We're just about two weeks away from the NFL Draft.
So how about another mock? This one comes with a twist.
While most experts have the Lions taking cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, the latest mock from
CBS Sports has Detroit going a different route.
Instead of Okudah at No. 3, the Lions select Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons to give Matt Patricia another chess piece on defense:
"Matt Patricia came to Detroit from New England where he deployed all kinds of versatile linebackers within Bill Belichick's scheme. Simmons may be even more versatile than anyone he had with the Pats."
Simmons is considered one of the top defensive players in the draft, and Detroit's defense needs all the help it can get. The team made significant investments in free agency, but its best addition is likely to come via the draft.
There's even a possibility, albeit a slim one, that
Chase Young falls into the Lions' lap.
As for Simmons, Lions GM Bob Quinn
raved about him at the combine, noting he's been on the club's radar since the 2018 season. Then Simmons was named the 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. He can play safety and corner, too.
"That guy’s a playmaker," said Quinn. "He can do a variety of things at a very, very high level."
Playmakers are what the Lions need. If Young isn't on the board at No. 3, Simmons might be their best bet.
