The Detroit Lions‘ season ended with an encouraging win over the division rival Green Bay Packers. Now their offseason focus is set on the 2019 NFL Draft. The Detroit Lions are out of playoff contention. And while other NFL teams battle it out in the conference championship games this weekend, Detroit will be focusing on the offseason and the NFL draft. With the Senior Bowl next week and the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine, Motown will be looking to add some key rookies to help set the team on a winning track. But which prospects will the Lions select in 2019? I’ll try my best to predict those choices in my second complete seven-round mock draft for the Lions this offseason. You can read my previous mock draft by clicking here. Like last time, I used Fanspeak‘s On The Clock premium resource (trades possible with premium) to do this mock draft. I also used Bleacher Report’s draft expert Matt Miller’s big board, the computer used multiple random big boards to best simulate the many different big boards that teams will have. I also set it to the “difficult” setting and the team needs were “User-Voted”. Any trades I made in this mock draft were offered by the CPU directly. Because it is a simulation and not everyone has the same big board, some picks may seem unrealistic. However, my goal is to pick the best player remaining on the board that will help the Lions the most, regardless of whether or not I think that player will be available at that point in the draft come April. The Lions have many needs this offseason, and the way they approach free agency will shift their team needs in the draft a little bit. As for now, however, I believe their top needs include defensive end, cornerback, tight end, offensive guard, and wide receiver. Other positions that could use a boost include safety and linebacker. Now, let’s start my 2019 Detroit Lions Mock Draft 2.0 …<doc-sep>GAINESVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 07: Feleipe Franks #13 of the Florida Gators is sacked by Devin White #40 of the LSU Tigers during the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) The Detroit Lions earned themselves a top-ten pick in the NFL draft. But will there be a player available who can come in and have a major impact Year One? The last time the Detroit Lions had a top-ten pick in the NFL Draft was back in 2014. And the Lions selected North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron tenth overall. Although Ebron may be playing well for the Indianapolis Colts now, his time in the Motor City was a major disappointment. Still, difference makers have been found by Detroit within the top ten. Players like defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and wide receiver Calvin Johnson have all been top ten picks for Detroit since 2007. And all have been impact players for the Lions during their time in Motown. But this will be the first time Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn will get a crack at making a top-ten selection for Detroit. Since coming to the Lions back in 2016, Quinn has made three first round selection for the Motor City. Those players being left tackle Taylor Decker, linebacker Jarrad Davis and left guard Frank Ragnow. All three are considered solid selections. Where Quinn and this front office has really shined is in the later rounds, finding underrated players like Pro Bowl returner Jamal Agnew in the fifth round, starting center Graham Glasgow in the third and defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand in the fourth. Posting a disappointing 6-10 record last season, the Lions now have themselves a chance to draft themselves a transformative player. But is that player a linebacker? LSU linebacker Devin White was the Lions’ first round selection in a recent mock draft by longtime NFL Draft guru for ESPN Mel Kiper Jr. Here’s what Kiper had to say about the possible eighth overall selection via the Detroit Free Press. “White is a fly-to-the-football linebacker with similar athletic traits as Detroit middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, who was taken in the first round in 2017. The two could form a stellar tandem, as both are three-down linebackers. White isn’t a true pass-rusher, but he makes plays in the backfield.” According to CBS Sports, their 2019 NFL Draft big board lists these are the top ten players in the upcoming draft as of now: 1 – Nick Bosa, DE – Ohio State 2 – Quinnen Williams, DT – Alabama 3 – Josh Allen, OLB – Kentucky 4 – Ed Oliver, DT – Houston 5 – Greedy Williams, CB – LSU 6 – Devin White, ILB – LSU 7 – Jonah Williams, OT – Alabama 8 – Jeffery Simmons, DT – Miss. State 9 – Clelin Ferrell, D – Clemson 10 – Jachai Polite, DE – Florida Obviously, Bosa would be the prize catch here. The Lions have a desperate need for a pass rusher and Joey Bosa’s little brother is the best available. Detroit would likely have to trade up for him and that would be costly. Outside of Bosa, Williams out of LSU could be the next best option. Pairing Greedy with Pro Bowler Darius Slay in the secondary would be a lethal combo. Although White would be a nice consolation prize at eight, Detroit needs a pass rusher so Allen or Ferrell would likely be better choices.