A top pick can change a franchise forever, but building a contender means hitting on sleeper picks. The guys who may not be considered the best at their position going into the draft, or may not be considered first-round worthy, but have shown the potential to make whichever team drafts them incredibly happy.
The Detroit Lions may not be where they are today if they hadn't landed wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, nor if they hadn't gone against the mock drafts and taken running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Jack Campbell when they did in 2023.
Who are the sleeper picks in this week's NFL Draft? ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. shares prospects he likes at every position, with names Lions fans should keep an eye out for in Day Two and later.
On the defensive side of the ball, Kiper has Illinois EDGE Gabe Jacas as a third-rounder "at worst," but considers him "a multidimensional edge who can do pretty much anything asked of him." Jacas has been a popular second-round pick in mock drafts and would be a direct answer to one of the Lions' biggest issues on defense -- and perhaps the one position general manager Brad Holmes is sick of answering questions about.
Jacas isn't the only defender becoming a popular suggestion for the Lions in the second, as Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds continues to be linked to the Lions in mock drafts. Kiper has Ponds, Clemson's Avieon Terrell, and Duke's Chandler Rivers all as his CB sleeper picks. He sees Ponds and Terrell as second-round picks, but sees Rivers being picked a round or two after.
Kiper believes that all three "maximize their ability with sound route recognition, good awareness and a knack for making plays" and that Ponds "used his explosion (43½-inch vertical jump at the combine) and ball skills to tally seven picks and 27 pass breakups over three seasons."
For a Day Three steal candidate, Kiper has Michigan linebacker Jimmy Rolder. Kiper views Rolder as an off-the-ball LB, but "has versatility and the speed to close on the QB as a blitzer" as well as "the football IQ, diagnose skills and burst to drop in coverage, and he wraps up as a tackler."
Lions have some maneuvering they need to do at LB with the departure of Alex Anzalone. The team appears to be targeting Sam LBs in this draft, potentially signaling a planned shift of Derrick Barnes. Picking Rolder could prevent that shift, and keep Barnes at the Sam, but Rolder has the flexibility to play the Sam, Will, or Mike if called upon.
Lions can still get a good OT in the second
Jacas, Ponds, and Rolder all play on defense, which leans into the growing consensus that the Lions will draft an offensive lineman with their first-round pick. What if they don't and they take someone like Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy, instead? Kiper has a good second-round sleeper at OT to fill that need.
Kiper believes Arizona State OT Max Iheanachor's potential should propel him into the first round, but expects him to go in the second. Iheanachor is new to the game of football, having only just picked it up in 2022. Despite that, he started 31 games in college. Kiper also lauded Iheanachor's 4.91 40-yard time at the Combine.
READ MORE: Medical concerns growing for first-round prospect recently linked to Lions
Iheanachor has only played RT, which would fit the presumed plans of moving Penei Sewell to LT. The team could favor experience in that role as opposed to shifting a prospect from LT to RT.
If Iheanachor is a fringe first-rounder, that does beg the question if he'll even be available at #50, when the Lions would next pick. Would the Lions boldly take Iheanachor at #17, or would they make a trade to land him at his projected spot?
Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer to find out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google