2024 NFL Draft Preview

DRAFT SEASON IS HERE, and it is being held in Detroit, which is awesome as a Michigan-based lover of the NFL Draft. I will personally be in attendance for Day 1, where I will (hopefully) get to see the Detroit Lions make their selection in person.

As I like to do, I wanted to put together a write-up for the 2024 NFL Draft to get you familiar with all the names the Lions might be looking at. Although, as our general manager Brad Holmes has shown us the last few years, he could be looking at someone completely different that we would never see coming (see: Jahmyr Gibbs). Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have demonstrated that they care far more about drafting players that they love and believe in than they care about just trying to draft by position of need. So far it has proven to be a good strategy as the Lions have in a mere 3 years gone from bottom dweller of the NFL to playing in the NFC Championship Game.

Looking at the current state of the team I have highlighted these potential positions of need:

Cornerback

Edge Rusher

Defensive Line

Interior Offensive Line

Wide Receiver

Safety

It’s worth noting that while these are “positions of need,” I would not say the Lions have any serious needs that would pigeon-hole us into picking a guy just based on position. We have done a good job of addressing the major needs via free agency, thus giving us flexibility in the Draft to do what Holmes does best and take really good players regardless of position.

With the Lions picking so late in the Draft this year (currently they hold the 29th pick), it is much more difficult to project what players will be available when they are up to pick. So, I did my best to try and pick out players at each of these positions that I think are most likely to be available. Now, Brad Holmes could also choose to trade up or trade down, as he has done quite a bit the last few years, so all of this could end up meaning much less if that happens, but that is a risk I am willing to take.

With all that being said, let’s get into the players.

CB - Cornerbacks

If you watched the Lions last year, you could easily say this is our biggest position of need. Our corners ended up being a huge reason for us not playing in the Super Bowl. In this draft, I think I can comfortably say that the top two corners, Terrion Arnold (Alabama) and Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), will certainly be gone before Pick 29 and would only be available via a trade up, so I won’t highlight them here. I also think that at least two of the names I am about to cover will be gone as well, but it is harder to definitively say which ones.

Kool-Aid McKinstry - Alabama - 5’ 11½”, 199 lbs

Long thought to be the top corner in this draft class, he has since fallen behind the likes of Arnold and Mitchell. McKinstry is probably the player I’ve seen mocked to the Lions the most, and for good reason. He’s smart, sticky in coverage, does a great job of making plays on the ball, and is not afraid to come up and make hits on players. Plus, he has an all-time great name. There have been reports of him being lazy and relying on his instincts and athleticism too much, which to me is concerning because that is the exact opposite of what Holmes and Campbell preach. I’m confident, however, that the Lions really tried to get a feel for that during the interview process, so if they end up taking him I will think that is not much of a concern.

Cooper DeJean - Iowa - 6’ 0½”, 203 lbs

I think there is a really good chance that DeJean is gone by Pick 29, however, there is also a nonzero chance that he slips to the Lions. DeJean is one of my favorite players in this draft class. Obviously, being an avid watcher of Michigan football, I see a lot of Iowa games, and few players jump off the screen as much as this guy does. His instincts are off the chart, and there have been several instances where he pretty much runs the route for the receiver and jumps routes to force interceptions. He could play literally any position in the defensive backfield: outside corner, slot corner/nickel, and safety. Not to mention he is an incredible punt returner, which by itself was responsible for a lot of Iowa’s points this year, either from return touchdowns or just giving the offense great starting field position. He got hurt late in this past season so he missed the NFL Combine, but he did test very well at Iowa’s pro day. He projects better as a zone corner than a man-to-man corner, so that does not bode well for his fit on the Lions, but he is such a good football player we may be willing to overlook that.

