Detroit Lions 2020 NFL Draft Full 7-round mock: Defensive focus early

2020 NFL Draft: 3rd Round, 67th Overall

The Detroit Lions select…

Name: Bradlee Anae
Position: Edge
School: Utah
Height/Weight: 6-3 / 257
2019 Stats: 12 games played, 13.0 sacks, 41 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble
Draft Round Projection: 3-5

Pick Analysis: In a perplexing and often frustrating pattern, the Lions haven’t placed much value on high-octane, speedy edge rushers in recent seasons. Moreover, Anae isn’t the prototypical twitched-up athlete that many teams search for at the position, but he would add some much-needed juice to a defense that struggled mightily to affect opposing passing games in 2019.

Anae enjoyed a highly productive year as a senior. He lined up in both two and three-point stances, which would benefit him greatly in the Lions shifting defensive scheme. He is a high-effort player whose motor runs hot at all times. He was lauded as a team leader for the Utes.

Anae’s run defense is a work in progress. His athletic limitations and lack of speed hinder his ability to consistently make open-field tackles and he struggles at times to wrap up shiftier players who break into the second level. He could carve out a rotational role as a rookie, but his improvement in these areas would likely dictate his playing time in year one.