Detroit Lions 7-round pre-Super Bowl mock draft: Targeting needs without hesitation

Rather than preparing for Super Bowl LVIII, the Detroit Lions are in offseason mode. That doesn't mean this season was anything other than a great success, it undeniably was. A division title and two playoff wins were huge steps, and the close loss in the NFC Championship Game is serving as fuel to an "unfinished business" fire.

It's also officially draft season, with the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl each taking place last week. In recent years, the end of the regular season (if not before) meant the start of mock draft season for those who cover the Lions. But here we are in February, and due to the deep playoff run mock drafts are only starting.

Without further ado, using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator, here's our pre-Super Bowl seven-round mock draft for the Lions.

Detroit Lions pre-Super Bowl LVIII mock draft

First Round, Pick No. 29: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

General manager Brad Holmes made an effort to address the Lions' secondary last offseason, and while circumstances beyond anyone's control (injuries to Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson) made it not really work out, cornerback stands as the No. 1 need again this offseason.

The results of this mock sim took Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell, Penn State's Kalen King notably out of the mix at No. 29. But Lassiter is a fine "consolation" prize.

More interceptions would be nice to see on his stat sheet over three years at Georgia, but he posted an 85.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season with a 48.7 passer rating allowed with 15 receptions allowed on 39 targets (eight pass breakups). While a bit undersized (6-foot, 180 pounds), he is a willing tackler (8.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons) who mixes quick feet with physicality.

Lassiter may be considered a bit of a stretch as a first-round pick by some, But here, the Lions' take the proverbial "best player available" at a position of great need.

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