2017 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions 7-round mock
Jaleel Johnson
Defensive Tackle, Iowa
The Lions go back to the defensive side of the ball in round three, and even more specifically back to the front seven. When looking at the Lions back end, it does need some help. However, defense wins with a front that can create pressure, and in a great defensive draft, it would do the Lions a great service to hit that area multiple times and bring relief to the back end in 2017.
The Lions interior rotation is far from complete. Haloti Ngata is an experienced veteran who did not have a bad year. However, he is nowhere near the player he used to be, is 33 years old, and is a free agent at the end of the season. It may be time for the Lions to move on. Beside him is A’Shawn Robinson. Robinson is a second round pick who showed flashes as a rookie but is still far away from being a relied on option. Robinson is young and has some technical ironing out to do, but he is more of an upside prospect than a tangible NFL asset.
Behind them is Khyri Thornton, Akeem Spence and Jordan Hill. While that is average depth, having questions with Robinson and Ngata puts the depth under a different microscope, and with the idea of big snaps potentially coming from any of these names leaves a fear and a need to add at the position.
While Robinson is an upside bet as a prospect, Johnson is a high floor, low bust potential pick. That is because he is much more precise in his movement, and in his hand and arm placements. He is able to win with leverage, and while he does not have a high sack threshold, he can stuff the run, and has the ability to play on obvious pass downs. Moving forward with a duo of Robinson and Johnson can bring some optimism and the possibility of the two gelling well.