Detroit Lions 7-Round Mock Draft: Detroit bets on upside

Second Round

At the inside linebacker position, the Lions have re-signed some guys (Alex Anzalone, Josh Woods, Shaun Dion Hamilton) and added a couple outside free agents (Chris Board, Jarrad Davis). But taking someone fairly early in the draft is hardly off-limits.

Chenal had a breakout season for the Badgers in 2021, with 115 total tackles (18.5 tackles for loss) and eight sacks. For a Lions’ defense that could use some blunt force against the run and an effective blitzer as an off-the-ball linebacker, despite some limitations as a cover man, he looks like a fit. A lack of athleticism is evident on tape at times, but at the NFL Combine it was a different story (40.5-inch vertical, 4.53 40-yard dash, 128-inch broad jump).

I reached just a bit here, but not as much as you might think. The Lions double-up on Big Ten defensive players.