Lions Mock Draft Roundup: Several Prospects Emerge in Latest Projections

Could the Lions target a tight end in the first round?

It's time for the latest All Lions mock draft roundup.

Over the last week, Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer has become a popular first-round target for the Detroit Lions.

Let’s explore now who the draft pundits have Lions general manager Brad Holmes selecting in the first round, starting with the No. 6 overall pick.

Running back Bijan Robinson, Texas

Robinson is presently being picked by the following: 

Walter Football (Charlie Campbell) 

EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Van Ness is presently being picked by the following: 

CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson); *CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); *indicates a trade 

As Wilson pens,

"The Lions had a need at cornerback ... and promptly addressed it to start free agency, adding Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley. And while there is depth at defensive end, Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris are entering the final year of their deals and the opportunity to pair Lucas Van Ness with Aidan Hutchinson is too good to pass up."

Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh 

Kancey is presently being mocked by the following: 

NFL.com (Cynthia Frelund)

As Frelund writes,

"Overall, Kancey is my 18th highest-rated prospect … and this is slot No. 6. … Are you picking up what I’m putting down, Detroit? Maybe see if you can add an extra pick or two in a later round and still get this guy, Motor City Kitties. Keen free agency moves at the corner position makes addressing the interior of the defensive line the value play here. Kancey had a ridiculous NFL Scouting Combine, and I was also able to watch his Pitt film with a few team execs to ask questions. Without being overly mathy, we looked at a few different ways of measuring his impact, and the one that stood out most to me was his lateral speed after traveling forward, which ranked in the top 5 percent of a 10-season sample. You know who might be great at understanding this value? GM Brad Holmes, who has experience with Aaron Donald from his Rams days. There are obvious connections there, but the main one is really valuing a prospect who is not a prototype."

Quarterback Anthony Richardson, Florida

Richardson is presently being mocked by the following:

Draft Countdown (Brian Bosarge); *Pro Football Network (Kent Platte); *indicates trade 

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Witherspoon is is presently being picked by the following:

NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); *Pride of Detroit (Ryan Mathews and Erik Schlitt); *indicates trade 

Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, Northwestern

Skoronski is presently being mocked by the following:

FantasyPros (Mike Fanelli)

As Fanelli writes, 

"While the Lions appear committed to Jared Goff, don’t rule out a quarterback with this pick. However, Detroit could go in multiple directions if they pass on a quarterback. The offensive line isn’t a top need for the Lions. Yet, this team has spent a first-round pick on the offensive line three times over the past seven years, including two years ago on Penei Sewell. Skoronski could start his career at guard before replacing Taylor Decker at left tackle in a few years."

Defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Georgia

Carter is currently being mocked by the following:

NFL.com (Chad Reuter); The Draft Network (Keith Sanchez); Pro Football Network (James Fragoza); 247Sports (Blake Brockermeyer)

As Brockermeyer writes,

"Carter has had a less than stellar offseason but will still go high because the NFL is more of a projection and not a production evaluation for high-ceiling players. Playing along Georgia’s multiple based defensive front will help but the Lions are sticklers for players that are tough and love football and Carter will need to check those boxes before they are comfortable. Carter’s motor runs a little inconsistent at times but when it’s hot, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. Detroit needs a three-technique and Carter has the ability to be a great one once he moves into a less versatile defense than he played in at Georgia. Carter has low tread on the tires due to Georgia’s rotations and injuries, so his ceiling is high."

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Gonzalez is presently being mocked by the following:

FantasyPros (Matthew Jones); FantasyPros (Kent Weyrauch); NFL.com (Eric Edholm); Pro Football Network (Tommy Garrett); Pro Football Network (Joe Broback); CBS Sports (Will Brinson); CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso); CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

Wilson is currently being mocked by the following:

ESPN (Mike Tannenbaum)

As Tannenbaum writes,

"The Lions allowed the second-most yards per pass (7.9) last season and ranked 20th in sacks per dropback (6.1%). They added Cam Sutton, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley through free agency, and I thought about another defensive back here. But Wilson had an outstanding career at Texas Tech after transferring from Texas A&M and logged 14 sacks over the past two seasons. He's long and plays with heavy hands. Wilson paired with Aidan Hutchinson provides Detroit an outstanding duo of pass-rushers for the next decade."

Let's turn our attention now to who the draft analysts have projected for Detroit at No. 18.

Linebacker Jack Campbell, Iowa

Campbell is presently being picked by the following: 

Walter Football (Charlie Campbell)

EDGE Nolan Smith, Georgia 

Smith is currently being picked by the following: 

FantasyPros (Kent Weyrauch)

Tight end Darnell Washington, Georgia 

Washington is currently being mocked by the following: 

FantasyPros (Mike Fanelli) 

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Witherspoon is presently being projected by the following: 

NFL.com (Chad Reuter); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards) 

Defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Georgia 

Carter is presently being mocked by the following: 

ESPN (Mike Tannenbaum)

Offensive lineman Darnell Wright, Tennessee 

Wright is presently being picked by the following: 

Pride of Detroit (Ryan Mathews and Erik Schlitt)

Linebacker Trenton Simpson, Clemson

Simpson is currently being picked by the following:

Pro Football Network (Tommy Garrett)

Tight end Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Kincaid is presently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso); NFL.com (Cynthia Frelund)

Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh

Kancey is presently being mocked by the following:

NFL.com (Bucky Brooks); Pro Football Network (Joe Broback)

Cornerback Deonte Banks, Maryland

Banks is currently being mocked by the following:

Draft Countdown (Brian Bosarge)

Safety Brian Branch, Alabama

Branch is currently being picked by the following:

Pro Football Network (James Fragoza)

Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, Clemson

Bresee is presently being picked by the following:

FantasyPros (Matthew Jones)

Tight end Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Mayer is currently being selected by the following:

NFL.com (Eric Edholm); The Draft Network (Keith Sanchez); CBS Sports (Will Brinson); 247Sports (Blake Brockermeyer); CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)

As Brinson pens,

"Detroit dealt T.J. Hockenson midseason last year and has a void at tight end. The Lions could have gone Luke Musgrave here, but Mayer is a run-blocker who fits what Dan Campbell and this front office like to build around. Detroit adding protection up front for Jared Goff improvement is a very interesting thought."