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NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions seven-round mock draft 4.0

By Zac Snyder

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Lions 2018 NFL Draft prospect John Kelly
John Kelly #4 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs with the ball against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during the second half at Neyland Stadium on November 4, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Round 4

Bob Quinn has said change is coming to his group of running backs but options were dwindling as this mock draft rolled on. After eschewing the running back position to grab Taven Bryan in the third round, this was the opportunity to grab a running back before things really started thinning out.

Like Alvin Kamara last year, John Kelly could be the next former Tennessee running back to turn into a more productive pro than college player. He was always caught in a running back rotation rather than being relied upon like so many college running backs but he did manage to see a career-high 187 carries last season.

A promising start to the season fizzled out down the stretch as he ran for just 84 yards on 44 carries against Missouri, LSU and Vanderbilt to close the season.

Kelly also comes with some character concerns (marijuana arrest) so the Lions would have some work to do before being comfortable with the pick. He’s also a local product, going from Oak Park High School to Tennessee. That’s not always a good thing for guys with character concerns.

He’s a little undersized and wasn’t one of the top performers at the 2018 NFL Combine but he could have three-down value and would at least provide added depth.

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