Mock Draft Roundup: Lions Fill Void at EDGE

Lions boost pass-rushing unit in latest mock draft roundup.

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

Over the last week, UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu has increasingly become a popular pick for the Lions at No. 29 overall.

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

EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

Turner is presently being selected by the following:

Pro Football Network (Ian Cummings; acquired at No. 21 overall via trade)

As Cummings writes,

“Under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, the Lions have proven that they’re willing to trade up for high-upside players who can make a transformative impact on the roster.

That’s what the Lions do in this 2024 NFL Mock Draft, taking advantage of a golden opportunity to trade up for Dallas Turner: The completing piece opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

Turner has the bristling speed, explosiveness, and bend to terrorize tackles and send them lurching in recovery, but he’s also an alignment-versatile, high-motor power generator.”

Cornerback Cooper DeJean, Iowa

DeJean is currently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso), The Draft Network (Ryan Fowler)

Wide receiver Keon Coleman, Florida State

Coleman is presently being drafted by the following:

Pro Football Network (Wil Helms)

Offensive tackle Jordan Morgan, Arizona

Morgan is currently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Josh Edwards)

Offensive lineman Zach Frazier, West Virginia

Frazier is presently being taken by the following:

NFL.com (Daniel Jeremiah)

Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri

Rakestraw is presently being mocked by the following:

Sports Illustrated (Luke Easterling), Pro Football Focus (Brad Spielberger, Trevor Sikkema, Sam Monson and Steve Palazzolo), Detroit Free Press (Dave Birkett), USA TODAY (Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz)

As Birkett writes,

“Cornerback is a huge position of need for the Lions, and while they’ll address it on some level in free agency, they need a long-term solution on the outside. Rakestraw doesn’t have huge ball production with one interception in four years, but he’s the type of feisty, physical corner the Lions want on defense."

All Lions: Detroit Projected to Land Pass Rusher in Free Agency

EDGE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

Latu is presently being mocked by the following:

Yahoo! Sports (Charles McDonald and Nate Tice), ESPN (Matt Miller), Draft Wire (Curt Popejoy)

As Miller pens,

“Medical reports for the next two months will be huge for Latu after he medically retired while at Washington — and we're being conservative with him still being available at No. 29 for now. But following two healthy seasons at UCLA and 23.5 sacks during that time, the Lions could bring in a player with double-digit sack potential to line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson. And that's a terrifying proposition for NFC North quarterbacks."

Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II, Texas

Murphy is currently being selected by the following:

CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson)

EDGE Darius Robinson, Missouri

Robinson is currently being mocked by the following:

ESPN (Field Yates), The 33rd Team (Marcus Mosher)

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

Lassiter is currently being drafted by the following:

Pro Football Network (Josiah Caswell), Pro Football Network (Tony Catalina), Tankathon

As Caswell writes,

“If they don’t trade up for a corner, the Lions are probably upset that Arnold went to the Packers at 25. However, Kamari Lassiter is still a really good player, and the Lions desperately need help in their cornerback room as it plagued them late in the year and in the playoffs.

Lassiter is a bit light with his 6’0″ and 180-pound frame, but he plays bigger than he is and brings his physicality into both the passing game and running game. He’s good in a man-to-man scheme and improved his technique and ball skills in 2023.”

Cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

McKinstry is currently being picked by the following:

The Athletic (Colton Pouncy)

As Pouncy pens,

“It’s no secret the Lions could use an influx of talent at cornerback, and McKinstry just so happened to be one of the best players available regardless of position. It’s an easy fit and one that doesn’t need much overthinking. McKinstry has size and length, and he’s capable of handling business in man coverage. The Lions could also use some pass rush help, and Latu — had he fallen to No. 29 — would have made an intriguing running mate opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Instead, Detroit gets help at cornerback, ahead of one of the most anticipated seasons in franchise history.”