NFL mock draft 4.0: Predicting the Detroit Lions' first- and second-round picks

Dave Birkett
Detroit Free Press

As the NFL draft gets closer, Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett mulls over the landscape and reveals his latest mock draft, including a bonus look at the second round:

1. Cincinnati Bengals

QB Joe Burrow, LSU: His stats last season were amazing: 60 touchdowns, six interceptions, 5,671 yards and a 76% completion rate. He’s the easy No. 1 choice.

2. Washington

DE Chase Young, Ohio State: For Washington to trade down and miss out on the draft’s best prospect, it would take an incredible package that only Miami can offer — and I don’t think the Dolphins are that motivated to get Tua.

3. Detroit Lions

CB Jeff Okudah, Ohio State: Four-for-four when it comes to Okudah and the Lions in my mock drafts. Young would be a no-brainer if he’s there. Derrick Brown and Isaiah Simmons would be fine choices. But Okudah is the best blend of positional value, need and fit.

Clemson linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons

4. New York Giants

LB/S Isaiah Simmons, Clemson: I’m going away from offensive line because as an NFL scout reminded me the other day, Giants GM Dave Gettleman is a scout at heart, which means his instinct is to take the highest-ranked player regardless of position.

5. Miami Dolphins

QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: Tagovailoa seems like he’s destined for the Dolphins, though some in the league believe Miami might lean Justin Herbert because of Tua’s health history.

6. Los Angeles Chargers

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon: Unless they sign Cam Newton, I’m sticking with the Chargers taking a quarterback at No. 6.

7. Carolina Panthers

DT Derrick Brown, Auburn: Kawann Short is 31, and the Panthers already filled holes on the offensive line (Russell Okung) and at wide receiver (Robby Anderson) this spring.

Alabama Crimson Tide  tackle Jedrick Wills is a popular pick for the Arizona Cardinals in recent NFL mock drafts for the 2020 NFL draft.

8. Arizona Cardinals

OT Jedrick Wills, Alabama: The draft’s top offensive tackles are comparable, but Arizona’s biggest need is on the right side, which makes Wills a perfect fit.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars

OT Mekhi Becton, Louisville: The Jaguars are going nowhere this season, so they might as well build a wall for an offensive line to give Trevor Lawrence the best chance to succeed when they end up with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021.

10. Cleveland Browns

OT Tristan Wirfs, Iowa: The run on offensive linemen is real.

11. New York Jets

WR Jerry Jeudy, Alabama: Thinking the Jets either trade up to get one of those linemen, or trade down if none is available when they pick.

12. Las Vegas Raiders

CB C.J. Henderson, Florida: With Patrick Mahomes in the division, the Raiders need to build themselves a stingy defense. 

13. San Francisco 49ers

DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina: GM John Lynch will look like a genius if he uses the pick he got for DeForest Buckner to take a younger, cheaper defensive menace.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

OT Andrew Thomas, Georgia: He was considered the best draft-eligible offensive lineman a few months ago. He won’t drop far on draft day.

15. Denver Broncos

WR Henry Ruggs, Alabama: Ruggs’ speed makes him the perfect complement to Courtland Sutton at receiver.

16. Atlanta Falcons

WR CeeDee Lamb, Oklahoma: I know they took Calvin Ridley two years ago, and I know they have Julio Jones under contract. But Lamb is too good to pass up.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Alabama defensive back Xavier McKinney speaks during his media session at the 2020 scouting combine. (Doug Farrar/USA Today Sports Media Group)

17. Dallas Cowboys

S Xavier McKinney, Alabama: They need cornerback help badly, but McKinney is a better player than any corner left.

18. Miami Dolphins

OT Josh Jones, Houston: This is probably too high for Jones, but the Dolphins’ biggest positional need is at offensive tackle.

19. Las Vegas Raiders

QB Jordan Love, Utah State: Vegas is a good spot for Love, who has loads of talent but needs to sit for a year or two before he’s ready to start.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

WR Justin Jefferson, LSU: I think Jefferson firmly established himself as the draft’s No. 4 receiver with his combine performance.

21. Philadelphia Eagles

LB Patrick Queen, LSU: The Eagles need a receiver badly, but Queen can thrive in Jim Schwartz’s defense.

22. Minnesota Vikings

CB A.J. Terrell, Clemson: The Vikings didn’t do much in free agency, and they need an infusion of youth on defense.

23. New England Patriots

LB Kenneth Murray, Oklahoma: He was super productive in college, can do a little bit of everything, and the Patriots’ linebacking corps was depleted in free agency.

24. New Orleans Saints

CB Kristian Fulton, LSU: The Saints don’t have a second-round pick, so they had better get some help for their defense here.

25. Minnesota Vikings

WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona State: Aiyuk didn’t make the cut in my first couple of mocks, but he’s a better replacement for Stefon Diggs than some of the draft’s other top receivers.

Arizona State Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk looks to the sideline during the first half of their game against Colorado University in Tempe on Sept. 21, 2019.

26. Miami Dolphins

RB D’Andre Swift, Georgia: Like the Raiders last year, the Dolphins can get the best running back in the draft with their third first-round pick.

27. Seattle Seahawks

DE/OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU: Still waiting to see whether the Seahawks bring back Jadeveon Clowney.

28. Baltimore Ravens

S Grant Delpit, LSU: Seems as if I’m in the minority now, but I still think Delpit goes in Round 1.

29. Tennessee Titans

DE A.J. Epenesa, Iowa: Epenesa has drawn comparisons to Trey Flowers, which would make him a nice fit in Tennessee’s defense.

30. Green Bay Packers

DL Marlon Davidson, Auburn: Everyone expects the Packers to get Aaron Rodgers some help here, so of course they’ll go defense.

NFL officially expands playoff field for 2020 season ]

31. San Francisco 49ers

OT Austin Jackson, USC: With no second-, third- or fourth-round picks, you can expect the 49ers to trade down.

32. Kansas City Chiefs

CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama: The Chiefs are more willing to take on risk than most teams, and Diggs is the type of talented player who’d be right up their alley at the end of Round 1.  

Sep 7, 2019; Madison, WI, USA; Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Zack Baun (56) during the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Second round

33. Cincinnati Bengals

OT Ezra Cleveland, Boise State: Pairing Cleveland with last year’s first-round pick, Jonah Williams, gives the Bengals two solid, young edge protectors to keep Joe Burrow upright.

34. Indianapolis Colts

WR Tee Higgins, Clemson: It’s such a deep draft at receiver that one of the first-round prospects is bound to fall. If that happens, the receiver-needy Colts will be there to pounce.

35. Detroit Lions

OLB Zack Baun, Wisconsin: The Lions need a starting right guard, but the value on the interior line is later in the draft. I could see a running back — J.K. Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor or Clyde Edwards-Helaire — or even a defensive lineman here. But Matt Patricia loves his linebackers, Baun can rush the passer, and the Lions spent time with him at the Senior Bowl.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.