Detroit Lions mock draft: Jameson Williams suspension changing priorities?

Fourth Round

The Lions don’t have a 2023 fourth-round pick right now. So they’ll go 71 picks between turns on the clock.

Fifth Round

Thompson steadily improved over his time under Chip Kelly at UCLA, with 48 touchdowns and 16 interceptions over his final two seasons. Last season, his 69.6 percent completion rate was sixth in FBS (among quarterbacks with a minimum 250 pass attempts). He was also one of two FBS quarterbacks with at least 27 touchdown passes and 12 rushing scores. Production on the ground with his legs is nice, but just as (if not more) importantly, he is also able to make plays throwing on the run.

Thompson-Robinson would be able to sit behind Jared Goff for a year, then potentially take over as the Lions starting quarterback in 2024. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and/or quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell could be strong advocates for “DTR.”

Williams isn’t the biggest man (228 pounds), and thus he’s too easily tabbed as a big in the box safety. But he was very productive all-around three-year starter at Tulane (132 total tackles, five sacks, seven pass breakups and two interceptions last year). He tested well in Indianapolis at the Combine, running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash with a 33.5-inch vertical and a 10-foot broad jump.

Williams will make an NFL roster immediately as a special teamer. For the Lions, he’s a fantastic fifth-round selection with future visions of how he’ll team up with Malcolm Rodriguez.

Sixth Round

I nearly doubled-up at wide receiver with this pick, but I went with a second corner instead.

Wright has the size and length NFL teams want (6-foot-1, 193 pounds, 32.5-inch arms). He’s regarded as scheme versatile perimeter corner, but what he does best (h/t to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com) is ideal for a man-cover guy and thus makes him a nice for the Lions

"Premium size and length. Adequate patience with forceful punch from press. Able to phase routes with good stop-and-go body control. Quick to accelerate when changing direction with lateral breaks. Recovery speed to track down routes crossing the hash. Downfield ball tracking keeps him in proper position. Challenges a good number of throws. Prevents catch opportunities outside the numbers."

Guard is a future need area for the Lions, at least at right guard with Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Graham Glasgow on one-year deals. More broadly, depth is a concern.

Mafi mostly played left guard at UCLA after starting his college career as a defensive tackle. He had a breakout season in 2022, earning second team All-Pac 12 honors. He did make a few starts a right guard in 2021 though.

It’s fair to call Mafi (335 pounds) a bully as a run blocker.

Seventh Round

The Lions also do not have have seventh-rounder right now.