Detroit Sports Yap with Knapp: Detroit Lions 2023 Mock Draft
How did the 2023 NFL Draft for me as the Detroit Lions?
Tomorrow is the 2023 NFL Draft, and I’ve been doing countless mock drafts as many others are trying to predict how this shapes out. This is an unpredictable NFL draft, as only recently did it appear that quarterback Bryce Young would be the number one overall pick, though Will Levis has shot up to be a possible pick as well. Outside of that pick, the rest of the draft is questionable with what will happen and who will trade out of their spot.
In this mock draft, I didn’t make any picks with the Detroit Lions, but other teams were allowed to trade with themselves. I used Pro Football Networks mock draft simulator as PFF put theirs behind a paywall—a really smart move to do that and lose people. In this mock, these were the first five picks.
Bryce Young
Will Levis
Tyree Wilson
Anthony Richardson
Jalen Carter
With the draft falling that way, GM Brad Holmes gets in trouble again with the NFL for making their pick too quickly. Detroit has a chance to draft quarterback C.J. Stroud with this pick, but they pass him up and draft the best defensive prospect in this class.
Round 1 Pick 6: DE Will Anderson Jr. - Alabama
The Detroit Lions need help on defense more than anything, and this pick is a repeat of what they got last year in the defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson. Anderson played linebacker in college at Alabama, but he was primarily a pass rusher at linebacker. You put Anderson on the opposite side of Hutchinson, and oh boy, what a nasty combo that would be.
At Alabama, Anderson finished with 204 tackles, 58.5 tackles for loss, 34.5 sacks, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and an interception returned for a touchdown in three seasons. Anderson is just a freak of nature on the line; his speed is unmatched, as he ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He is too quick to get behind offensive linemen for tackles for loss, quickly bending around tackles and getting to the quarterback for a sack.
Anderson, paired with James Houston, Hutchinson, John Cominsky, Julian, and Romeo Okwara, just gives Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn plenty of pass rushers on the edges to play with and gives his defense a big boost on the line.
Round 1 Pick 18: CB Joey Porter Jr. - Penn State
The second-biggest need on the team outside of defensive line help is cornerback. Despite the team signing three free-agent cornerbacks last month, the team only has two cornerbacks who have contracts past the 2023 season. Sure, Detroit could re-sign some of those players, but they might be more expensive than a rookie, and the rookie could eventually take over as a starter. The best cornerback on the board was Porter out of Penn State, and once again, the defense gets a big boost to improve overall.
At Penn State, Porter finished with 113 tackles, 20 pass deflections, two tackles for loss, one sack, one fumble recovery, and one interception. The lack of interceptions shouldn’t bother you, as Porter was able to lock down his wide receiver for most of the time, so he wasn’t tested often. Porter is a tall corner, standing at 6’2, and quick, as he ran a 4.46 at the NFL Combine.
Porter doesn’t have to come in and be an instant starter either; he gets the benefit of coming in slowly as the Lions starting cornerbacks are going to be Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley, and Jerry Jacobs. Porter can come in and try to take Moseley or Jacobs starting job and become a starter as the season progresses.
Round 2 Pick 48: OG Steve Avila - TCU
Another need is figured out here as the Detroit Lions get a starting guard in Avila. Detroit has had a strong offensive line the past few seasons, but they still haven’t played together due to injuries all around. The biggest injury this past season was to guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who missed the whole season with a back injury. He is supposed to return this season, but with him questionable with an injury, the Lions signed guard Graham Glasgow back to the team for a one-year deal.
Glasgow could certainly be the starter if Vaitai misses any more time, but the other reason for this pick is that the Lions' current left guard, Jonah Jackson, is due for a new contract after this season, and the Lions need to have a backup option if they are unable to keep Jackson around. Avila is the best guard on the board, and his position on the team is uncertain. He either sits behind Jackson or Vaitai and starts in 2024, or he starts due to an injured Vaitai, or he beats out Vaitai in training camp and the Lions cut or trade Vaitai, giving Avila the starting job and saving money with the cut.
Round 2 Pick 55: TE Darnell Washington - Georgia
The biggest question mark on the Detroit Lions' offense is at the tight end position. The coaching staff was willing to trade away former starting tight end T.J. Hockenson last season as they knew they weren’t going to be able to afford his price, and with how the tight end is used in their scheme, the price didn’t match the position. That doesn’t mean it isn’t needed, as the starting tight end right now is Brock Wright.
Nothing against Brock Wright, but he isn’t what the Lions need in a starting-level tight end. They also attempted to sign one in free agency but came up short, so they are looking for one, and this one fell right in their lap in Washington out of Georgia. He had 45 catches for 774 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons. The stats aren’t impressive, as he was behind future first-round pick Brock Bowers, but what he can do is what the Lions need.
