Detroit Lions news: Colin Cowherd on Dan Campbell, Cornerback draft buzz, International game?, Cameron Sutton
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Draft buzz surrounding the Lions and cornerbacks
The Lions were probably still in the market to draft a cornerback after adding Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson. The release of Cameron Sutton after a warrant was issued for his arrest in Florida makes drafting a cornerback a litle more likely now.
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Lions will have a top-30 pre-draft visit with Auburn cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett. They also met with him at the Senior Bowl.
Pritchett has solid size (6-foot, 190 pounds), and he ran a 4.36 40 at the NFL Combine. His overall Relative Athletic Score (RAS) has been updated to a 9.25. He played five seasons at Auburn, and was a key contributor over the last four. He played just nine games last season, with 22 tackles and one interception. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed a passer rating of 58.8 and just 134 yards in his coverage last season (26 targets).
Pritchett is considered a Day 2 prospect, with the ability to immediately contribute on special teams and perhaps develop into more.
According to Alec Nolan of ABC 30, at the school's Pro Day last week, Fresno State cornerback Morice Norris Jr. said he had dinner with the Lions.
Sanger native Morice Norris Jr. repping the 559 out here at pro day. He’s got some custom FRESNO shorts. Says he gives himself an A++ on his performance. Added that the Eagles like his versatility, and he had dinner with the Lions. pic.twitter.com/Qq09AZBhTs
— Alec Nolan (@AlecABC30) March 18, 2024
if this is the first time you're hearing Norris' name, you're not alone. He is not regarded as one of the top cornerback prospects in this year's draft, though it is a deep class at the position. He mostly played slot corner over the last two years at Fresno State, but he also played outside corner, free safety and even some in the box and defensive line. Last season, he had 10 pass breakups, 59 total tackles, two interceptions and 3.5 sacks. As Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports suggested in a closer look at Norris' story, he hits a certain note as a "Brad Holmes find."
We know Holmes likes Alabama players, having taken Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and Brian Branch over the last two drafts. So it was not a surprise when he was on-site at the school's Pro Day last week. Kool-Aid McKinstry, who was discovered to have a Jones fracture in his foot at the combine, worked out before having he has the injury fixed. He ran a 4.47 40. Even with the idea a Pro Day is meant to make a player look as good as possible and it's technically unofficial, that's notably fast
Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry probably made himself some money here at pro day, running a 40 that scouts clocked as low as 4.47 — despite a Jones fracture that doctors discovered at the combine. He’ll have surgery Friday and is expected to be full go for camp. pic.twitter.com/mee0fEihE3
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 20, 2024
A chunk of recent mock drafts have had the Lions taking McKinstry at No. 29 overall. It's fair to assume a top-30 visit will be used on him, after he has surgery to fix his foot issue later this week.