A little more than a week remains until the 2024 NFL Draft, and pundits are working nonstop to create their own unique take on the selection process. While some mock drafts are terrible, occasionally some really intriguing scenarios come from them.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who issued a complete seven-round mock draft on Wednesday, is one example of a mock draft that really benefits the Detroit Lions. If the Lions left with this collection of players, he projects reasonable deals and sensible selections that would probably garner positive reviews from the draft community.
Now let’s get started.
Trade: Lions send pick No. 29 to the Raiders
With the Raiders searching for a quarterback, they trade up to acquire pick No. 29, selecting Michael Penix (Washington) and giving the Lions picks No. 44 and 77 in return.
Trade Charts:
Rich Hill, pick No. 29 = 203 points
Picks 44 and 77 = 195
Difference = -8 points (equivalent of a Lions losing a late fifth-round pick, No. 168)
Fitzgerald-Spielberger = 1293 points
Picks 44 and 77 = 1881
Difference = 588 points (equivalent of a Lions gaining a mid fourth-round pick, No. 117)
With the Lions now holding two second-round picks, they quickly go to work solidifying the trenches.
Pick No. 44: Zach Frazier, IOL, West Virginia
Frazier has been a popular pick for analysts to project to the Lions, with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah pairing the two in February, and NFL Network/Fox Sports analyst Peter Schrager making the same decision earlier this week.
Frazier is drenched in grit and is capable of starting at center or guard. And while he’ll likely spend his rookie season as insurance to all three interior starters, he could be in line to grab a starting role in 2025.
Pick No. 61: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
A rapidly rising 3-technique who has made the most of his offseason opportunities, Fiske would give the Lions a rotational interior pass rusher with starter upside. He lacks desired NFL length but he has the speed and lateral quickness to make up for any concerns.
Pick No. 73: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Despite being the Lions’ third selection, Polk could end up seeing the most snaps from this draft class. At 6-foot-1 1⁄2, 203 pounds, Polk isn’t a pure WR-X, but he’s a big enough body to stick on the outside and keep defenses honest. He likely won’t open training camp with a starter role given to him, but he’s talented enough to win a starting job.
Pick No. 77: Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
An outside/inside corner who possesses the football intelligence to earn a starting role with time to develop. Wake Forest used a combination of man and zone coverage, and as a four-year starter in their scheme, Carson enters the NFL with a ton of experience playing in a variety of concepts.
Pick No. 164: Braiden McGregor, EDGE, Michigan
The top-ranked recruit in Michigan’s 2022 class, McGregor was expected to be the next Aidan Hutchinson, but his production fell short of expectations. While he did show consistent development over the years, he only started for one season in Ann Arbor and likely needs more polish before he can become a consistent rotational player. He’d be a solid backup for Hutchinson, where he can further develop his game.
Pick No. 201: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
One of the top kickers in this class because of his power and range/distance, Reichard should (hopefully) stop the Lions’ rotating door. Over his career, Reichard has successfully connected on 10 of his 13 attempts from 50 yards and beyond, with his longest kick made coming from 52 yards.
Pick No. 205: Sione Vaki, SAF, Utah
Brugler spotlighted the Vaki-Lions connection in his write-up:
Getting Vaki in the sixth round would be a steal in my opinion, as I traded up into the fourth round to take him in my most recent mock draft.
Select No. 249 Johnny Dixon, Penn State, CB
Dixon would be able to integrate into the Lions scheme more quickly than some other prospects because Penn State uses a lot of press man in their split-zone coverage scheme in the secondary. Although the NFL doesn’t like how hands-on he is downfield, he has the skill to be a contributor if he can cut down on his penalties. He’s a starting special team member, at the very least.
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