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Detroit Lions: 5 NFL draft prospects worth tanking for

By Steven Mullenax

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes warms up before a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio Stadium on November 23, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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Derrick Brown, Auburn Tigers
Derrick Brown, Auburn Tigers (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn

Derrick Brown figures to be the top defensive tackle taken in the upcoming draft. And the Lions have certainly had their issues along the interior of their defensive line this season.

Detroit’s anchor in the middle, defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who received a healthy a one-year, $11 million extension in August making him a Lion through 2021, has had a down season. PFF gave Snacks an impressive 92.0 overall grade last season as his presence along the Lions’ defensive line following a midseason trade from the New York Giants appeared to transform the entire unit.

So far this season, Harrison’s overall grade has fallen all the way down to 64.3. But Snacks isn’t alone as all Detroit’s interior defenders have struggled this year when compared to 2018. And that’s one of the main reasons the Lions are ranked near the bottom in both pass (30th) and run (23rd) defense.

The 6-foot-5, 318-pound Brown should wow onlookers with his speed and athletic ability during the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine and at Auburn’s pro day. He has the flexibility to play in both the 3-4 and the 4-3, racking up 49 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, four pass defends, two forced fumbles and two recoveries in 11 games.

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