The Lions selected Virginia Tech tight end James Mitchell with the No. 177 overall pick in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday afternoon.
The 6-foot-4, 249-pound Mitchell missed most of the 2021 season due to a torn ACL that he suffered last September in Virginia Tech’s second game. He had 26 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns in nine games in 2020.
Mitchell expects to be fully cleared on the health front by June, he told reporters Saturday.
Mitchell was the Lions’ fifth selection of this draft. They took Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson at No. 2 overall in the first round Thursday and then traded up to take Alabama receiver Jameson Williams at No. 12 overall.
On Friday, Detroit selected Kentucky defensive end Josh Paschal in the second round and Illinois safety Kerby Joseph in the third round.