We are just hours away from finding out the Detroit Lions 2013 first round draft pick but we get an early look at who it could be with our round up of 222 mock drafts. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Draft day is finally here and it feels like we know less today than we did a week ago. In an attempt to cut through the smoke, I have compiled a look at 222 mock drafts published between 4/21/13 and 4/25/13 to get a read on where popular opinion has the Lions looking with their first round pick.

There isn’t much separation between the three most popular picks but a clear favorite has emerged:

The picture changes a bit when you consider positions instead of names:

There you have it. Going on names, Ezekiel Ansah is the most popular pick. Based on position, offensive tackle is the most likely. Which way do you think it will go?

You can check out the full list of mocks on the next page.

Luke Joeckel was the first overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by Dion Jordan to the Jacksonville Jaguars. There wasn’t anything surprising there but things got interesting with the third pick. The Dolphins traded up to get the Raiders pick and used it to take Eric Fisher who was our top target for the fifth pick.

Fortunately, we were prepared for the fact that Fisher might not be available. The Eagles took Star Lotulelei, leaving us with the player we wanted if we couldn’t get Fisher and there wasn’t an acceptable opportunity to trade down.

Oct. 5, 2012; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Ezekiel Ansah (47) grabs hold of Utah State Aggies running back Kerwynn Williams (25) during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas C. Pizac-USA TODAY Sports

Ezekiel Ansah, Defensive End, BYU

At this point in the draft process most Lions fans should be familiar with the basics of Ansah’s story. He only has a couple years of football experience but appears to have all the makings of a stud defensive lineman.

The picks is made with some projection of what he can be as a finished product but that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute right away. He can play the run and rush the passer and has experience lining up in a variety of spots.

What do you think Lions fans? If the real draft plays out ahead of the Lions like it did in #MockSix, would you want the Lions to do the same thing?

Keep in mind that this mock is now just a handful of picks in to a full seven round mock. Keep up to date with all the action on twitter with the #MockSix hashtag and follow @MockOneNet.

Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Central Michigan offensive lineman Eric Fisher speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

With 17 days left until the almighty draft, we are entering the home stretch and the smoke is starting to clear as to who the Detroit Lions will draft with the 5th pick in the first round. It’s apparent to the ardent draftnik that the Lions will likely select either Eric Fisher (Tackle, Central Michigan) or Ziggy Ansah (Defensive End, BYU). Dee Milliner (Cornerback, Alabama), Lane Johnson (Tackle, Oklahoma) or Dion Jordan (Defensive End, Oregon) have outside chances of being selected if Fisher and Ansah are gone by the time the Lions pick.

Mel Kiper just came out with his latest mock draft and has the Lions taking CB Dee Milliner with Eric Fisher still on the board. Sorry Mel, I love you and your hair but you don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about. There is no way Martin Mayhew is going to take a corner over a franchise left tackle. Mayhew invested three picks in corners last year and only one played any significant time. He’s going to see what he has in those guys, plus he seems to think corners are a dime a dozen. Deion Sanders was a number 5 pick and that’s about the right stuff for a top five pick. The Lions tried picking a corner at 5 in 1997 and ended up with one-contract-and-done Bryant Westbrook.

NFL guru Gil Brandt was once asked, “if you’re starting a team from scratch, obviously your first choice to build a football team is to take a quarterback. What position would you take second?” Brandt answered quickly “A left tackle.” I’ve been reading the Lions forums from fans and a lot of them are assuming that the Lions already have a left tackle in Riley Reiff so pass on Fisher and take the best DE on the board. Pro Football Focus has stats for every conceivable thing you could imagine associated with playing football. They even have one that figures out a lineman’s grade. They had a good overall rating for Reiff for the year at a +6.3. During the two weeks he spent at Left tackle, his rating was a -4.7. It is a very small sample size but that explains the “rumors” of Reiff being switched over to guard. If Reiff was a sure-fire left tackle he wouldn’t have slid so the Lions could take him at 23 in last year’s draft.

The biggest question of the draft for the Lions is if Fisher is going to even be there for the Lions at 5. The Kansas City Chiefs seem committed to tackle Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M with the first pick, Jacksonville and Oakland are probably thinking defense when it’s their turn to pick. The big question is what is Philadelphia going to do with the 4th pick?

If the Eagles don’t take Fisher, then the Lions will have to decide between him or Ziggy Ansah. Even if Fisher is the most logical pick for the Lions, Mayhew has shown his intentions of building a dominant defensive front line. Adding the athletic Ansah to the money already invested in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley might make a lot of sense to Mayhew.

I really don’t think it’s much of a decision here for the Lions. Jeff Backus did the Lions a huge favor retiring before the draft. If Eric Fisher is there, the Lions should run not walk to the podium with that card. I would sleep a lot better knowing that the Lions have Matthew Stafford‘s back for the rest of his career.