Detroit Lions: 2021 Seven-Round Mock NFL Draft with trades 2.0

Detroit Lions Mock Draft Round 1

We traded back in the first mock draft we did for the Lions, and we’re going that route again. By trading back just one spot in the first round, we gained a much-needed third-rounder for this year. Detroit has a lot of holes to fill, and added draft capital helps us do just that.

Yup, we’re at it again, but this time you already know why. In all honestly, I would have been hesitant to take either of these trades if one of the top players we mentioned above had fallen to us. However, all three are now off the board; therefore, sliding back a bit further and gaining a handful of capital makes too much sense to pass on!

Making the pick at No. 15 overall was a tough one — to an extent. When going on the clock, it was between edge rusher Jaelen Phillips from the University of Miami and Jaycee Horn out of South Carolina University. Since Horn is my favorite college prospect in 2021 at the defensive back position, I didn’t wait too long to pull the trigger.

Horn should be a great fit in the Motor City, filling a void that has remained since the departure of Darius Slay to Philadelphia. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 205 pounds, Horn has the ideal frame of an impactful pass defender. That frame, combined with a very physical play style, made for a significant disruption at the catch point during this three years competing in the SEC.

Horn provides a great initial tool for new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to develop while likely being an immediate starter on the defensive roster.