Detroit Lions take a flier on Jashon Cornell in the seventh round

The Detroit Lions ended Day Three of the 2020 NFL Draft taking a flier on Jashon Cornell with the 235th overall selection in the seventh round.

This offseason, the Detroit Lions have been doing some work in the trenches. There has been an intense focus on improving both their offensive and defensive lines through a flurry of roster changes.

Gone are veteran starters like offensive tackle Rick Wagner and guard Graham Glasgow. In their place, Detroit signed Halapoulivaati Vaitai in free agency and used two selections to draft guards Jonah Jackson out of Ohio State and Logan Stenberg from Kentucky.

Similarly, the Lions moved on from defensive tackles in Damon Harrison, Mike Daniels, and A’Shawn Robinson this offseason. In their place, Detroit signed Danny Shelton and Nick Williams as free agents. And in the draft, they added two more defensive tackles.

With their final two selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Lions added Utah run-stuffer John Penisini in the sixth round. And in the seventh, Detroit drafted Ohio State’s, Jashon Cornell.

The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Cornell is a versatile athletic defender who is able to play at either defensive tackle or end. That type of position-flex is perfect for head coach Matt Patricia’s multiple defensive scheme.

In 13 games, Cornell recorded 30 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2019 as a senior. Yet, he started in just 15 of his career 46 games for the Buckeyes over his entire college career.

Over the past four seasons under general manager Bob Quinn, the Detroit Lions have selected five different prospects in the final round of their respective drafts. Those seventh rounders include Georgia tight end Isaac Nauta (2019), Arizona defensive end P.J. Johnson (2019), San Diego State running back Nick Bawden (2018), Eastern Michigan defensive end Pat O’Connor (2017), and Washington running back Dwayne Washington (2016).