NFL Draft 2016: Detroit Lions Seven-Round Mock Draft
By Zac Snyder
Barring a trade, the fifth round will be one to watch for the Lions. They not only hold their own pick, but also the Denver Broncos’ pick from trading down in the first round last year as well as a projected compensatory pick for losing Nick Fairley in free agency.
Travis Swanson underwhelmed in his first season as the Lions’ starting center so it makes sense to hedge that bet when the value is right. That starts to make sense in round five, especially after filling some needs in the first four rounds. I picked out Missouri’s Evan Boehm here but Michigan’s Graham Glasgow was impressive at the Senior Bowl and could also be up for consideration.
The emergence of Darius Slay along with Quandre Diggs and Nevin Lawson playing well in stretches in 2015 means cornerback doesn’t have to be a high priority. That being said, the back end of the cornerback rotation has still seen a lot of bodies come and go. Briean Boddy-Calhoun was a foundational piece of a pretty good Minnesota defense and has the ball skills to compete for playing time.
Matthew Stafford’s second half of the 2015 season quieted and talk of the Lions being in the market for a new starting quarterback but the depth chart behind him needs attention. Whether Brandon Doughty or someone else, adding a legitimate developmental quarterback to the roster is a must.
Next: Round 6