The Lions have to get a king’s ransom to pass on Young
The panel on this mock draft originally said that Detroit’s pick is a no-brainer and Chase Young would have to be the selection. It was then that one of the panel members brought up the point that he believed that there was no way the top two quarterbacks would go off the board without Miami deciding they had to trade up to get Herbert.
That is a flawed thought in my book. We already are hearing how the Dolphins might very well call Bob Quinn’s ‘bluff’ about interest in Tagovailoa and stay at number five believing they will be able to still get Tua.
Also, the Giants got their quarterback last year, so they don’t seem like a landing place for Tagovailoa. Basically, with or without Tua off the board, it seems very likely that Herbert will be available at the fifth pick barring another team trying to trade up for the former Oregon passer.
The second part that was flawed to me was the offer. The trade that the panel put on the table was to swap the third pick for the fifth, two second-round selections, and a second-round pick next year with Miami. To me, that’s a realistic and not necessarily horrible offer, but is it worth it?
I still say that if Young is available and Miami wanted the third pick so desperately, then they have to make a desperation offer that makes up for losing Young. I’m also not sure how much value a must-win regime places on draft picks next year. If the Dolphins aren’t willing to part with a second first-round pick, then they aren’t desperate and it isn’t enough to pass on Young.
Even if Okudah is still available at number five for the Lions.
It makes more sense that if the Dolphins are desperate, they would offer more to Detroit or trade-up one slot to the number four pick with the Giants to ensure they get Herbert.
I have gone on record as saying that if Washington selects Young and the Lions don’t want Tagovailoa, they should trade down with the Dolphins or Chargers to get more assets. A trade that would still very likely allow them to get Okudah, but trading away the rights to Chase Young is different.
Young is the best player in the draft, he is 100 percent healthy and will be an impact player from day one at an incredibly important position that the Lions desperately need. With all those factors at work, you don’t trade away the opportunity to select him without a legitimate king’s ransom in return, if at all.
Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia are expected to win now and if Chase Young is available, he is the one player in this draft to most likely help turn a franchise around next season.
Okudah and many other players in the draft will develop into very good players, perhaps franchise players, but Young’s impact would make the defense better right now, as well as moving forward. That is what this regime needs more than extra picks that won’t match Young’s production at an incredibly important position.