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

Sixth Round, No. 206 overall: Josh Karty, K, Stanford

If Dan Campbell's "controversial" fourth down aggressiveness in the NFC Championship Game was a reflection of anything, it was a lack of confidence in kicker Michael Badgley from a certain distance range. The "take the points" crowd has conveniently ignored Badgley's track record for lack of proficiency from 45 yards-plus out.

There's definitely another crowd that would say "never draft a kicker." But the Lions don't have a ton of glaring needs this offseason, and kicker is one. The list of good free agent options, at least before potential cuts are made, isn't especially long.

Enter Karty, who missed one extra point and made 85 percent of his field goals over three seasons at Stanford. Three of his four field goal misses last season were from 50-plus yards out, with a long make of 56. His career-long is 61 yards

During Senior Bowl practice, Karty was routinely hitting field goals from very long range.

Campbell won't be changing his general mode to go for it on fourth down, and he shouldn't. But in critical spots, like say the fourth quarter of an NFC Championship Game you ultimately lose by a field goal, it would be nice to have a kicker who can make a long field goal as an option.

Seventh Round, No. 246 overall: Marcus Harris, DT, Auburn

Harris was a three-year starter Auburn, after transferring from Kansas, and he finished on a high note with seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss last season.

As noted by Damian Parson of The Draft Network, Harris lined up at multiple spots along the Tigers' defensive front. That will add to his appeal as a prospect, but a lack of great size (295 pounds) likely will push him toward being a 3-technique or a 5-technique at the next level. A lack of ideal arm length makes him a bit of a tweener, but his base traits make him an interesting developmental player.

New Lions' defensive line coach Terrell Williams (once it's made official of course) was the head coach of the American team down at the Senior Bowl. Harris was on the American team roster, so Williams got a close look at him all week.

Maybe Williams saw a player he can work with and mold into something at the next level. So Harris becomes an easy seventh-round flier for the Lions here.