Detroit Lions: A Pro Football Focus perfect 2021 mock draft 1.0
By Bob Heyrman
Florida State: Marvin Wilson
With the 88th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Marvin Wilson, a defensive tackle out of Florida State.
Are you starting to see a trend here? It’s time to re-tool this Lions defense primarily through the NFL Draft.
Wilson is a hardy 6-foot-5 playing at about 310-pounds. Wilson is an interior lineman that is a do-it-all type. He’s able to seek-out and stuff the run and can be a three-down lineman at the NFL level with his ability to rush the passer.
This is an area the Detroit Lions have struggled mightily over the last couple of seasons; rushing the passer with an interior lineman. Three years ago, after acquiring Damon Harrison from the New York Giants, the Lions defense as a whole really took a step forward behind Harrison’s ability to push the pocket.
Two years ago, Harrison rapidly declined, mostly due to injury. After requesting his release and granted by the organization, Patricia and Quinn opted to fill the void with former Patriot Danny Shelton. Shelton fits the Patricia mold, a massive nose tackle that can stop the run, but Shelton isn’t much of a pass-rusher.
Detroit tried to surround both Harrison and Shelton with various complementary interior rushers, such as Mike Daniels in 2019 and Nick Williams in 2020. Both really didn’t meet expectations.
Adding Wilson will be very beneficial to this Detroit defense. Wilson’s rating did decline in 2020 from the prior two seasons. The senior classman earned an overall mark of 67.7 from PFF in 2020, that after a 90.7 and 90.1 grade in each of the last two seasons.
The subtle decline in play may leave Wilson on the board when Detroit picks with the 88th choice they received from the Rams in the Stafford trade.
Wilson recorded five sacks in 2019 but only one in 2020.
According to PFF, Wilson ranked as the 142nd overall DT in college football for the 2020 season, that after ranking 5th in 2019 and 12th in 2018. Wilson proved there is plenty of talent here; he’s worth drafting in this spot.
Pro Football Focus Draft Grade: B+