5 things Mel Kiper got wrong in his most recent NFL mock draft

Biggest mistakes in Mel Kiper’s latest NFL Mock Draft: 2. Bijan Robinson isn’t going to Detroit

Bijan Robinson is an excellent stylistic fit for the physical running attack the Lions’ offense likes to lean on. The problem with mocking him to Detroit is that they’re already heavily invested at the running back position.

The team just signed David Montgomery in free agency to partner with D’Andre Swift next year. Kiper correctly points out that Swift is a flight risk after his contract expires at the end of the 2023 campaign. That doesn’t mean the Lions are going to spend a first-round pick on an insurance policy for Swift at one of the NFL’s least valuable positions.

Instead, look for Detroit to zero in on a wide receiver or cornerback with their second first-round selection. They could be in the market for Flowers at that spot in the draft. Cornerbacks like Deonte Backs or DJ Turner could also be serious temptations for Dan Campbell and his defensive coaching staff.

It seems likely that some team is going to pull the trigger on Robinson in Round 1 but look for it to be a team with the ability to take a swing on a luxury pick in the 20s. Projecting him to the Lions at 18 is too rich for a team that is more than a running back away from Super Bowl contention.