Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft: Efficiency that would make Brad Holmes proud

Fifth Round (pick No. 164): Dylan McMahon, C/OG, N.C. State

McMahon played both guard spots and center at a solid level over the course of his time at N.C. State, but he projects as a center in the NFL. At the NFL Combine, he posted a 9.81 Relative Athletic Score and gets high marks for his football IQ and technique. His weaknesses (size, arm length, etc.) are what will make him a Day 3.

The Lions need to have their eye on a succession plan for center Frank Ragnow, who had some retirement speculation around him (which he quickly squashed) after an injury-riddled 2023 season. McMahon feels like player Detroit will like.

Sixth Round (pick No. 201, via Tampa Bay): Sione Vaki, S, Utah

Vaki is listed as a safety, he said that is what he wants to play in the NFL and he can surely do so (51 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception last season). But he is one of the more unique prospects in this year's draft, as he averaged 7.5 yards per carry as a running back for Utah last year too. He could also be used as a kickoff returner, or on kick coverage. A true three-way player, potentially, and the Lions had him in for a top-30 visit.

Vaki just feels like a Brad Holmes/Dan Campbell type of player.

Sixth Round (pick No. 205: Decamerion Richardson, CB, Mississippi State

If there's a position for the Lions to double-dip on in this draft, it's probably cornerback. Carlton Davis (at least for now), Emmanuel Moseley and some others don't have a contract beyond next season.

Richardson posted top-25 overall grades from Pro Football Focus in each of his two seasons starting at Mississippi State, with 164 total tackles over that span. Last season, he posted the 29th-best PFF coverage grade among all cornerbacks (86.5) along with a 90.3 tackling grade. He ran a 4.34 to at the combine, with a solid 1.48-second 10-yard split.

Being the size he is (6-foot-2, 32 and 3/8-inch arms), the knocks on Richardson are obvious (too upright, lacks short area quickness, etc.). He's got some work to on some finer points of his game, but Aaron Glenn and Deshea Townsend would have a lot to work with here.

Seventh Round (pick No. 249): Cam Little, K, Arkansas

Michael Badgley is ripe for competition/to be replaced, and the Lions use their final draft pick here to officially put their incumbent kicker on notice. A roster with few holes allows for drafting a kicker.

Little leaves Arkansas as the most accurate kicker in school history (53-for-64, 82.8 percent of field goals), and he went 129-for-129 on extra points as well. He was 64 percent from 50-plus yards out during his career, including a 56-yarder and going 4-for-5 from that range last season. Of his 11 field goal misses over three seasons, five came from 40-49 yards out.

At minimum, unlike last year, Little would be legitimate competition for Badgley. The rookie would become the immediate favorite to win the job.