Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Detroit Lions mock draft 2018: A running back for every round

By Zac Snyder

Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 - 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 7
Next

As a variation on the seven-round mock draft, here is a running back the Detroit Lions could consider for each round in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 – 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Derrius Guice #5 of the LSU Tigers reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half of a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Tiger Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 45 – 21. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Running back figures to be a position the Detroit Lions look to address in the 2018 NFL Draft. While the selection of a running back should surprise no one, where in the draft the Lions will look to add a back remains to be seen. The need is there and Bob Quinn is on record as desiring some change to his group of running backs but arguments could be made for other needs being more pressing.

Day two of the draft (rounds two and three) looks to be a sweet spot for the Lions to come away with a very good running back prospect from a deep class but there are options worth considering throughout the draft. As a variation on the seven-round mock draft, here is a round-by-round look at a running back who could be up for consideration in each draft.

Round 1

Saquon Barkley is the top running back prize of the 2018 NFL Draft and he’ll be long gone by the time the Lions get on the clock with the 20th pick of the first round. Barring a trade up, which would not be wise, the Lions will have to look elsewhere if their heart is set on a first round running back.

Many evaluators have Barkley in a tier of his own even in this deep running back class, but Derrius Guice is at or near the top of that next tier and could receive consideration as the second running back off the board as early as the first round.

Guice made a name for himself filling in for Leonard Fournette during the 2016 season, twice rushing for over 250 yards against SEC opponents. He finished that sophomore season with 15 touchdowns and 1,387 yards on just 183 carries – good for an average of 7.6 yards per carry. With Fournette leaving as the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Guice was left as the main back at LSU. While the numbers still look good, (237 carries, 1,251 yards, 11 touchdowns), he was slowed by injuries.

He’s not the biggest (5’10”, 212 lbs) and not the fastest (4.49 sec 40-yd), but he has a nice size/speed combo that when paired with his tough running style makes for a very attractive running back prospect.

Home/Detroit Lions