Just in time to present you with something to argue with your family about over the holiday weekend, the latest mock draft from Draft Wire and editor Luke Easterling shows up on the doorstep.
Open up this present and find three offensive players of the four projected to the Detroit Lions in the first two rounds. That includes the top pick, which currently sits at No. 4 overall thanks to the Los Angeles Rams.
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson gets the nod at No. 4. Easterling’s commentary is spot-on about why Richardson makes sense for Detroit,
If you stopped watching Richardson after his rocky start to the 2022 season, you missed out on some strong development over the second half of the season. He’s got a similar skill set (and boom/bust potential) that Josh Allen had coming into the draft, and the Lions could afford to be patient with him with Jared Goff playing well.
The next pick, Detroit’s own at No. 18, is a familiar one from recent mock drafts: Alabama safety Brian Branch. The projection here puts him in the Will Harris role of a bigger slot defender, albeit one with better natural coverage skills than what Harris offers.
The second round picks both hit the offense. USC lineman Andrew Vorhees is the choice for Detroit’s own pick at No. 48. Vorhees would project in as the new starting right guard right away. With the Vikings pick at No. 60 comes Syracuse running back Sean Tucker. He brings the speed with high school track titles and he’s converted it nicely for the Orange into consistent production and big-play ability.