Nate Wiggins - Clemson - 6’ 1”, 173 lbs

Wiggins is blazing fast, clocking in at 4.28 seconds on his 40-yard dash at the Combine, and he has the fluidity to pair with it that makes him look natural in coverage. He also has no fear of flying in to make tackles on receivers. His frame is really on the thin side, but he plays a bit bigger than that, so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the physicality of the NFL. He is another candidate to be gone before the Lions pick, but I think he has a slightly better chance to be there than DeJean.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. - Missouri - 5’ 11”, 183 lbs

Remember last year how Devon Witherspoon was considered one of Brad Holmes’ favorite players in the Draft? Well, Rakestraw has a lot of similarities to Witherspoon. He is a very physical corner, who fights through blocks to come up and make tackles in a way that really reminds me of Witherspoon. He plays much bigger than his size and plays with a real edge to his game that I think Dan Campbell would love coaching. I do, however, have concerns about his actual coverage ability that I did not have with Witherspoon last year. He can be a bit handsy, which will get flagged in the NFL, and he is not particularly fast. I’m not saying this guy is the second coming of Jeff Okudah, who, if you go back and read my preview of the 2020 NFL Draft, I had a lot of concerns about despite him being regarded as a “can’t-miss prospect” by every talking head and writer out there, but unfortunately, I do see some similarities in his film.

Kamari Lassiter - Georgia - 5’ 11”, 186 lbs

I personally think Lassiter is more of a trade-down target, or even a guy we may look at with a later pick in general. He is another really physical corner that is a great tackler and does not shy away from contact. I am not a fan of how he looks in downfield coverage, he seems to struggle locating the ball at times. He also does not have good speed, which is a concern when it comes to making that next jump. I think Lassiter may actually be the next Jeff Okudah. He may end up being good down the road, but I think he is a much less polished prospect than the other guys I listed here.

EDGE - Edge Rushers

Aidan Hutchinson has been a beast since we drafted him second overall two years ago, but he can’t generate enough pressure all by himself. Getting another player to get consistent pressure on the quarterback would be a huge help for this team. We already signed Marcus Davenport in free agency, who I assume will start opposite Hutchinson, but bringing in another guy to rotate in would still be a great idea. Dallas Turner (Alabama) and Jared Verse (Florida State) will be gone by Pick 29, and I don’t see us trading up for either of them.

Laiatu Latu - UCLA - 6’ 5”, 259 lbs

Latu is a bit of an odd case because I have seen him projected everywhere from a top 15 pick all the way to late in the second round. There are some injury concerns with him related to his neck, so I believe that is what is causing this huge disparity. So, there’s a chance he could be way gone by the time Pick 29 comes up, or he may really fall if teams are concerned. On film, I can see why he has been projected so high, he is very polished in his technique, often completely dusting the offensive tackle in front of him. He also shows good instincts, reading the quarterback’s eyes to move into throwing lanes and make plays on the pass. If his injuries are not concerning to this front office, I think he would be a very intriguing selection, but he would likely be gone by our pick.

Chop Robinson - Penn State - 6’ 3”, 254 lbs

I personally think that Chop is one of the riskiest selections in this entire Draft class. Here’s the good: he is an insane athlete that often just beats the man in front of him with a speed rush off the edge. You watch his film and his athleticism just pops. Now the bad: I think that is kind of all he has right now. I do not see a true repertoire of pass rush moves; he is a bit of a one-trick pony. I also worry about his effectiveness against the run. I watched Michigan play Penn State this year. Chop had a few nice plays early on in pass rush scenarios. Then, Michigan ran the ball 33 straight times to end the game en route to the win, and as a result Chop’s name was barely heard again after halftime. If he can be schemed out of a game that easily in college, I worry about his projection at the NFL level. He will be compared to fellow Penn State alum Micah Parsons a lot, but I think Chop is not nearly the player that Parsons was coming out of Penn State. He could absolutely develop in the NFL and become a star like Parsons or TJ Watt or something like that, but I foresee his road there is a bit longer than some people think.

