Detroit Lions 4-round mock draft after going all-in on defense in first wave of free agency

Third Round, No. 73 overall: Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

Cornerback is not the critical need for the Lions it was heading into free agency, first-round pick style anyway. But adding a young player to the mix is still a definite possibility.

Jackson had one heck of a journey in college. After playing wide receiver in high school, he started off at Fort Scott Community College. Then he went to EMCC, featured on "Last Chance U", where the 2020 season was cancelled due to COVID-19. After two years at Alabama where he hardly played, he ended up at Oregon last season (three interceptions, seven pass breakups, 77.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, 41.6 passer rating allowed, two sacks).

The thing that stands out about Jackson is his length (6-foot-4, 32 and 3/4-inch arms at the NFL Combine) and size (194 pounds). That makes him an imposing press-man corner, where he is best-suited. If anything, some of the knocks you see on him in scouting reports (anticipation, giving up too much cushion) can be chalked up to simply not having played much college football and having to develop some of the more instinctual aspects of playing cornerback.

But the raw tools are here in spades, with the good ball skills and willingness to tackle the Lions want in cornerbacks.

Fourth Round

The Lions don't have a fourth-round pick this year right now, having sent it to the Vikings in the T.J. Hockenson trade. So after parting with pick No. 92 to get Carlton Davis, which will be a worthwhile cost if he pans out, it will be a long wait to the next pick (No. 164). When the draft comes, it's safe bet that wait won't actually be 91 picks.