The Detroit Lions have a plethora of options when it comes to their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, one of which is to simply trade back — and that's exactly what one NFL Draft analyst has them doing.
In his seven-round mock draft, The Athletic's Dane Brugler has the Lions sending their No. 29 overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for pick Nos. 44 and 77.
And with the No. 44 overall selection, the Lions take interior offensive lineman Zach Frazier out of West Virginia. Here's a gander at the rest of the picks Brugler made for Detroit in the seven-rounder, along with any write-ups provided:
Round 2, Pick 44: G/C Zach Frazier, West Virginia
Round 2, Pick 61: DT Braden Fiske, Florida State
Round 3, Pick 73: WR Ja'Lynn Polk, Washington
Round 3, Pick 77: CB Caelen Carson, Wake Forest
Round 5, Pick 164: EDGE Braiden McGregor, Michigan
Round 6, Pick 201: K Will Reichard, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 205: S Sione Vaki, Utah
If there is a player in this draft who has bitten a knee cap, Vaki is that guy, so there is no mystery why the Lions have shown considerable interest in the versatile safety (and running back) from Utah.
Round 7, Pick 249: CB Johnny Dixon, Penn State
Analysis of Dane Brugler's 7-round mock
Based on the Jimmy Johnson trade value chart, the Lions get the slight edge in the trade with the Raiders. Detroit's pick is worth 640, while Las Vegas' picks are worth 665.
Brugler's mock addresses several key needs for the Lions, giving them depth and potential long-term starters at multiple positions.
However, I'd like to see Detroit add an edge rusher earlier than this if possible, and the same can be said for corner, as doing so would give the Lions a better chance to land immediate starters at two key positions.
That will obviously depend on how the board falls to the Lions, but if there's a really good edge rusher or cornerback sitting there at No. 29, Detroit should not be trading back.
Now, all of that is not to say that Fiske and Frazier are bad prospects. In fact, I like both for the Lions and each fills a need. That said, those needs aren't as immediate as the other two.
Adding a kicker is never exactly sexy, but Detroit does need more competition for Michael Badgley, although the hope is that the Lions will eventually give UFL and Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates a look.
Adding Polk in that spot figures to be good value. He'd give the Lions some much-needed depth and a potential starter on the outside in the years to come.
Overall, this isn't a bad mock from Brugler at all, but I do think the Lions should go about things slightly differently if the opportunity presents itself.
