2018 NFL Mock Draft: Sam Darnold goes to Browns

By Brad Weiss | Apr 25, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Sam Darnold (14) of the USC Trojans during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins vs USC Trojans on November 18, 2017 at the Los Angeles memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ORLANDO, FL – JANUARY 01: Derrius Guice No. 5 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after a touchdown run against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. Notre Dame won 21-17. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Derrius Guice. 20. player. 50. . Running Back. LSU

The Detroit Lions nearly made the playoffs for a second straight season in 2017, though they fell just short of their ultimate goal. During the previous offseason, they made quarterback Matthew Stafford the richest player in football, and he rewarded them with another productive season. He is one of the best in the business at putting up big numbers, but he could use an elite weapon in the backfield heading into next season.

That player could be Derrius Guice, who has a first round grade on him heading into Thursday. Guice actually led the SEC in rushing as a backup to Leonard Fournette back in 2016, and his game should definitely translate to the NFL level. He can do a bit of everything out of the backfield, and has the kind of determination that is going to make him a tremendous player at the next level.

Detroit has a solid roster on both sides of the ball, and Stafford is definitely one of the best quarterback in football. If they can add Guice to this offseason, it would give them a dimension they have not had with Stafford under center. The NFC North is very winnable next season, and the Lions are going to be a team that is in the running for a playoff spot up until the end of the year.

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