Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft: Taking the best player available
Fourth Round
In the T.J. Hockenson trade at the 2022 deadline, which yielded them the aforementioned extra third-round pick this year, the Lions sent their fourth-round pick this year to the Minnesota Vikings. So as of right now, but feeling unlikely to stay that way, the Lions will have a long wait between picks into Day 3 of the draft.
Fifth Round, No. 164 overall: Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
Two Boston College prospects in this mock was a pure coincidence, and many will clamor for a cornerback far earlier than the fifth round. It's also a safe bet the Lions will look to add a veteran corner after releasing Cameron Sutton, which Dan Campbell confirmed is happening.
Jones played just nine games for B.C. last season, having left the team due to an undisclosed personal issue in November. But in those games he had five interceptions and won two ACC Player of the Week awards.
Jones had a good week at the Senior Bowl. At the NFL Combine, he set aside any concerns about his top-end speed with a 4.44 40-yard dash (1.56-second 10-yard split was more average). He has length (6-foot-1, 31-inch arms) NFL scouts surely like, and while he is a little slight (185 pounds) the overall tools and ball skills (31 pass breakups over his last four years in college) make him a solid flier outside the top-160 overall.
Sixth Round, No. 201 overall: Khristian Boyd, DT, Northern Iowa
Boyd is a notable small school prospect, with a filling up docket of top-30 pre-draft visits, including one reported with the Lions very early on.
Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd — a surprise omission from last week’s NFL combine — has seven pre-draft visits lined up so far, including the #Lions and #Saints this week.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 5, 2024
Boyd is 6-4, 317 and turned heads at the East-West Shrine Bowl with reps like this. pic.twitter.com/4Wxvwaw1Eu
After a strong showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl, Boyd was not invited to the NFL Combine. Even with the caveat of facing weaker competition at the FCS level, Pro Football Focus was very high on his work over the last two seasons.
Boyd would be another moldable young player for new defensive line coach Terrell Williams to work with, with an eye on developing him into a starter. With the pick acquired from Tampa Bay in the Davis deal, this one was easy after the way the draft board fell.