2023 Detroit Lions Draft Preview Offensive Line

 

Interior Line

Typically, I look for guys under 4.5 in the 20 yard shuttle. Mauch. Steen. Gaines fit that bill. Both Mauch and Steen have tackle potential. Gaines is a early day 3 guy. Avila is power guy with good feet. Really stood out at the Senior Bowl.  Zavala and Mafi both visited the Lions. 

Players I like for the Lions:

Steve Avila TCU

6031  332 5.21  28 29.5" 802 7.85 4.74

Senior Bowl

Road grader who can play Guard or Center. Started as rookie. Did not give a sack in 2022. 

  

Nick Broeker Ole Miss

6042 305 5.27 23 7.75 4.7

Senior Bowl

May need a year to develop. Good feet. Showed well in the one on ones at Senior Bowl.

Sidy Sow EMU

6047 323 5.07 32" 902 7.62 4.69

NFLPA game

Big man with surprising quickness. Even played some tackle at the PA game.

Tyler Steen Alabama

6060 321 31 29.5" 901 7.78 4.5

Senior Bowl

The more I see of this guy the more I like. Probably needs a couple of years development but is a starter in the league. He probably will move to guard. 

Ricky Stromberg Arkansas

6031 306 5.26 32.5" 903 7.41 4.47

East West Shrine Game

Quick center who can play guard. Will dress on game days. Starter potential. 

Luke Wypler Ohio State

6030 303 5.14 29 30.5 810 7.64 4.53

Center who can play guard. Starter next year. Gave only 1 sack in almost 1,000 dropbacks. 

Nash Jensen North Dakota State

6040 322 5.31 33 27" 804 8.01 4.68 

NFLPA Game

Big, strong earth mover. Has surprising feet. Good pick on the third day.

Jon Gaines UCLA

6037 304 5.01 19 32.5 906 7.31 4.45

NFLPA Game

Excellent athlete with a great short shuttle. Need s to get stronger but will start down the road.

Jordan McFadden Clemson

6020 303 4.99 24 28.5" 7.7 4.81

East West Shrine Game

Good athlete. Needs time to develop. Could start in two years.

Tackle

Analysis

Johnson could play guard before sliding out to tackle. Wright was the star of the Senior Bowl and visited the Lions.  It gets pretty dicey after the first 5-6 or guys. Fisher is the real sleeper. Reid showed out at his pro day. 

Players I like for the Lions:

Jaelyn Duncan Maryland

6056 306 5.1 31.5" 905

Senior Bowl

Good length and movement. Stood out to at the Senior Bowl.

Nick Saldiveri ODU

6060 318 5.21 24 31 903 4.69

Senior Bowl

Big man with good feet. Should be a solid swing tackle with upside to start.

2023 Detroit Lions Draft Preview Defensive Line

 

Edge

Analysis:

Anderson is my # 2 player in the draft. Murphy has a good first step and high motor. Wilson is more of interior guy than edge guy. Harrison is sleeper. Long and strong. Great run defender. Van Ness is a one trick pony, pure bull rush. McGuire could be a guy in third round. Good depth throughout the draft, Some undersized speed rushers Herbig, McDonald, Ramirez and Young should interest the 3-4 teams.

Guys I Like for the Lions

Zach Harrison Ohio State
6054 269 25 34.5" 1003 7.33 4.64
Tremendous size. Great against the run. Has all the tools to be a solid pass rusher.  36" arms. 6 sacks in 2022. PFF had him with 14.4% Pass-rush win rate.

BJ Thompson Stephen F. Austin
6053 243 4.61 13 37.5 1005 7.06 4.46
 East West Shrine Game
Speed rusher with a lightening first step. Long arms to match. Needs to a get a ton stronger but in passing situations he can beat tackles. 

Tackles

Analysis

Carter is my # 1 player in the draft. White is strong but a little undersized. Bresee is risky prospect. Benton is my favorite guy in this class. Dexter and Pickens have potential but not the production. Ika is massive NG who visited the Lions. 

Players I like for the Lions:

Keenu Benton Wisconsin
6036 309 5.08 25 29.5 903 7.34 4.65
Senior Bowl
Excellent quickness and a plus pass rusher. 6 sacks and 49 pressures in 2022. People love this guys character. Had a very strong showing at the Senior Bowl. Four year starter at Wisconsin.

Zacch Pickens South Carolina
6035 291 4.89 22 30.5 908 7.45 4.62
Senior Bowl
Very quick first step. Has power to rush the passer. Needs to get stronger to hold up vs. the run. I liked him best out of the SEC DT at the Senior Bowl.

2023 NFL Draft Preview Detroit Lions Linebackers

 

Analysis:

I have similar grades on the top3 but they are all different type of players. Sanders is speed guy and a plus rusher. Campbell is a freak athlete with the tape to back it up. A true off the ball backer. Simpson is a speed guy who converted from safety.  Pappoe is explosive but small. Abdullah is an all-pro special teams guy. Good depth guys throughout this crop. 

Players I like for the Lions:

Drew Sanders Arkansas
6041 235 4.66 37" 910 7.18 4.38
Junior
Former DE at Alabama, moved to LB at Arkansas. Great range and mobility. Can do anything in a scheme. A plus pass rusher. 11 sacks in 2022. Must improve as a tackler in the open field. 

Dorian Williams Tulane
6006 228 4.49 35 1000
Senior Bowl
A great coverage linebacker. Can be used on special teams and the dime package. 

