NFL Draft 2017: Detroit Lions Seven-Round Mock Draft 3.0
By Zac Snyder
![May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports May 8, 2014; New York, NY, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the start of the 2014 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/1d95c9da592ded892398390216193e0be6c3aa95243e7f5f9320309e754aef7e.jpg)
Round 3
Sidney Jones was a popular first round pick for the Lions in mock draft prior to suffering a torn Achilles at the Washington pro day. The injury certainly takes him out of first round consideration, but shouldn’t necessarily take him out of consideration later on.
With D.J. Hayden signed to a one-year deal and Nevin Lawson and Johnson Bademosi entering the final year of their contracts, the Lions’ cornerback situation is full of uncertainty for 2018 outside of Darius Slay. The Achilles injury will likely cost Jones his first NFL season even before he is drafted (although he is saying he’ll play at some point in 2017) but that might actually make him fit into the Lions’ situation even better.
An Achilles injury is a big deal so using even a third round pick on Jones doesn’t come without risk. The safe route would be to keep filling more immediate needs, but what fun is a seven-round mock draft without a curveball or two?
The injury occurring so early in the draft process means Jones has a full year and a half to recover before the 2018 season starts. Given the way the Lions’ cornerback contracts or staggered (or not staggered, really), this would be away to get out in front of what could be an issue next offseason.