Mock Draft Roundup: Joey Porter Jr. Emerges as Trendy Lions Pick

Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. becomes trendy Detroit Lions pick at No. 18 overall.

It's time for the last All Lions mock draft roundup for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Over the last week, George defensive lineman Jalen Carter has remained a frequent target for the Detroit Lions at No. 6 overall. Meanwhile, Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. has become a trendy pick for the Lions at No. 18 overall.

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

Quarterback Anthony Richardson, Florida 

Richardson is currently being picked by the following: 

*CBS Sports (Kyle Stackpole); *Sports Illustrated (Matt Verderame); *indicates trade

As Stackpole writes, 

"Jared Goff is serviceable, solid even, for a team on the rise in a NFC that has a bunch of unknowns after the Eagles. But getting Anthony Richardson for the long-term is too good to pass up, even though it costs some draft capital to move up three spots."

Quarterback C.J. Stroud, Ohio State 

Stroud is presently being mocked by the following: 

*Pro Football Focus (Michael Renner); *indicates trade 

As Renner pens,

"The Lions saw how “safe” top-10 picks can be with Jeffrey Okudah. This time they aren’t missing out on their possible Justin Herbert. And if the Texans already have their eyes on next year’s quarterback class it may not take much draft capital to move up from the sixth overall pick. Stroud’s addition gives the Lions the flexibility to move on from Jared Goff’s $32 million cap hits in 2024 to go all-in on a Super Bowl window."

EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Alabama

Anderson is currently being mocked by the following:

Walter Football (Charlie Campbell)

Running back Bijan Robinson, Texas

Robinson is presently being picked by the following:

Walter Football (Walter Cherepinsky)

EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Van Ness is presently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson)

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Witherspoon is is presently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Will Brinson)

Defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Georgia

Carter is currently being mocked by the following:

*The Draft Network (Justin Melo); NFL.com (Peter Schrager); NFL.com (Maurice Jones-Drew); CBS Sports (Josh Edwards); *indicates trade 

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Oregon

Gonzalez is presently being mocked by the following:

The Athletic (Dane Brugler); Pro Football Network (Cam Mellor); Pro Football Network (Oliver Hodgkinson); Pro Football Network (Adam Caplan); CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso) 

EDGE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech

Wilson is currently being mocked by the following:

The Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer); ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay)

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

Safety Brian Branch, Alabama 

Branch is presently being projected by the following: 

CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso) 

Defensive tackle Mazi Smith, Michigan 

Smith is presently being picked by the following: 

Pro Football Network (Adam Caplan)

As Caplan pens, 

"From talking to NFL personnel sources, teams don’t seem to be scared off by Mazi Smith’s off-the-field issue, and he still has a chance to go off the board in the first round.

It should be noted that Smith was always projected to go off the board within the top 40 selections but was never a lock to go even late in the first.

 

Smith, a two-time academic All-Big Ten honoree, will be seen as a nose tackle by some teams, but some will see him as a defensive lineman who can be moved around, and he has more upside as a pass rusher than his stats would indicate."

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Penn State

Porter is presently being mocked by the following: 

Pro Football Focus (Michael Renner); NFL.com (Peter Schrager); NFL.com (Maurice Jones-Drew); CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson)

As Schrager writes, 

"The Lions loaded up on DB talent in free agency, but they could still be in the market for a top corner prospect if they pass on Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon at No. 6. Porter can hang with both of those other cats and could still be on the board when Detroit comes back on the clock at No. 18. Tough mentality -- a real Aaron Glenn/Dan Campbell type of guy."

EDGE Lukas Van Ness, Iowa

Van Ness is currently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Josh Edwards) 

Running back Bijan Robinson, Texas

Robinson is currently being mocked by the following:

The Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer); Walter Football (Charlie Campbell); CBS Sports (Will Brinson)

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Illinois

Witherspoon is presently being projected by the following:

Walter Football (Walter Cherepinsky)

Tight end Dalton Kincaid, Utah

Kincaid is presently being picked by the following:

*Sports Illustrated (Matt Verderame); *indicates trade

As Verderame opines, 

"General manager Brad Holmes moved back two spots and added a fourth-round pick to his arsenal. He also managed to still land the best tight end in what is a loaded class, potentially starting a run on the position. After dealing away T.J. Hockenson at last season’s trade deadline, the Lions must find a replacement. Kincaid was terrific in the Pac-12 last year, and he’d be a perfect fit in Motown."

Defensive tackle Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh

Kancey is presently being mocked by the following:

The Athletic (Dane Brugler); ESPN (Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay)

Defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, Clemson

Bresee is presently being picked by the following:

CBS Sports (Kyle Stackpole); Pro Football Network (Cam Mellor)

Tight end Michael Mayer, Notre Dame

Mayer is currently being selected by the following:

The Draft Network (Justin Melo); Pro Football Network (Oliver Hodgkinson)

As Melo writes,

"The Detroit Lions haven’t appropriately replaced T.J. Hockenson, who they traded to the Minnesota Vikings at the trade deadline. The Lions don’t have enough at the position, and Brad Holmes’ inactivity suggests Detroit is going to draft one. The 2023 NFL Draft features a historically deep class at tight end, which could push prospects like Michael Mayer down the board. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson would utilize Mayer’s dual-threat abilities as a blocker and pass catcher."