Analyst suggests impressive weapon as No. 1 solution to Lions' need

The Detroit Lions are picking late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and with a lack of obvious holes it's becoming clear they'll take the best player available.

Defensively, the Lions could decide upon adding a cornerback or a pass rusher. Offensively, an interior lineman could be on the menu given some of the health struggles of elite center Frank Ragnow. Most wouldn't consider wide receiver a massive need. With that said, ashocking move could be coming.

Just one wide receiver (Xavier Legette) is known to have visited the Lions for a top-30 visit prior to the draft, but in a broad sense wide receiver may be on the radar.

Pro Football Focus analyst Dalton Wasserman analyzed the biggest needs for each ahead of the first round. He fairly surprisingly landed on wide receiver for the Lions, and a particular player.

"The Lions did a nice job fortifying their secondary during the free agency period. They certainly shouldn’t be blamed if they selected a cornerback like Kool-Aid McKinstry or Nate Wiggins to complete that unit. They could use one more wide receiver, though, after the departure of Josh Reynolds, Adonai Mitchell could be a schematic fit with his excellent intermediate route running."

Adonai Mitchell could be solution for Detroit Lions' need at wide receiver

In terms of the players that the Lions could select in the first round to fill a need at wide receiver, Mitchell is sure to be on the list given his ability to be a dynamic playmaker that consistently delivers for an offense.

In his lone season at Texas, Mitchell had 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. In somewhat limited action over two prior seasons at Georgia, he had seven touchdowns (four in College Football Playoff games, as the Bulldogs won back-to-back national titles).

What makes Mitchell special, and a potential first-round pick, is his elite athleticism. During the NFL Combine, Mitchell ran a 4.34 40-yard dash with a 39.5 inch vertical jump.

The Lions could use a young wideout with a skill set that complements St. Brown and Jameson Williams. Mitchell seems to fit that bill well.