Darius Robinson - Missouri - 6’ 5”, 285 lbs

The other Robinson I will be highlighting is a very interesting prospect. He is listed at 285 lbs but when you watch him, he does not look nearly that heavy. He moves extremely well for that size, and when he rushes off the edge, he pairs that quickness with some impressive power to get around offensive linemen. That strength of his allows him to shed blocks against the run. He can also slide inside and rush from the interior, providing flexibility with defensive packages. Robinson was raised in Michigan and grew up a Lions fan, so it would be a cool homecoming if the Lions do decide to select him. Robinson definitely has some polishing he needs to do in regard to his pass rush moves and strategy, but the potential is absolutely there, and I think he can reach it.

DL - Defensive Linemen

Now we reach a bit of a drop-off in how big of a need these positions are. We have Alim McNeill and the recently signed D.J. Reader in the middle currently, which is a great starting pair, but there are a few very intriguing defensive linemen that could definitely still be around at Pick 29 that we may take a long look at bringing in.

Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton - Illinois - 6’ 2”, 304 lbs

Viewed by many as the top defensive tackle in the class, Newton is a violent, powerful pass rusher. Illinois has had a sneaky tough defense the past couple of years, and Newton has been a big reason for it. Despite his size, Newton is remarkably athletic, demonstrating quickness to shed blocks, and he is capable of chasing down quarterbacks in the backfield. I think on Draft Day there is a really good chance that he ends up going before the Lions pick, but if he is still sitting there, I would not be surprised at all if we take him.

Kris Jenkins - Michigan - 6’ 3”, 299 lbs

Obviously, being a Michigan man, I am a huge fan of pretty much every Wolverine in this draft class. Jenkins is no exception. Jenkins is an incredibly strong dude that just constantly disrupts plays, and despite being nearly 300 pounds, he does not look nearly that heavy when you watch how athletic he is. I think that in the NFL he may end up lining up on the edge a bit more than he lines up in the interior, but he has the skill and the strength to produce there, too.

Braden Fiske - Florida State - 6’ 4”, 292 lbs

A cornerstone of one of the best defenses in the country last year, Fiske lit up the Combine. I was shocked when I saw this dude run a 4.78 40-yard dash at his size. He also loves football and has an unbelievable motor. I don’t think he has ever quit on a play. There are concerns about his physical measurables, for example his arms are on the shorter side which theoretically limits his leverage, but I think his athleticism and motor are too good to just ignore because of something like that.

IOL - Interior Offensive Linemen

With guard Jonah Jackson departing in free agency (replaced by Kevin Zeitler) and center Frank Ragnow dealing with a toe injury that apparently cannot be fully repaired, the interior of our offensive line is suddenly looking a little depleted, despite all 5 starting spots being comfortably filled. We have seen how important an offensive line is to team success, so it would not surprise me at all if we went this direction early in the Draft.

Jackson Powers-Johnson - Oregon - 6’ 3”, 328 lbs

Smart, strong, and plays with a mean streak, JPJ has shot up draft boards ever since the Senior Bowl. The best center in the draft class, I unfortunately do not think JPJ will slide all the way to Pick 29.

Graham Barton - Duke - 6’ 5”, 313 lbs

Displays great technique and athleticism, Barton looks like he has all the makings of being a stud on the interior, whether that be at center or guard.

WR - Wide Receivers

With Josh Reynolds leaving in free agency, our current top 3 receivers are Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Donovan Peoples-Jones. That feels like a really significant drop off from Jamo to DPJ. Even with Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs also being extremely dangerous in the passing game, I think this may be a bigger need than people realize. I’m assuming here that Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Brian Thomas Jr. are all off the board at Pick 29.

Xavier Worthy - Texas - 5’ 11”, 165 lbs

If having Jameson Williams is not enough for this offense, the Lions could draft the speedster Worthy, who broke the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record with a time of 4.21 seconds. Worthy was a huge reason for Texas’ run to the College Football Playoff this past year, just because his speed was a lot for defenses to handle. Like most speedy receivers, however, he comes with a thin frame, so he has a lack of strength to deal with press coverage and contested catches. He also sometimes struggles to track the ball on deep passes. Will he be the next Tyreek Hill, or the next John Ross? That’s always the question with receivers that have Worthy’s speed. I imagine some team picking before the Lions will likely be too enticed by that speed to pass on him.

