Mock Draft Roundup: Lions Beef Up Cornerbacks Room

Lions target cornerback help in latest mock draft roundup.

It's time for the seventh All Lions mock draft roundup for the 2024 NFL Draft.

Over the last week, a slew of cornerbacks have become trendy targets for the Lions at No. 29 overall.

Let’s take a peek now at who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round.

Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, Texas

Murphy is presently being mocked by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Tony Catalina), Pro Football Network (Joe Broback)

As Broback writes,

"Detroit is an intriguing team to watch this offseason. Many of their 2023 offseason moves shined this past year, but can they do it again? The draft will put the final touches on what has already been a solid offseason.

The Lions defense was fun to watch this year. While they need upgrades at certain positions, this group played hard for Dan Campbell. Adding players like Byron Murphy II will aid their efforts to return to the NFC Championship Game. Murphy is an underrated player with explosive athleticism, and he makes the Lions defensive line even better."

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter, Georgia 

Lassiter is currently being selected by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Anthony Miller)

Cornerback T.J. Tampa, Iowa State 

Tampa is presently being mocked by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Oliver Hodgkinson)

Cornerback Cooper DeJean, Iowa 

DeJean is presently being picked by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Derek Tate)

Safety Tyler Nubin, Minnesota 

Nubin is presently being mocked by the following: 

CBS Sports (Tom Fornelli)

Cornerback Nate Wiggins, Clemson

Wiggins is presently being picked by the following:

Pro Football Network (Will Helms), CBS Sports (Josh Edwards), The 33rd Team (Connor Livesay); trade up with Cowboys to No. 24 overall)

As Livesay opines,

"It is no secret the Detroit Lions are looking to improve their cornerback play. Nate Wiggins falling means a simple trade-up to land one of the draft's top cornerbacks is in play. Wiggins’ weight and frame are some of the only concerns in his evaluation.

His coverage skills and toughness will perfectly fit in with Dan Campbell’s locker room. Green Bay and Buffalo are also hunting for cornerback help, so the Lions should aggressively pursue their guy with a roster ready to compete in the NFC for the foreseeable future."

DJ Reader Expects to Return By Start of 2024 Season

Wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, Texas

Mitchell is presently being picked by the following:

Pro Football Focus (Dalton Wasserman)

As Wasserman pens, 

"The Lions have needs on defense, but this mock hasn’t fallen their way on that front. Instead, they opt to upgrade an outside receiver spot with Josh Reynolds possibly leaving in free agency. Nobody throws in routes better than Jared Goff. And nobody in this draft class runs in routes better than Adonai Mitchell. While it isn’t quite that simple, Mitchell would bring a size-speed element that the Lions don’t currently possess."

Defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton, Illinois

Newton is currently being picked by the following:

All Lions (Christian Booher), Tankathon

Cornerback Terrion Arnold, Alabama

Arnold is presently being selected by the following:

The Draft Network (Damian Parson)

Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri

Rakestraw is presently being mocked by the following:

FOXSports.com (Carmen Vitali)

As Vitali writes,

“The Lions are going to add defensive backs until the cows come home. It just so happened that Rakestraw was the best player available, which Brad Holmes has a habit of taking, regardless of need. Holmes traded for Davis from Tampa and the Lions re-signed Emmanuel Moseley in the hopes that he can finally stay healthy. But Rakestraw can be part of a deep group of corners to insulate against injury."

EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri

Robinson is currently being mocked by the following:

CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso)

Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

McKinstry is currently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Kyle Stackpole), Draft Wire (Curt Popejoy)