Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Too-early 2023 mock draft lands Lions some interesting choices

Doing mock drafts for the following offseason is an exercise in pure speculation. Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire knows that and makes it clear in his too-early 2023 NFL mock draft that it’s an “inaccurate exercise at best”.

But it’s still a fun exercise to see what teams might look to add after the next season, and also to get an idea of what players might be of interest when the Detroit Lions are on the clock in 2023.

The Lions have two first-round choices once again, their own and the Los Angeles Rams’ pick. Based on current Super Bowl odds, those picks wind up at No. 3 and No. 30 overall.

With the No. 3 pick, Schofield slots Alabama QB Bryce Young to Detroit. Correctly noting that “if they are picking third-overall next year, quarterback is going to be a priority”, Schofield tabs the very impressive but very undersized Young to Detroit.

There will be questions about his size and his frame, but his production, ball placement and ability to work from the pocket were strengths during the 2021 season, and could even improve in the year ahead.

At No. 30, the projection goes to the defensive side of the ball with Utah CB Clark Phillips. A ballhawk who also happens to be a great open-field tackler, Phillips is an early hedge against Jeff Okudah not being able to live up to No. 3 overall expectations from his high selection in 2020.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.