draft-joe-burrow-bengals-chase-young-giants/

Walterfootball (6.  Detroit Lions - CB Jeff Okudah:  Darius Slay is a terrific cornerback, but the rest of Detroit's secondary has been horrible this season. They've needed an upgrade across from Slay for quite a while.  Jeff Okudah is a big, athletic, speedy cornerback with immense upside.  39. RB Najee Harris:  Kerryon Johnson hasn't been able to stay healthy, so I wonder if the Lions would be willing to spend a second-day pick on a running back to complement him.  Najee Harris was one of the top recruits in the country in 2017, and he showed off his talents as a freshman. He's been tremendous again this season.  70. LB Dylan Moses: Matt Patricia needs a centerpiece for his defense, as the Lions have struggled to cover in space for quite a while.  Dylan Moses, a former five-star recruit, missed a chunk of his freshman campaign, but was very productive as a sophomore. Unfortunately, Moses tore his ACL early in 2019.) (12-18-19):  https://walterfootball.com/draft2020.php

CBS Chris Trapasso (5.  CB Jeff Okudah:  Another relatively simple pick for a team with a myriad of needs. Okudah has slot corner twitch with perimeter corner size and ball skills.) (12-18-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-bills-add-needed-size-at-wide-receiver-two-quarterbacks-go-in-the-top-three/

CBS Ryan Wilson (5. DT Derrick Brown:  A'Shawn Robinson is in the final year of his deal and the Lions' D-line has been a huge disappointment this season. Brown is the most dynamic interior defensive linemen in this draft class and he'll immediately upgrade the middle of Detroit's defense.) (12-17-19):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2020-nfl-mock-draft-dolphins-target-quarterback-late-in-round-1-raiders-get-most-dynamic-player-in-class/

The Big lead Ryan Phillips (5. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State:  Detroit's secondary is a mess and this is a spot where they could land a star at cornerback. Okudah is the best corner in the country by a considerable margin. He has the upside of a shutdown guy, which is exactly what the Lions need.) (12-17-19):  https://www.thebiglead.com/posts/nfl-mock-draft-2020-joe-burrow-chase-young-01dv6bsjtpnz

ESPN's McShay Mock Draft 1 (5. CB Jeff Okudah) (12-16-19):   https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/12/17/first-mock-draft-espns-todd-mcshay-has-lions-taking-cornerback/2673675001/

Draft Tek (5. CB Jeffrey Okudah:  As hard as it is for me to say, I'm kind of glad that more and more Lions' fans, analysts, and beat writers are seeing the light about this club. After a Thanksgiving Day loss to Trubisky's Bears (we called it) and an expected loss against the Vikings, the Lions have all but secured their spot at being in the cellar of the NFC North for the 2019 season. A team that was 9-7 in 2017 is now just 3 potential losses away from finishing this season 3-12-1. In other words, Matt Patricia is responsible for regressing this team by 6 games in his first 2 seasons (6-10 in Year 1). Not good.  There's a rumor that no GM or Head Coach change is even being discussed for Detroit and that they are actually considering giving Quinn and Patricia both another year to turn it around. Early on this season, we had mentioned how this was a make-or-break year for the Quinn-Patricia duo, especially after a mediocre draft. Big free-agent signings like Justin Coleman, Trey Flowers, and even considering the change in Offensive Coordinator to Darrell Bevell, seemed to mitigate a less-than-stellar draft and give us fans hope that this would be the year we'd see some progress. Instead, the defense has regressed mightily from a top-10-overall squad to a defense that allows the 3rd-most passing yards per game in the entire NFL (276 per game). Stafford, Hockenson, and Kerryon Johnson's injuries don't do this spin any favors, but I'm honestly just not sure how an organization can rationalize this rate of regression to give Quinn-Patricia one more year.  On the surface, it just seems that Quinn and Patricia don't know exactly what they're doing. They don't draft well, they have spent money on free agents that haven't truly helped, they talk about "inconsistencies" and "culture change", but their decision-making says they're ready to win now. It's awfully confusing. Some could say Quinn's simply lying to the fans to buy good will and continue to sell hope but the numbers don't lie; this team is bad and the decisions they've made to improve the roster haven't worked. The bottom line is, they truly feel as though the moves they've made were to better the football team and, honestly Bob, it just hasn't been "good enough".  - Doug Hyde, Lions Analyst.  37. DE Julian Okwara. 69. ILB Troy Dye.  101. LB Zack Baun.  133.  WR Donovan Peoples-Jones.  157. S Richie Grant. 164. WR James Proche) (12-11-19):   https://www.drafttek.com/2020-NFL-Mock-Draft/2020-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round-1.asp