Washington is 6’7 and ran a 4.64 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, along with being a monster in the blocking drills. For a team like the Lions that wants to run the ball, Washington can be the sixth offensive lineman on the field and help create space for the running back. The Detroit Lions coaching staff loves dominating the line of scrimmage, and being able to do that with Washington is just unfair for the opponents. Washington would be a starter and a good one at that.
Round 3 Pick 81: S Jordan Battle - Alabama
This pick was tough to make; the Lions could still use a running back, a backup quarterback, a wide receiver, a linebacker, and possibly a defensive tackle. None of those options looked like a good pick, so I went with the best player available, which was safety Jordan Battle. The Lions could use some help at safety, as recently, safety C.J. Moore was suspended indefinitely and cut by the team. That leaves the safeties with C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Tracy Walker, Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Brady Breeze.
Walker is returning from an Achilles injury, and while he looks like he will return by the season opener, you have to look behind him. Gardner-Johnson can start at safety or nickel cornerback if needed, so he will be on the field overall. Joseph stepped up last season and became a starter by the season's end. That leaves Melifonwu, a former third-round pick who hasn’t impressed so far, and Breeze, a practice squad member for most of his career.
Battle can come in and compete as the backup safety who steps in when someone goes down. At Alabama, Battle had 252 tackles, 10 pass deflections, six and a half tackles for loss, six interceptions (returning three for touchdowns), one sack, and one fumble recovery. Battle would give the secondary another boost that is needed and give the team much-needed depth at the safety position.
Round 5 Pick 152: LB Dorian Williams - Tulane
At this point in the draft, the needs are now for backup, third-string roles, and taking a chance on someone who could contribute to the team in any way. The best position that was available on the board was linebacker, leaving me to pick Dorian Williams from Tulane. The Lions aren’t looking for a starting linebacker, and they don’t value them that much overall. They still need depth at the position and someone who maybe could compete for a job in a season or two, and they got that in Williams.
At Tulane, Williams had 316 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 13 pass deflections, nine and a half sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Williams is good at coverage, something the Lions linebackers still struggle with, and that could be his way to make the roster and compete for a starting gig.
Round 5 Pick 159: DT Moro Ojomo - Texas
The Lions still need help on the defensive line, especially at the defensive tackle position, and that is where Ojomo comes into play. At Texas, he had 95 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. Ojomo doesn’t need to start but needs to provide depth and help at the weakest position on the roster. Ojomo helps round out the defensive line additions this offseason, as it’s turning into a possible strength on the team.
Round 6 Pick 183: RB Keaton Mitchell - ECU
Detroit is still in need of another body at the running back position. Despite signing David Montgomery, the Lions only have him past the 2023 season, and the future of D’Andre Swift in Detroit isn’t looking good. Signing Mitchell gives him a chance to compete for the third-string job and possibly turn into a backup next season. At ECU, Mitchell had 463 carries for 3,027 yards, and 25 touchdowns, along with 60 catches for 580 yards and three touchdowns. He ran a 4.37 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so his speed would make him the quickest running back on the team.
Round 6 Pick 194: K Jake Moody - Michigan
The Lions finish the draft by creating a kicking competition for their starting kicker, Michael Badgley. Jake Moody has a chance to become the future kicker for the Lions, as it would be a training camp battle between the two kickers. Moody isn’t afraid of competition, as he eventually took over the starting job from teammate Quinn Nordin, who was a good kicker as well. At Michigan, Moody went 148/148 on extra points and 69/84 on field goals, finishing with an 82% success rate, with his longest kick made at 59 yards, and he was close to making a few 60-yard kicks as well.
Conclusion
This would be a solid draft for the Detroit Lions. They get two bodies with a starter/superstar and a depth piece on the defensive line, a future starter and depth in the secondary, along with help on offense with a guard, tight end, and running back. Finally, they also drafted a kicker who will be their future long-stay, Jake Moody. This draft hits all the needs and helps the Lions' odds of winning the NFC North in 2023.
The last thing that we need to know is what the schedule is; we know the opponents, but not the order. Once we have that, then we have a few months of predictions, previews, and talk until August happens and the pre-season begins.
What are your thoughts on my mock draft? Who do you want the Detroit Lions to draft? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter and follow me @BKnappBlogs and subscribe to my substack to get my FREE articles!
I have been using that draft simulator too. Even trading down a few times gives me very good results that I would be happy with. This list of players would also be a pretty good haul. But I kept picking up a QB in the later rounds and an RB earlier. The first two picks would be excellent.