<doc-sep>Call it a case of deja-vu for Detroit Lions fans everywhere, but a prominent NFL analyst once again has the team experimenting with taking a tight end within the top 10 of the NFL Draft. In Daniel Jeremiah's first mock at NFL.com he revealed late last week, there were plenty of interesting moves for teams, but perhaps none most eyebrow raising than the Lions taking Iowa's T.J. Hockenson with the No. 8 overall pick in the draft. Here's a look at what Jeremiah wrote about why Hockenson could be the pick for the Lions, and why this move could make sense for the team all things considered. "This might be a little early for Hockenson, but he fits the physical identity the Lions have been attempting to build." Detroit, of course, has not gone the tight end route so early in the draft since 2014, when they nabbed Eric Ebron with the No. 10 pick. That didn't work out, with Ebron flaming out with the Lions and eventually being released and moving on to have success in Indianapolis. In 2018, the Lions struggled at the spot, but could be looking to make it a bigger priority under new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Hockenson himself is one of the top prospects considering statistics. In just two years at Iowa, Hockenson put up 1,080 yards and nine touchdowns and shows signs of being a top prospect at the spot, even considering names like Irv Smith and teammate Noah Fant. His name, though, has never been seen this high on a mock, so it will be fascinating to see if this is a one time thing or a trend. The Lions have plenty of holes on their team to address this draft period, and it just so happens a few of their biggest are spots where top end talents could be had. The defensive line and defensive backfield have several stud players who figure to be around early in the draft, and those are two spots where the Lions could figure to need instant upgrades. Detroit also has needs at tight end, perhaps at wideout and also depth spots on the offense and defense. They also have nine draft picks with which to work. Balancing where to take a tight end is a huge question. The Detroit Lions are pushing into the offseason. Stay up to date with everything --take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Lions newsletter now Combined with a young linebacking group, there is a hope that the Lions could turn into one of the NFL's more elite groups on defense if they are able to continue the arrow trending upward. Certainly, as these cases show, there is reason for hope that could soon be the case, as they've already got a nice place to start with some solid and budding talents on the field. Getting a high draft pick into the mix will help this turnaround further. Interestingly enough, many early mocks have had the Lions looking elsewhere than along the defensive front or even at linebacker. Cornerback has also been alluded to as one of the team's bigger draft needs coming up. Detroit's next draft, whatever pick they might land, is going to have to be heavy along the defensive front. The Lions need some depth there and more playmakers, and that's without even figuring in the fact that they could lose Ezekiel Ansah and could also lose Ricky Jean Francois, who are on one year deals. Obviously, the Lions have some major building to do along their defensive line in the coming seasons in the draft and free agency, and one could expect them to target those spots most in the coming year when it comes to upgrades. But even without those future players and their arrivals, the Lions have been pretty good already, especially against running quarterbacks, which should be downright scary for the opposition. As the Lions have figured out how to stop the run consistently, the whole group has gotten better. Do the Lions risk plenty and draft a skill position player this high? If they do, fans could flip out, even though Hockenson is a very talented player.