NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft

Round 2 – Pick 51

Ronald Jones, RB, USC

This is the perfect example of letting the depth of a position in the draft class pay dividends. Pass rusher is a premium position with a big fall-off after round one. Running back, on the other hand, is the opposite. There are tons of talented players that will be taken on day two of the draft and have an impact.

Detroit addresses it’s running back situation by grabbing some people’s, including your truly, second rank running back Ronald Jones of USC. Jones was the sixth running back taken after Saquon Barkley, Kerryon Johnson, Sony Michel, Darrius Guice and Rashaad Penny. Any of those names would be a great value for Detroit at this point in the draft but Jones is an out-right steal.

Jones is the only running back aside from Barkley to get a first round grade for me. At USC he was a dynamic playmaker in a rudimentary rushing attack. Some are comparing Jones to Jamaal Charles, and you can see why when the tape is popped in. He has the burst and agility to remind you of the former rushing leader. The two also share a similar, slightly undersized, frame.

This is the type of back that Detroit really needs. There is talk that they should get a bruiser or more of an power back, but that would be like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Jones offers the passing acumen of Detroit’s current backs with an added bonus of being an excellent running back inside and out. The concerns with his size could scare some teams away but this is an ideal fit for the Lions.