5 players the Detroit Lions should target on Day 2 of 2024 NFL Draft

With just one pick on Day 2 of the draft, the Lions should focus on getting one of these five players Friday evening.
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4. Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan

Kneeland got some late buzz as a potential first-round pick, so it feels likely he'll go off the board somewhere in the first 10-15 picks of the second round. He only had 12.5 sacks over four years at Western Michigan, which feels like a thing given the level of competition in the MAC. But he had 28 tackles for loss in his career, and Pro Football Focus credited him with 37 quarterback pressures last season. Sacks can be very random, but Kneeland had other production to show he belongs as a top draft prospect.

Kneeland has a lot qualities the Lions would love. He's a great athlete for his size (6-foot-3, 267 pounds), with a 4.75 40 at the combine and top-notch numbers in the other drills (9.08 Relative Athletic Score).

Kneeland does have some work to do in terms of developing a better array of pass rush moves, and his best football may be ahead of him. But new defensive line coach Terrell Williams should see someone he can really work with here, and that input should matter if Kneeland keeps falling.

3. Jackson Powers-Johnson, C/OG, Oregon

Powers-Johnson's star has fallen for some reason, from a potential first-round pick to now a Day 2 pick, but it's not due to his game tape. He moved over to center last season, and all he did was win the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the country.

Powers-Johnson was also Pro Football Focus's top-graded center last season (84.5 overall), with the second-best pass blocking grade (90.6, zero sacks allowed) and the best run blocking grade (85.6).

If Powers-Johnson keeps falling, and there's a chance he does due to perceived positional value of interior offensive lineman, the Lions would have to consider him. His playing demeanor makes him a nice-looking fit for the offensive line.