Darian Henley Washington State

6007 225 4.54 35" 1005

Senior Bowl

A sideline to sideline backer. He can play all three downs. Excellent on coverage. 

2023 NFL Draft Detroit Lions Preview Defensive Backs

 

Cornerbacks

Strong CB class. You can a starters on the first two days.

Deonte Banks Maryland

6002 197 4.35 42" 1104 

Junior 83 t 2 int

Tough and speedy man CB. Has the size and recovery ability to be a really good CB in the NFL.

Christian Gonzalez Oregon

6013 197 4.38 14 41 1101

Junior 128 t 4 int

Smooth mover, good size and can play in any scheme. My # 1 CB.

Kaleb Hayes BYU

5115 196 4.33 17 40" 1008 6.88 4.27

NFLPA Bowl 113 t

Good size and speed. Could be a sleeper early on day 3

Riley Moss Iowa

6003 193 4.45 39" 1007 6.9 4.15

Senior Bowl 43 games 158 tackles 11 int 3 td

Good size and speed. Loads of experience. Better athlete than given credit for.

Darius Rush South Carolina

6015 198 4.36 35" 1001

Senior Bowl 75 tackles 3int

Big time performance at the Senior Bowl. Backed it up a the combine. Has starter written all over him.

Terrell Smith Minnesota

6004 204 4.41 14 34" 1001 7 4.3

East West Shrine game

Size and speed. Game fast. Underrated.

Cody Trice Purdue

6026 206 4.47 17 35.5" 1100 6.7 4.06

Tremendous size and good feet. Sleeper who can start in the NFL.

Carrington Valentine Kentucky

6001 192 4.44 9 39" 1008 4.15

Sticky and competitive in coverage. Good defending the 50/50 ball. Wrap up tackler not a hitter. Needs to get stronger.

Safety

Safety

Nico Bolden Kent State

6032 209 4.44 1141" 1007 7.04 4.33

NFLPA Bowl

Workout warrior he brings the lumber. Floor is a top flight special teams player.

Sydney Brown Illinois

5100 211 4.47 23 40.5" 1010

Senior Bowl

Nickel backer who can cover just enough to be on the field. Great against the run and on special teams. 

Chamarri Conner Va Tech

6000 202 4.51 20 40.5" 1005 6.91 4.3

Senior Bowl

Versatile player. Physical player. Fits the Lions scheme

Art Green Houston

6010 198 4.36 36" 1002 7.01 4.26

Hula Bowl East West Shrine Game

Versatile player. Showed range at the Shrine Game. Comp L'Jarius Sneed.

Daniel Scott Cal

6004 208 4.45 22 39.5 1008 6.75 4.17

Senior Bowl

Caught my eye at the Senior Bowl. Hung in there on the one on ones. Moves well for a guy his size. 

2023 NFL Draft Defensive Line Prospects

 
Will Anderson DE Alabama
6036 253 4.6 Junior
Elite traits for a edge rusher. First step and bend are sensational. 31 sacks in three years.  Tough against the run as well. My # 2 overall player.

Myles Murphy DE Clemson
6050 268 4.52 25 31" 7.22 4.28 Junior
A true 4-3 end. Good first step and bend. Not elite. Tough against the run and plays with a strong motor. Gets confused on assignment. When he can just go he is a game wrecker. 20 sacks in the three years he played at Clemson. PFF had him at 17.8% pass-rush win rate. Top 10 pick.

Tyree Wilson DE/DT Texas Tech
6061 271 23 reps
Not a speed edge rusher. Extremely strong and powerful. Long arms and a good motor. He would play the Josh Paschal/John Cominsky position for the Lions. He graded with astounding 22.6% pass-rush win rate from PFF. Coming off a foot injury. Top 10 pick

Keion White DE/DT Georgia Tech
6046 281 4.79 30 34" 909 Senior Bowl
He and Wilson play the same way. Strength and power not with quickness. Little bend while at DE. Very strong and powerful. Probably will end up at playing mostly inside. 3-4 teams might like him at DE. 19.6% pass-rush win rate. Top 40

Lukas Van Ness DE/DT Iowa
6046 272 4.58 17 31" 910 7.02 4.32
He has one of the best bull rushes you will every see. It's his only move. Limited experience but élite tools. 18.8 % pass-rush win rate. More of projection than a proven commodity. Top 20 pick.

Tackles

Jalen Carter DT Georgia
6030 314 Junior
The best player in the draft and its not even close.

Bryan Breese DT Clemson

6054 298 4.86 28 29" 7.41 4.45 Junior
As a freshman he was one of the best players in the country. Torn e his ACL in his sophomore year and had a nightmare junior season. You can see the potential in flashes. The great quickness, the strength. Hopefully, he can get back to his full health and dominate. 

Ade Adebawore DT?DE Northwestern

6015 282 4.49 27 37.5" 1005 7.13 4.26 Senior Bowl

Dominates the Senior Bowl practices. Really made a name for himself. Crushed the combine. The question is where do you play him? For the Lions, he would play the closed end and drop down to tackle for pass rush. 

Gervon Dexter DT Florida

6055 318 4.88 24 31" 902 7.5 4.7 Junior

This guy  has grown on me. True 3 technique. Has strong arms and still quick at 318. More of a projection than a guy who wows you on tape. 

 

2023 Detroit Lions Defense/Specialists

 

2023 Detroit Lions Offense