Roundup of last-minute mocks highlights how difficult it is to peg Lions' draft direction

A survey of a recent batch of NFL mock drafts the day before the actual event confirms some things many of us already understood.

First and foremost, the high number of variables that come with selecting near the end of the first round makes the already difficult task of projecting what the Detroit Lions might do that much more challenging. Expanding on that, the deep roster general manager Brad Holmes has constructed heading into the draft, paired with his history of bucking traditional approach, has even led to a wide range of opinions regarding the position the team might address.

But while there might not be a strong consensus on position, adding a cornerback remains the most popular choice heading into Thursday. The secondary debate is which corner the Lions could choose.

NFL.com colleagues Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis, in separate mock drafts, slot the Lions Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry. For Sam Farmer, of the L.A. Times and Danny Kelly of the Ringer, it is Iowa's Cooper DeJean. Jason LaCanfora of the Washington Post pencils Clemson speedster Nate Wiggins to Detroit. And longtime Chicago Bears reporter Brad Biggs adds Missouri's Ennis Rakestraw to the mix.

There's no denying, from a needs perspective, cornerback is near the top of the Lions' list. Even following the abrupt release of Cam Sutton last month, the team does have starting options in place for 2024 with the addition of Carlton Davis III via a March trade, plus the signing of Amik Robertson and re-signing of Emmanuel Moseley. That said, all three are currently on short-term deals and not guaranteed to be on the roster in 2025.

From the group of four mocked to the Lions, there are some easy lines to draw. It goes without saying the Lions have established an unofficial pipeline from the University of Iowa, having selected linebacker Jack Campbell and tight end Sam LaPorta out of the program a year earlier. And in terms of his playing style and football character, DeJean is an obvious fit. He's versatile, an excellent tackler, a well-above-average athlete and a leader.

McKinstry, meanwhile, could become the second defensive back the Lions select out of Alabama in as many years. And given how well Brian Branch worked out in 2023, the possibility carries appeal. McKinstry isn't as big and doesn't possess the same level of raw athleticism as DeJean, but McKinstry plays with impressive technical proficiency, which allowed him to limit opposing QBs to completing 47.9% of their passes when targeting him in coverage during his three years as a starter.

Wiggins has long felt like the least likely from that group to be available to the Lions at No. 29, but it's possible his 173-pound frame scares some teams off. Should it concern the Lions, too? After all, the team demands their corners be willing and competent tacklers, which somewhat offsets his rare speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and proven coverage skills.

Rakestraw, who was more popularly mocked to the Lions earlier in the offseason, now feels like a positional reach. The football character and feisty playing style are matches, but he's undersized and a relatively average athlete compared to the other options in this draft, seemingly making him a better fit for Day 2, if he lingers on the board.

Beyond cornerback, multiple defensive linemen have been mocked to the Lions in recent days. That includes familiar projections such as Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson and Michigan native Darius Robinson. Meanwhile, Yahoo analysts Charles McDonald and Nate Tice add a new name to the conversation with Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr.

Chop Robinson, the choice for Sporting News writer Vinnie Iyer, is a hyper-athletic edge rusher who would give the Lions a high-ceiling pairing for Aidan Hutchinson. The size and explosive first step are ready-made for the next level, but selecting the Penn State product would require faith in the coaching staff to get more production out of him than the 11.5 sacks he produced in 30 college games.

As for Darius Robinson, his football character and violent playing style scream fit for the Lions. And the team has a clear love for linemen who can play both inside and out, which comes naturally to the 6-foot-5, 285-pounder. But he never posted elite production at Missouri, peaking at 8.5 sacks last season, and despite a larger frame, there's a lot of overlap with Josh Paschal and John Cominsky's fits within the scheme.

With Hall Jr., who has typically been seen as a Day-2 pick by most analysts, there's no denying the athleticism. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle ran a blistering 4.75 in the 40, with elite explosion metrics for his position, as well. As an interior option, he's better suited to be a 3-tech, and given his flashes of pass-rush productivity, he could bolster Detroit's interior rush as a backup for Alim McNeill.

Offensive options

Flipping to the offense, a few projections have the Lions addressing the long-term concerns along the interior of the team's offensive line. Both Ari Meirov of 33rd Team and Sports Illustrated's Connor Orr have Detroit taking West Virginia center Zach Frazier, while it's Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson for Eric Galko of CBS Sports.

Both Frazier and Powers-Johnson are primarily viewed as centers, but each possesses the requisite mass and athleticism to play guard. That versatility would immediately bolster the team's interior depth, while providing future flexibility for an aging front that has been dealing with an unending string of injuries over the past three years.

Somewhat surprisingly, Fox Sports' Rob Rang is the only one who has the Lions taking a wide receiver in the first round, giving the team Florida State's Keon Coleman at No. 29.

The case for adding a receiver is compelling, even as early as the first round. The Lions obviously have an elite No. 1 option in Amon-Ra St. Brown, and a still-budding playmaker in Jameson Williams, who the team selected in the first round two years earlier. But while Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kalif Raymond are adequate third/fourth options, there's room to add an impact pass-catcher following the departure of Josh Reynolds.

Could that be Coleman? Perhaps. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he would bring size to a group lacking it. Paired with explosive leaping and ball-tracking ability, he would be an immediate red-zone threat. Plus, there's little reason, with his frame, that he couldn't quickly develop into a stellar perimeter blocker, replacing what Reynolds brought in that department.

Finally, it should be acknowledged a handful of projections have the Lions trading out of 29. Three analysts, headlined by Dane Brugler from The Athletic, see the team moving out of the first round altogether, with the Raiders sliding into the spot for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in those scenarios.

In that hypothetical exchange, Detroit would get the No. 44 and 77 picks from Las Vegas.

Alternatively, the Pro Football Focus staff has the Lions going the opposite direction, shipping their first- and second-rounder (No. 61), as well as a future third to the Indianapolis Colts for No. 15 and No. 117 in the fourth round. With that 14-spot climb, the publication brings us back to the cornerback position, with the Lions taking Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell.

It's bold, but it certainly fits Holmes' style. The GM has already made it clear the team will make every effort to trade up for a player they covet. There's a clear case to be made for Mitchell, who fits an aforementioned need and has the desired size, athleticism, ball production and makeup for the position.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

@Justin_Rogers