Adonai Mitchell - Texas - 6’ 2”, 205 lbs

Worthy’s teammate has garnered a ton of hype since the Combine. With the body to comfortably play outside receiver, he ran a 4.34 40-yard dash, which is obviously not Xavier Worthy levels of fast, but still a great time. Paired with that speed, he is also quick out of his cuts when running routes, and is very capable of getting up and winning jump balls. He can sometimes be a body catcher, which I don’t love, but his film shows he is more than capable of catching with his hands, so I’m sure he can improve on that. Mitchell might be my favorite receiver out of the ones that are likely to be available at Pick 29, but I think there’s unfortunately a good chance that he will be gone already when the Lions are on the clock.

Troy Franklin - Oregon - 6’ 2”, 176 lbs

I see some similarities between Franklin and Jameson Williams, although Williams is WAY faster. Franklin’s acceleration off the line helps him to get immediate separation from the snap, and he also looks like a pretty well-polished route runner. One of Franklin’s most impressive traits is his ability to run after the catch. He is incredibly elusive, and just seems to have a knack for finding the correct lane to run through for a touchdown. The concern with Franklin is related to his size. He is quite skinny, and it will be important for him to learn to play with the physicality in the NFL. I like Franklin as a player, but I feel like he is not quite what the Lions need at wide receiver.

Xavier Legette - South Carolina - 6’ 1”, 221 lbs

Perhaps the antithesis to Troy Franklin in terms of build, I have little concern about Legette’s strength at the next level. Not only that, he has 4.39 40-yard dash speed, which I think tends to surprise defenders because of how big he is. His film is probably some of the most impressive I have watched, he just seems to run away from people with ease once the ball is in his hands. That is in addition to catching balls over defenders with his 40” vertical. He reminds me of a bit of a hybrid between DK Metcalf and fellow Gamecock alum Deebo Samuel. It is also worth noting that Legette has reportedly met more than once with the Lions, so it appears they are really doing their due diligence on him. Now, they have met with a lot of players, so that does not necessarily mean we are taking him, but they clearly are paying attention to him.

S - Safety

This is a position that I think would surprise a lot of people if we took one, especially in the first round, but really at this position currently we only have Kerby Joseph, who had surgery recently, and Ifeatu Melifonwu, who surged onto the scene last season. C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Tracy Walker are both gone. Brian Branch could play safety, but he is much better in that nickel-cornerback role that he played in last season which allows him to make a bigger impact on every play. This may be a position that is addressed with one of our later picks or in a trade-down scenario rather than staying put at Pick 29, but I think it is worth highlighting here, and don’t be surprised if one of these guys ends up getting selected with one of the Lions’ early picks.

Tyler Nubin - Minnesota - 6’ 1”, 199 lbs

The first word that comes to mind when watching Nubin play is instinctive. He just looks like he knows exactly where he needs to be to make the play, particularly against the pass. Speed is a bit of a concern, as he does not possess top-end speed, but his length as well as his anticipation and instinctual play more than make up for it. He also shows the ability to come up and make tackles, which is very important considering the safety is the last line of defense in most cases.

Javon Bullard - Georgia - 5’ 10½”, 198 lbs

This dude is a missile in the defensive backfield. When he hits you, you really feel it. Bullard strikes me more as a football player than a true over-the-top safety. He played both safety and nickel at Georgia, and made plenty of plays from both spots. This shows he has versatility that the Lions could use to their advantage if they were to draft him. He is not the fastest guy, but he plays with a ton of power for a safety, and also looks like he has a high football IQ when I watch him on film.

