2021 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions quick hitting 7-round mock

Here’s a Detroit Lions 2021 mock draft showcasing players that could help

The Detroit Lions managed to squeak out their first home win of the 2020 season this week, putting Washington away 30-27 on the strength of a game-winning 59-yard field goal courtesy of Matt Prater.

The win puts them at 4-5 on the year with a few games coming up against under-powered opponents, but the overall season outlook remains blink with their final four games coming against Green Bay, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Minnesota. Two of those four teams have already pummeled the Lions once this year.

While it’s possible, making the playoffs certainly seem like a long shot. With that in mind, many fans and industry experts have begun to look ahead to the 2021 NFL draft; looking for players that can come in and help Detroit get into the postseason in the 2021 season.

The team has a litany of needs, but a limited number of picks with which to work at the current moment. Some more important needs to consider include a wide receiver, linebacker, and a defensive lineman that can rush the passer. While a number of fans are clamoring for a young quarterback, unless a new regime believes wholeheartedly in one outside of the big two, the  Lions may not be in a great position to select one.

With that being said, I decided to put together a mock draft offering some quick analysis of each pick. Detroit currently only has five picks in the draft, with one pick in each of the first five rounds. In this draft, the Lions got some offensive help in round one but then loaded up on defense in rounds two through five by adding at least one player to each level of the defense.

Round One: Lions select Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama-

With their first pick of the 2021 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions add to their depleted receiver room. Rookie Quintez Cephus is the only receiver currently under contract for the 2021 season, but will hopefully be joined by star wideout Kenny Golladay. Even if the next regime in Detroit has to franchise tag Golladay for a year, they need to do whatever they can to extend him long-term.

So, with a very uncertain future at wide receiver, it makes a ton of sense to add a receiver to the roster in the first round of next year’s draft. Waddle is an elite college receiver that does pretty much everything well. He has great body control and runs his routes well, and often working his way open early into his route with his elite quickness and speed.

His hands are pretty good, keeping his drops to a limit, and is a consistent quality target for his quarterback. He’s electric and dangerous with the ball in his hand and gives any offense a dangerous weapon that can be used all over the field.

He has experience in both the slot and on the outside of a formation and can do damage on both short, intermediate, and deep passing routes. He’s the most dangerous receiver in this draft and the Lions’ offense desperately needs someone that can stretch the field the way he can with speed and quick separation. If Waddle is still there when the Lions are on the clock, he should be one of their top options in round one.