Round 1 (pick 20)
Round one always gets the biggest scrutiny, because usually people know the names of the players being selected better and it’s supposed to be the big get, a starter-caliber player who can instantly impact your team. For the Lions, it still should be a guy that plays quite a bit, right away.
For the simulations, Fanspeak’s on the clock draft generator was used, and Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller draft board was used to populate the players (you can choose a draft board to use). So, I ran simulations about ten times, each time trying to choose different options to see what kind of player might be drafted at each need.
Last week we discussed what is available at number twenty, overall.
Defensive linemen: Da’Ron Payne, tackle, Marcus Davenport, end, Harold Landry, end/ linebacker, Mo Hurst, tackle, or possibly Vita Vea, tackle. Of course this varies, though.
Offensive linemen: There are two that I would consider: Kolton Miller, tackle, and guard, Will Hernandez.
Backs & Receivers: Derrius Guice, Sony Michel, and anyone not named Saquon are there. We could probably have our pick of tight ends, too.
Linebackers: Malik Jefferson, Leighton Vander Esch, and Rashaan Evans are there.
Defensive backs: Jaire Alexander, or Josh Jackson can usually be had at twenty. Isaiah Oliver is another option. In one simulation, taking Jackson worked really well.
Commentary
The Lions have tons of options and probably lose the most amount of good options at defensive end if they wait. To me Guice and Michel are fall-back picks in round one.
In some scenarios I selected offensive tackle, Kolton Miller, who is similarly skilled to left tackle, Taylor Decker. If this happened, I like how it solves the problems up front. You slide one guy to left guard, and the other protects quarterback Matt Stafford’s blind side. In addition, if your tackle gets hurt, the healthy man can slide out to left tackle while a backup, like Joe Dahl, comes in at guard.
My pick: Marcus Davenport, but the tackle option is intriguing. I might change my mind while writing this sentence.