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NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions seven-round mock draft

By Zac Snyder

Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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2018 NFL Draft prospect Taven Bryan
Taven Bryan of the Florida Gators reacts after being ejected for a personal foul against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Round 3

As a matter of general strategy heading into the 2018 NFL Draft, I’m a big proponent of the Lions looking for a running back on day two. I threw that out the window when I saw Taven Bryan still on the board in the third round.

The need on the defensive line was lessened by taking Vita Vea in round one but the opportunity to give Matt Patricia a pair of young, dynamic defensive tackles in his first year in charge was too good of a value to pass up. With Vea and Bryan, Patricia can let his imagination run wild in ways to deploy his new defensive tackle duo.

And it’s not like the two are redundant. Quite the opposite in fact. Vea will man the nose/one technique while Bryan can play the three technique while also moving further outside as situation and scheme dictate.

Bryan’s game is predicated on his superior athleticism over technique and feel for the game so he may not be an instant impact player. That’s OK for the Lions considering they have A’Shawn Robinson and Akeem Spence. Bryan can be used more situationally as he learns to refine his game under Patricia, defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and defensive line coach Bo Davis.

Honestly, I don’t expect Bryan to be on the board when the Lions pick and there has been talk of him possibly ending up a first round pick before all is said and done. This was just one of those “run to the podium” moments.

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