2017 NFL Mock Draft: Saints find Drew Brees replacement

Alabama. Jonathan Allen . 7. player. 50. <p>The strength of the Detroit Lions defense has always been their front four. It was true during the height of the Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley era and it remains true as star defensive end Ezekiel Ansah takes his place among the top pass rushers in the NFL.</p> <p>There are a number of ways the Lions could go here but in a draft that seemed stack with quality defensive linemen, there is no reason to overthink such a pick. Imagine what Ansah would be able to do with even fewer double teams to worry about.</p> <p>That is the kind of problems Jonathan Allen would present. He was the driving force behind the success of the Alabama defensive front seven in 2015 on their way to a national title. A rare type of player who is big enough to play inside at defensive tackle but quick and explosive enough to shift outside as well.</p> <p>That sort of versatility doesn’t come around often. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin would be able to do so much with his alignments were the Lions to make this pick. No doubt their defense would become a different animal overnight.</p>. DE