It was a tale of two halves for the Detroit Lions and their NFC Championship Game performance.
At halftime, most fans would have thought this team to be destined for Super Bowl LVIII. But, the second half collapse sent Detroit packing.
Now, the team faces an offseason with questions around how they can get back to this stage a year from now. If you ask Dan Campbell, this season might have been their only shot, and he's just trying to tell the bold truth.
But, as the offseason kicks off for the Lions and we look ahead to free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft, we can only hope that some of the pain points are alleviated going into next year. In our latest mock draft, that's exactly what we try to tackle.
The Detroit Lions quickly go after fixing a glaring issue in this 2024 NFL mock draft
The Lions finished the postseason allowing the second-most passing yards per game at 311.3, which was no surprise after Detroit ended the regular season allowing the sixth-most per game (247.4). Their secondary, while boasting some playmakers, could still use a boost, and specifically at the cornerback position.
For that reason, the Lions go with Penn State's Kalen King in the first round. A year after former teammate Joey Porter Jr. saw his name drafted early on, King now gets his shot.
The Penn State product definitely had a better season in 2022 than this past year, but still comes in as one of the better corners and a very real first-round possibility. In 2022, King ended with a whopping 18 passes defensed and three interceptions. He was also targeted more heavily due to the fact that quarterbacks were steering clear of Porter, too.
The 5-foot-11 defensive back is a quick-footed player who has a physical style that would fit in well with the mentality Dan Campbell has established. He's tough-nosed and doesn't allow very many big plays, while priding himself on being disciplined and not overly hasty.
The Lions may have a pair of starters at safety, but Kerby Joseph might stand to see some competition, quite frankly. He was pretty bad in coverage this past season but played much better the closer he was to the line of scrimmage.
In the second round, the Lions go after another stud defensive back in USC's Calen Bullock, giving Joseph a little fire beneath him. Bullock has tremendous size, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 190 pounds. Although, he could stand to add a bit more strength for a guy his size.
The real positive with Bullock is the fact that he uses his length to his advantage in coverage. He would already come in likely a better cover safety than Joseph, which would make for an interesting camp battle. And, although Joseph is great against the run, Bullock is equally impressive.
He's a physical tackler and doesn't shy away from contact. Bullock loves helping out against the run, even in the open field. He isn't afraid of laying the wood -- again, a perfect style for Campbell's locker room.
One area the Lions actually struggled in during the regular season was in getting after the quarterback. It might sound strange or surprising, considering you've got Aidan Hutchinson on this defense. But, Detroit finished in the bottom half of the league with 41 sacks. For perspective, the league-high was 60 in Baltimore, while Carolina finished dead last at 27.
In the postseason, though, the Lions stepped it up and led the remaining four teams in sacks, with eight, after Sunday's games. Still, this is an area the Lions desperately need another playmaker to pair with Hutchinson. Detroit has a lot of good players up front, but finding another prolific type could transform this defense in a big way.
In the third round, the Lions take their shot on finding that guy with their second Penn State defender of the draft, Adisa Isaac. Now, Isaac's bread and butter comes against the run, and not rushing the passer. That will blend right in with the league's no. 2 run defense, from the get-go. However, Isaac does possess traits that could allow him to blossom as a pass rusher in the NFL.
His length and size cannot be coached, and the athleticism is certainly there. Refining his pass rush moves could go a long way matched with his natural ability, and Isaac could wind up giving the Lions what they need up front. This past season, Isaac finished with 7.5 sacks and 16.0 tackles for loss overall.
With their second pick in the third round, the Lions address the wide receiver position. This offseason, Josh Reynolds is a free agent and we don't know whether or not he'll be back, just yet. Jameson Williams looks ready to step into a bigger role, but from there, the Lions will need to add some more depth.
That's where Michigan's Roman Wilson comes in. Wilson doesn't have to travel far as he's staying close to Ann Arbor with the Lions. Wilson is one heck of an athlete with high-end speed and breakway ability. He's always a big play waiting to happen, and paired with Williams, the Lions would have two dynamic speedsters alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown.
In the fifth round, Detroit goes after the best player available, and it so happened to be an Alabama defender. You can't go wrong with those guys, if history is any indication. Defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe comes to Detroit to only further what this defense has been great at, and that's stopping the run. It's what he does best.
At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, Eboigbe is an athletic interior lineman who pairs his athleticism with great functional strength. He plays every snap at 100 miles an hour and never stops moving, which again, fits in well with Campbell's mentality.
In the sixth round, Detroit goes after another cornerback to give added depth to an area of weakness. This team cannot roll into the postseason, next year, with another Kindle Vildor playing meaningful snaps. That's why adding talent, here, is a necessity.
Ole Miss corner DeShawn Gaddie has good size at 6-foot-1 and recognizes well when in zone coverage. He's a bit of a project as he often times gives too much room for opposing receivers to work with, but comes in as a solid depth piece.
With their final pick of the draft, Detroit selects BYU tight end Isaac Rex. Obviously, this is Sam LaPorta's job and the Lions already have one of the best tight ends in the game with the soon-to-be second-year pro. But, Rex will give them added depth with Brock Wright becoming a free agent.
Rex has great size at 6-foot-6 but brings athleticism and speed to the position, too. His length, combined with that speed, gives him an edge in the passing game and particularly as a sneaky deep threat. In the seventh round, the Lions may have found themselves a gem in Rex, whom they could use next to LaPorta in some intriguing 12 personnel sets.