Sporting News (5. S Grant Delpit:  The Lions have become shaky at safety after trading Quandre Diggs. Tracy Walker can't stay healthy, and both Tavon Wilson and Miles Killebrew are pending free agents. Delpit flies round the field, stopping the run like an extra linebacker and making big plays on the ball while working inside in downfield coverage. He plays like the Chargers' Derwin James with tremendous hybrid size (6-3, 203 pounds) for the position.). (12-11-19):   https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-mock-draft-2020-joe-burrow-lsu-ceedee-lamb-tee-higgins-justin-jefferson/12dzse6kb0wq91no4kru7u4o91

SI Mock Draft (5. CB Jeff Okudah:  Okudah is a top-five prospect with the size (6' 1", 200), fluidity and athleticism to develop into a true shutdown corner at the next level. Not only would he give Detroit an upgrade opposite Darius Slay, but Slay is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.) (12-11-19):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/12/11/nfl-mock-draft-2020-jeffrey-okudah-jerry-jeudy

Foxsports (6. Detroit Lions — Grant Delpit, S, LSU (2019 season stats: 6 passes defended, 2 INTs, 53 total tackles):  The Lions season had a promising start. Then the defense fell apart, and they — someone please explain this one to me — traded safety Quandre Diggs to Seattle. Matt Patricia is operating out of the Patriots handbook and would likely want an edge rusher to complement Trey Flowers. Try this for fun: Throw a dart on any level of the defense, and you'll find a potential positional need in the early round of the draft.) (12-7-19):  https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/nfl-mock-draft-2020-chase-young-joe-burrow-tua-tagovailoa-draft-order-120719

Draftcountdown (6. CB Jeff Odukah:  Considering they have one of the leagues worst pass defenses the Lions would be fortunate to find Okudah still on the board at this point. A unanimous five-star recruit coming out of high school, Okudah only had one career start entering his junior season due to the embarrassment of riches the Buckeyes have had at the cornerback position in recent years. Despite that modest experience Okudah was projected to be a Top 10 pick based mostly on potential. Not only did Okudah live up to those lofty expectations, he surpassed them. A big, fast and athletic cover guy, the physical tools were never in doubt with Okudah. Scouts wanted to see him make more plays in the secondary though and Okudah answered those questions in emphatic fashion. Okudah is arguably the first true shutdown corner to come along since Jalen Ramsey and is a better pro prospect than former teammates Marshon Lattimore (#11 overall in 2017) or Denzel Ward (#4 overall in 2018).) (12-4-19):   http://draftcountdown.com/mock-draft/2020-mock-draft/round-1-2020-mock-draft-1/

Yahoo Eric Edholm (6. DE A.J. Epenesa:  This might feel a skosh early to some, but Epenesa has been on fire of late and is starting to resemble the game-wrecking defender many thought he would be at the start of the season. And besides, doesn’t he look like a Lions defender? That is, of course, if GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia are afforded a third year together in Detroit. A top wide receiver also could be an option here.) (12-4-19):  https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-draft-2020-mock-lands-record-seven-bama-players-including-tua-in-round-1-144935782.html

PFF Mock Draft (6. EDGE A.J. EPENESA, IOWA:  After a lackluster start to the year, Epenesa has shown down the stretch that he’s a talent worthy of a top-10 selection. Over his last six games, Epenesa has racked up 28 pressures and a pass-rushing grade over 90.0. His versatility is perfect for Matt Patricia’s scheme and would give them a lot of options opposite Trey Flowers.) (12-3-19):   https://www.pff.com/news/draft-pff-2020-nfl-mock-draft-tua-tagovailoa-lands-in-green-bay

Tony Pauline (11. Detroit Lions: Isaiah Simmons, OLB, Clemson:  Simmons is the off the ball linebacker the Lions need. He brings great athleticism and ball skills, something he showed as a redshirt freshman when he lined up at safety. Simmons will be a top 20 pick if he enters the draft, something I expect he will do if Clemson makes a serious push towards the championship game.) (11-21-19):   https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tony-pauline-2020-nfl-mock-draft-v1/

Round 1 Pick (7 CB, 3 DT, 2 DE, 2 S, 1 LB, 1 OT):

7 CB Jeff Okudah
3 DT Derrick Brown
2 DE A.J. Epenesa
2 S Grant Delpit
1 LB Isaiah Simmons
1 OT Andrew Thomas

Round 2 Pick (2 DE, 1 RB, 1 OG, 1 RB):

1 DE Julian Okwara
1 OG Shane Lemieux
1 DE Terrell Lewis
1 RB Najee Harris

Round 3 (2 LB, 1 CB):

1 ILB Troy Dye
1 LB Dylan Moses
1 CB Jeff Gladney
1 RB Najee Harris

Round 4 (1 LB):

1 LB Zack Baun

Round 5 Pick 139 (1 WR):

1 WR Donovan Peoples-Jones

Round 5 Pick 157 (1 S)

1 S Richie Grant

Round 6 (1 WR):

1 WR James Proche