<doc-sep>With the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator search wrapped up, it's time to shift focus to the roster-building components of the offseason, namely free agency and the draft. Thankfully, Mel Kiper is happy to help. The longtime ESPN analyst released his first mock draft Thursday morning, and in it he has the Lions selecting LSU linebacker Devin White. "This is a spot to watch for a pass-rusher, as the Lions could part ways with free agent Ezekiel Ansah," Kiper writes. "In fact, coach Matt Patricia could use improvements at every level of his defense. White is a fly-to-the-football linebacker with similar athletic traits as Detroit middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, who was taken in the first round in 2017. The two could form a stellar tandem, as both are three-down linebackers. White isn't a true pass-rusher, but he makes plays in the backfield." That blurb isn't likely to inspire confidence in Lions fans. Davis has struggled with consistency his first two seasons in Detroit, both with his pass coverage and pursuit angles when playing the run. White, listed at 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, also plays middle linebacker, which would leave the Lions to sort out who would play where between him and Davis. More: Tough cuts? Important salary, roster decisions loom for Lions A first-team All-American the past two years, and the 2018 Butkis award winner as the nation's best linebacker, White recorded 123 tackles (12 for a loss), 3.0 sacks, six pass breakups and three forced fumbles for the Tigers last season. Kiper has the Lions taking White ahead of a trio of talented defensive linemen — Rashan Gary, Clelin Ferrell and Ed Oliver — as well as cornerback DeAndre Baker and edge-rushing linebackers Jachai Polite and Brian Burns. In the projection, Gary comes off the board one pick after the Lions take White, No. 9, to the Buffalo Bills. "At his peak, the 6-foot-6, 283-pound Gary is a menace who makes offensive linemen look foolish, but you'd like to see him do it with more regularity," Kiper writes of the former Michigan standout. "Gary could play end or nose guard in a 3-4 defense or tackle in a 4-3." Linebacker Devin Bush, Gary's Michigan teammate and a longtime Kiper favorite, is slotted to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20. "The phrase I keep repeating about Bush is 'perfect for today's NFL,' " Kiper writes. "He would be a great fit as a three-down linebacker who never has to leave the field. At 5-foot-11, Bush is undersized, but he should test well at the combine." jdrogers@detroitnews.com Twitter: @Justin_Rogers<doc-sep>
As we march closer to the Super Bowl, the focus for many other NFL fans has shifted to the 2019 NFL draft. On Thursday, the preeminent NFL draftnik published a first-round mock. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has predicted each of the 32 picks scheduled for April 25 in Nashville, Tenn. The Detroit Lions have the eighth overall pick. According to Kiper, they should go with defense, namely LSU linebacker Devin White. "White is a fly-to-the-football linebacker with similar athletic traits as Detroit middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, who was taken in the first round in 2017. The two could form a stellar tandem, as both are three-down linebackers. White isn't a true pass-rusher, but he makes plays in the backfield," Kiper wrote. White, entering the NFL draft after his junior season, had 123 tackles, 62 solo, three sacks and three forced fumbles in 2018. Kiper has Michigan defensive lineman Rashan Gary going with the next pick, No. 9 to the Bills. "At his peak, the 6-foot-6, 283-pound Gary is a menace who makes offensive linemen look foolish, but you'd like to see him do it with more regularity. Gary could play end or nose guard in a 3-4 defense or tackle in a 4-3." USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis did a mock draft on Wednesday, and he had Gary going to the Lions at No. 8. The other local player of note, Michigan linebacker Devin Bush, is slated for No. 20 by the Steelers by Kiper. A quick check of other prominent mock drafts still have the Lions going defense. The Sporting News has Detroit taking Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell eighth overall. "Ferrell is the best of the Tigers’ defensive line prospects, because his size (6-5, 260 pounds) gives him a high floor as an outside run-stopper to add to his explosiveness as a pass-rusher. He’s the kind of versatile player out of whom Matt Patricia can get the most, and he also fits the Lions' top need," wrote Vinnie Iyer, who has Gary going 13th to the Dolphins. Ferrell stood out on a star-studded Tigers defensive line, recording 55 tackles (29 solo) and 11.5 sacks for the national champions. CBSSports.com's Ryan Wilson published a mock draft on Wednesday, too. He thinks the Lions will take Washington cornerback Byron Murphy. "Darius Slay had a good season for the Lions but coach Matt Patricia could use a top-flight cornerback on a defense that ranked 31st against the pass, according to Football Outsiders," Wilson wrote. He doesn't have Gary going until 24th to Oakland, where he'd be teamed up with ex-Wolverine Maurice Hurst. Murphy, leaving school after his redshirt sophomore season, had 58 tackles and four interceptions to go with 13 passes defended this past season. The NFL draft blog walterfootball.com agrees with Kiper and has Detroit drafting White. "A projected running back, White is still learning the position, which is crazy considering how great he was in 2017," the blog reads.