Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft: Before the free agency frenzy
Third Round, No. 73 overall
Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
The Lions have shown plenty of interest in Kneeland, meeting with him at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. A top-30 visit feels certain.
Kneeland has had an excellent pre-draft process. He stood out at the Senior Bowl, then went to Indianapolis and ran a 4.7 40, as he promised he would by the way. At 267 pounds, he also outdid linebackers in the 3-cone drill and short shuttle.
WMU’s 6-3, 267-pound edge Marshawn Kneeland--No. 26 Combine Freaks List--ran a faster 3-cone (7.02) and shuttle (4.18) than all the DLs AND LBs at in Indy. He also vertical jumped 35.5 inches and had a 1.66 10-yard split. Impressive day for the Bronco. https://t.co/xAjTDnWNX3
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) March 1, 2024
Kneeland is not just a workout warrior though. He has scheme and alignment versatility, and if not for missing a couple games last season with a calf injury his production would have been better than it was (57 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks).
Kneeland could stand to widen his array of pass rush moves, but Lions' defensive line coach Terrell Williams can definitely help there.
Third Round, No. 92 overall
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The Lions could use a big receiver who can win contested catch situations and be a red zone weapon. If you could create that type in this draft, Wilson (6-foot-6, 231 pounds, 35 and 3/8-inch arms, 10-inch hands, 9.88 Relative Athletic Score) would look a lot like it. He also shows after the catch ability not common to receivers his size.
Johnny Wilson with an 84.5” wingspan.
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 2, 2024
Longest ever recorded by a wide receiver.
Alien. pic.twitter.com/d5gQAaJuKv
Wilson is somewhat raw, with only two years of notable college opportunity/production. Third round might feel a little early to take him, but the combination of how the board fell and a long wait to make another pick it was viable here.