Cole Bishop - Utah - 6’ 2”, 206 lbs

Definitively a guy that falls as a Day 2 pick for me, likely in Round 3, Bishop just looks like a Dan Campbell guy on film. He’s a great athlete that seems to have a knack for finding the ball and making plays. If you watched any Utah games this year, you definitely heard his name several times throughout the broadcast. He has great anticipation when dropped into a deep zone, looks solid in man-to-man coverage, and sometimes he plays down in the box and picks up some sacks on blitzes. I do not think I have ever seen him give up on a play, either, sometimes coming from all the way across the field to make a tackle.

And that concludes the player profiles.

I expect the Lions will take guys at a few of these positions throughout the Draft. It is important to remember that most of the names I mentioned are players I project the Lions would be drafting with their first pick. Depending on the way this Draft goes, however, we may see them end up with more than one of these players I listed here, via another trade up early in the second round, or if a guy just slides a bit and falls into our lap.

I also think we will consider drafting a kicker in one of the last few rounds, as that seems to be another weakness of ours after last season. Here are the names to keep an eye on at that position:

Joshua Karty - Stanford - 6’ 2”, 207 lbs

In my opinion, the top kicker in this class. He has visited with the Lions several times.

Cam Little - Arkansas - 6’ 1”, 172 lbs

At or near the top of most kicker rankings, but less consistent than Karty.

Will Reichard - Alabama - 6’ 1”, 187 lbs

If you watched Michigan play in the Rose Bowl, you will definitely remember him.

Harrison Mevis - Missouri - 6’ 0”, 241 lbs

Known as “The Thiccer Kicker,” he nailed a 61-yard game-winner this past season.

Projecting My Selection

Now, I am sure you are wondering who I would take at Pick 29. Honestly, it is really hard to say, there are going to be a lot of good options regardless of who gets picked in front of us. As I alluded to above, I think a lot of the players I talked about here will be gone by the time the Lions are on the clock, again, barring a trade up.

So, for the sake of trying to give an actual answer, I will assume that these players will be gone:

Cooper DeJean

Nate Wiggins

Laiatu Latu

Jer’Zhan Newton

Jackson Powers-Johnson

Adonai Mitchell

With that in mind, my top choices would be (in no particular order): Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Darius Robinson, Graham Barton, and Xavier Legette.

I would be really happy with any of these four players, but let me try to narrow it down to one or two.

While I do like what Rakestraw brings to the table, and corner is probably our biggest need, I don’t completely LOVE him as a prospect.

Graham Barton is a really nice player, but I would be equally as happy to see the Lions grab Zak Zinter out of Michigan on Day 2 or 3, who would be a first-round selection if he had not gotten injured against Ohio State.

So, that leaves Darius Robinson and Xavier Legette. Both guys that I think are the definitive best at their position out of the guys that are available in this hypothetical scenario. I genuinely cannot really pick between the two, so I will just leave it at that with a defensive selection and an offensive selection. Either of those two would be my choice.

Keep in mind, as well, there are plenty of other talented players at each of these positions that will be available at later picks. For example, Marshawn Kneeland (EDGE, Western Michigan), Ricky Pearsall (WR, Florida) who is one of my favorite prospects in this class, and other high-end prospects from Michigan like Roman Wilson (WR) and Mikey Sainristil (CB). So, just because all the names I listed here are off the board, does not mean that whoever the Lions select is automatically worse. Amon-Ra St. Brown was a fourth-round pick, and now he is one of the best receivers in the entire league.

And that concludes my preview of the 2024 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions. This is one of my favorite events in the world of sports, and I am so excited to watch another rendition of it this year. As you have read this preview, and also watched the Combine, or just any games this past season of college football, I am sure you have your own opinion of which player you want to see the Lions draft this year. So, if the Lions pass on the guy you like, or select a guy who plays a completely unexpected position, let’s just remember that Brad Holmes knows more about all of these guys than the rest of us combined. He has earned our trust based on the previous three years, and I am sure this year he will knock it out of the park again.

Go Lions.