Detroit Lions 2016 7 Round Mock Draft
By Cal Folsom
The NFL draft is fast approaching, with just 22 days until round 1 kicks off in Chicago. This highly anticipated event will no doubt cause the arrival of several mock drafts from various outlets. However, many of these mock drafts will only contain a couple of rounds. Likewise, it will most likely be written up by some draft analyst that doesn’t even know the Detroit Lions or their needs. That will not be the case in this mock. This is a 7-round mock draft (yes, all 10 picks will be included) that is written by an extreme Lions fan who knows where they need help and who they should select. Please enjoy and comment on this Detroit Lions 2016 7-round mock draft.
player. 63. <p class=. DE. Clemson. Kevin Dodd. 1
<p></p><p>Nevin Lawson is a solid corner, he is just not a starting caliber outside, boundary corner. With this pick the lions would be choosing a player to start opposite of Darius Slay. Howard offers nice size at 6’0” and also has 31 ¼” arms at his disposal. While not exactly blowing up the combine he did the opposite at his pro day, at which many Detroit personnel were present. At his pro day Howard put up numbers such as: 40-yard dash: 4.41 seconds, Vertical: 38 1/2 inches (5.5 inches more than at the combine), Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches, and a 3-cone: 6.94 seconds. These are solid numbers and much better than those that he recorded at the combine, which leads to me thinking he might not have been 100% at the combine, because there is no way someone learns how to jump 5.5” more in less than a month.</p><p>Not only is he athletically gifted, but he has production to match. He is a willing tackler and a proven playmaker as in his two years as a starter for the bears he had 93 tackles as well as led the team in interceptions (four in 2014, five in 2015) and pass breakups (13, 10) in both years. He was an honorable mention for the All-Big 12 team both of these years. He does have a bit of a “feast or famine playing style” which causes him to give up more yards than he should. Yet, this is what the Lions need in their secondary. Year in and year out the lions lack game changers at CB, one’s that can go and get the interception, this pick would be a nice step in changing that.</p><p>With this pick the Lions would be able to pick up a (eventual) starter next to Slay and solidify the core and depth of their young secondary for many years to come.</p>. CB. Baylor. Xavien Howard. 2. player. 57
The Lions unfortunately were not able to resign one of their special teams’ standouts, Travis Lewis (Minnesota Vikings), however in the 6th round they can pick up a productive LB to take his place. Steve Longa is good enough athlete to be successful on the NFL platform, yet it is his production that really sets him apart in 3 years at Rutgers he started all but 2 games (37 total) and recorded 338 tackles. He has decent size at 6’1” and 242 lbs and would wreak havoc on special teams, scouts also see him as a hard worker that could eventually work himself into a starters role. He declared as a redshirt junior as Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood was fired, so he is still just 21.
While he is not an explosive athlete, Longa does have a strong sense on how to read offenses and is a sure tackler. The main struggle of Longa is that he is poor in pass coverage, much like current (former?) Detroit Lion, Stephen Tulloch. Drafting him could also lessen the blow of losing Tulloch’s (if we ever cut him) run stopping prowess as that is where Longa excels. Longa is more than worth a pick at this point in the draft as he could figure to be one of those rare players who can still produce at a high level in the NFL, as they showed in college, without possessing dominant athletic traits.
" >
6
Steve Longa
LB, Rutgers
The Lions unfortunately were not able to resign one of their special teams’ standouts, Travis Lewis (Minnesota Vikings), however in the 6th round they can pick up a productive LB to take his place. Steve Longa is good enough athlete to be successful on the NFL platform, yet it is his production that really sets him apart in 3 years at Rutgers he started all but 2 games (37 total) and recorded 338 tackles. He has decent size at 6’1” and 242 lbs and would wreak havoc on special teams, scouts also see him as a hard worker that could eventually work himself into a starters role. He declared as a redshirt junior as Rutgers head coach Kyle Flood was fired, so he is still just 21.
While he is not an explosive athlete, Longa does have a strong sense on how to read offenses and is a sure tackler. The main struggle of Longa is that he is poor in pass coverage, much like current (former?) Detroit Lion, Stephen Tulloch. Drafting him could also lessen the blow of losing Tulloch’s (if we ever cut him) run stopping prowess as that is where Longa excels. Longa is more than worth a pick at this point in the draft as he could figure to be one of those rare players who can still produce at a high level in the NFL, as they showed in college, without possessing dominant athletic traits.