Detroit Lions sign last of the 2020 rookie class, Jashon Cornell

With the Detroit Lions signing Jashon Cornell, the 2020 draft class is locked up

With defensive lineman Jashon Cornell signing his four-year rookie deal with the Detroit Lions over the weekend, the team has officially locked up all nine of their draft picks from the 2020 NFL Draft. Cornell was the Lions’ seventh-round selection, taken 235th overall.

While most players taken late into the draft don’t garner much media and fan attention, especially in the seventh round, Cornell was a good and needed pick for the Lions. With the defensive line being a weak spot on the team for several years, depth was needed in that area, especially this season with defensive tackles Damon Harrison and A’Shawn Robinson departing.

Heading to Ohio State, Cornell was ranked as the top defensive end prospect for the class of 2015. He redshirted his first year, appearing in no games due to a groin injury. With 2016 being the first year on the field at the college level, he only appeared in two games recording just three tackles.

In his second year, Cornell played in 10 games, tackling 14 players with 3.5 being for loss of yards and sacking the quarterback twice. He recovered two fumbles and also forced one. He drew his first start in his third year of playing college football, tackling 15 guys with two of them being for loss and a sack. His senior year was his best season as he played in 13 games, recording 30 tackles (16 solo) with 7.5 being for a loss while sacking the quarterback four times and forcing a fumble.

Despite coming from a big college program known to produce top talent, Cornell doesn’t figure to get much playing time in his first professional season. The middle of the defensive line is occupied by defensive tackles Danny Shelton and Nick Williams while the edges are taken by defensive ends Trey Flowers and Romeo Okwara.

If one of the starting four on the defensive line were to go down with an injury, Cornell may be able to get out on the field and contribute to the Lions. Although that’s not guaranteed as there’s still some players like defensive end Julian Okwara (third-round draft pick), defensive tackle John Penisini (sixth-round draft pick) and others that could get priority for playing time over him.

Jashon Cornell would have benefited from the preseason in order to show the coaching staff what he’s got but unfortunately for him and the rest of the team, the preseason has been called off. He could provide the Lions with a body to put on the defensive line down the road but in his rookie season, don’t expect much out of him.