Mel Kiper's new mock has Detroit Lions filling the one void in their offense

The Detroit Lions are in the enviable position of being able to take the "best player available" in the 2024 draft, starting at pick 29 and right on through. There are some obvious positions where a draft pick will not be warranted, but the draft is Brad Holmes' oyster.

The buzz around the direction the Lions will go with their first round pick is shifting seemingly by the week. Offensive lineman? Sure. Wide receiver with a particular set of skills? Sure. A cornerback? Based on the recent run of top-30 visits at Allen Park, that idea is getting stronger again. Then, Holmes will just ultimately do something no one saw coming. Trading up. Trading down, and out of the first round. Nothing is necessarily off the table.

ESPN's Mel Kiper (subscription required) came out with a new mock draft this week, going two rounds. Kiper does trades in his mocks, but he had the Lions staying put at No. 29 and No. 61.

Lions fill one hole in their offense in Mel Kiper's new mock

If the Lions have a void in their offense, it's a big "X" receiver who is a downfield weapon, can win contested catches and can be a red zone weapon. Kiper has them filling that void at pick No. 29 with Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

"Detroit general manager Brad Holmes had a tremendous 2023 draft class......Can he do it again? Looking at this Lions roster, there aren't many holes to fill. I could make the case for them taking a depth interior offensive lineman, an edge rusher or a corner, but receiver also stands out, particularly one who could run vertical routes and play on the other side of Jameson Williams."

"Mitchell could be a fit. At 6-2, he ran a 4.34-second 40 at the combine, showing off impressive physical tools. He had 11 touchdowns last season. You might consider this a luxury pick, but this roster is so talented that the Lions can afford to take Mitchell."

Coming out of the NFL Combine, Mitchell made our list of wide receivers who could be a fit for the Lions. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah labeled him an ideal "X" receiver.

The significant caveat was the idea of having to take Mitchell in the first round, and he has remained projected as a late-first rounder. But as Kiper noted, a talented roster enables the Lions to consider someone who may be regarded as a "luxury" pick.

The interesting part of Kiper's mock pick of Mitchell to the Lions is Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry was still available, and went to the Baltimore Ravens with the next pick.

At pick No. 61, Kiper had the Lions taking Penn State defensive end Adisa Isaac.

"Isaac was overshadowed a bit by Chop Robinson, but he actually outproduced his teammate last season, racking up 7.5 sacks. He's not as explosive as Robinson, but he's a well-rounded defender who has an impressive get-off at the snap," "At 247 pounds, he could play in the edge-rushing rotation in Detroit, which needs to get more out of its pass-rushers not named Aidan Hutchinson."

The headline of Kiper's new mock is the Lions going wide receiver at pick 29, and making their offense a complete beast if Mitchell can contribute immediately.