Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Lions stay put at five:

If this is the case the Lions will be hoping that either Eric Fisher or Luke Joeckel falls in their lap at five. If neither of those tackles are on the board that leaves the Lions looking at either Cornerback Dee Milliner and defensive end Ziggy Ansah.

My guess is that both tackles are off the board and the Lions choose to fill a position of need with the best player available, and that is Dee Milliner.

Lions Trade Back:

I think this is the most likely scenario tonight. The Jets have two picks, the  9th and 13th overall and the Bills have the 8th overall pick. Both teams are rumored to be interested in Ryan Nassib so it’s possible the Jets could try to make a move to leap-frog the Bills to pick up Nassib and use their other pick to address an area of need.

I also think the Lions could swing a deal sending the 5th overall pick and future or current high round picks to the Jets in exchange for the 9th and 13th pick.

Why would the Lions do this?

I think the Lions are going to be in play for Tavon Austin on draft night, and making this move puts them in great position to draft Tavon Austin and  add a player in a position of need like Barkevious Mingo or Dee Milliner. Call me crazy, but I think there are just too many players in the Lions organization that are enticed by Austin and the idea of pairing him with Reggie Bush, Matthew Stafford, and Calvin Johnson.

In an article last week, I had this to say about Austin, “His cutting ability and creativity is unparalleled. It’s the closet thing we’ve seen to Barry Sanders since his days in Detroit.” I’m not the only one that’s high on Austin here are a few quotes from some experts about Tavon Austin:

“He’s the second coming of Barry Sanders” -Stephan A. Smith

“He’s the best offensive player in this draft” -John Gruden

“He’s the most sudden athlete I’ve ever evaluated, ever. Speed combined with quickness.” – Todd McShay

I think that it is most likely the Lions trade back. There’s a strong chance that one or two quarterbacks shoot up the draft boards leading me to believe that trading back will be the Lions best option and the most likely with both tackles likely off the board.

When it’s all said and done I think the Lions take Tavon Austin and either Dee Milliner or a top pass rusher.

November 3, 2012; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Zach Mettenberger (8) is sacked by Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dee Milliner (28) during the first half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

A full week has passed since the NFL Combine’s conclusion making this a great time to check in on our Detroit Lions mock draft database to get a feel for what mock drafters across the internet are thinking the Lions will or should do in next month’s draft.

I took a look at 144 mock drafts published between March 1-March 7 and they contained a total of 12 different names. Here they are, sorted by popularity:

In previous looks at the Lions mock draft database, Milliner was the most popular pick, but defensive end was the most popular position. Milliner keeps control of the player popularity title but we see that this time it is enough to flip the position battle in the favor of a cornerback. Here is the position-by-position breakdown:

Check out the mock-by-mock breakdown of each pick on the next page.

In the 2012 NFL draft the Lions addressed their issues at the cornerback position with Bill Bentley (third round), Chris Greenwood (fifth round) and Jonte Green (sixth round). The Lions also signed corner Jacob Lacey in free agency, who started sporadically for the Lions when he was healthy.

The Lions intend to improve with a big athletic corner and Dee Milliner fits the bill. Milliner is the best cornerback in the draft with great size at 6-1, 198 lbs. He isn’t as athletic as Patrick Peterson or Morris Claiborne, the first corners taken in the 2011 and 2012 drafts, but he is just as good of a cover corner as both players if not better. Milliner doesn’t come down with very many interceptions because his speed and leaping ability aren’t elite, but he is always in a great position to make plays because of his exceptional awareness and read/reaction ability.

November 24, 2012; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dee Milliner (28) celebrates his fumble recovery with teammate defensive back Robert Lester (37) against the Auburn Tigers during the second quarter at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Traits and Projected Round

Prototypical size for an NFL corner and great ball skills when playing the pass and excellent in run support. Milliner is projected to be a top five to ten pick after he dazzled scouts at the combine posting 4.31 and a 4.38 forty times, proving he is an elite athlete.

Why the Lions Should Draft Milliner

He’s exactly what the Lions are looking for in their defensive backfield. Good size and durability, he can covering bigger NFL receivers, he’s good in run support, makes plays on the ball, and most importantly, he would start right away. Last season, the Lions addressed the cornerback position, but for depth, with Bill Bentley and Jonte Green, and for a the future, with Chris Greenwood (Greenwood was drafted out of Albion, a division III school in Michigan and is viewed as a developmental player). It’s time the Lions draft a player in the secondary that can start from day one.

The video below contains highlights from Dee Milliner. Watch his physicality in both the run and the pass game. Milliner’s toughness is the most intriguing part about his game and that could go a long way for the Lions’ front office after watching the secondary get beat time and time again last season.