NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions seven-round mock draft 2.0
By Zac Snyder
Round 1
It feels like fans have been clamoring for Bob Quinn to address the pass rush from day one but thus far he has chosen to go the bargain route. That hasn’t been a total disaster of a plan considering the contributions the Lions have gotten from the likes of Kerry Hyder and Anthony Zettel.
At some point there will need to be an influx of top-end talent if the Lions defense and the team overall are to reach the heights of new expectations. With Ziggy Ansah‘s long-term future with the Lions up in the air (at best), the Lions would be wise to look for a replacement to take over as the team’s next premier pass rusher. Taking Harold Landry in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft would be a huge step in that direction.
The potential interest from the Lions’ end is natural given Landry’s athletic ability and production at Boston College, even though he was slowed by an ankle injury last season. Paul Pasqualoni, his defensive line coach at BC, is now the defensive coordinator in Detroit.
Landry would be a versatile weapon for the Lions’ pass rush with his ability to be used from both two- and three-point stances. The Lions signed Devon Kennard to bring a pass rushing element to their linebackers but the two would not necessarily be redundant.
While both could be thought of as hybrid edge players, their expected split in scheme and role would likely be opposite. Landry would see much more time in a traditional defensive end role. He will need to refine his technique but the potential for greatness is there and he’d fall into a great situation with the Lions coaching staff.