2020 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions full seven-round mock 1.0

When Matthew Stafford suffered back and hip injuries that knocked him out for eight games this season, ending his 136 consecutive starting streak, a major red flag should have gone up in Detroit’s front office.

Stafford, who just completed his 11th season in the NFL, will be turning 32-years of age in February. And without him under center, the Lions were unable to win a single game.

Detroit seems to have found a capable backup candidate in Jeff Driskel, that’s if the Lions re-sign the pending free agent. And they gave rookie David Blough five NFL starts to end the season. They also signed preseason standout Kyle Sloter off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad in late November.

But the truth is this team would be lost without Stafford. And in the fifth round, you’re likely not going to find the next Tom Brady. That’s unless you think outside the box. That’s where Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts enters the picture.

This season, Hurt threw for 3,851 yards, 32 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions in 14 games. He also posted an incredible 1,298 rushing yards along with 20 more scores on the ground.

This dual-threat wunderkind led the Sooners to a 12-2 record and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Still, some project Hurts to be a possible Day Three selection. If he falls this low, Detroit shouldn’t be afraid to take a risk on a player who could develop into an eventual starter learning from Stafford.