7 Senior Bowl Prospects Who Could Interest Lions
The Detroit Lions have established themselves amongst the best drafting teams in the NFL under the guidance of general manager Brad Holmes.
Last season, Holmes picked players that wound up being key contributors with each of his first four picks. Many were surprised at his decision to draft running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick, but Gibbs wound up with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his first NFL season.
Time will tell if Holmes can continue to repeat this success. With the Senior Bowl set for 1 p.m. Saturday, here are seven players participating in the game who could interest the Lions.
American Team
T'Vondre Sweat, IDL, Texas
Sweat is among the top interior prospects in this year's draft. He possesses a strong motor on the inside, and has a knack for slowing down opponents in the run game. At Texas, he was an unanimous first-team All-American last season, with eight tackles for loss and two sacks.
The talented defender is a load to block inside. His abilities could be a good fit next to Alim McNeill, as Detroit looks to continue being among the league's best at stopping the run.
Chris Braswell, LB, Alabama
Much of the attention on Alabama's defense rightfully went to Dallas Turner, who will likely be among the first defenders selected in the draft. However, Braswell did his fair share of the work with 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
Profiling as an outside linebacker, he fits what Detroit is looking for in terms of their SAM linebacker. He also has the ability to bend around the edge and contribute in the pass rush. His skill-set lends itself to allowing him to be a three-down player at the next level.
Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The wide receiver position is one that looks to be in good shape for the Lions, with a solid trio in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds. However, Wilson's size is a trait that none of the three truly have.
Wilson had a solid final season at Florida State, catching 43 passes for 617 yards and two scores. He stands 6-foot-7, making him the prototypical red-zone threat and downfield target with the ability to outleap defenders at the catch point.
He doesn't have breakaway speed, but his stature makes him an appealing prospect. If he can demonstrate good hands, he could be a nice insurance and depth piece early in his career with the Lions.
National Team
Kalen King, CB, Penn State
The cornerback position is one of major need for the Lions ahead of the upcoming offseason. Cam Sutton underperformed his expectations in his first season, and the Lions shuffled through options at the second spot.
As a result, a player like King could be in play for the Lions late in the first round. He was among the best at his position in college football last season, with a 90.6 coverage grade. But, his production dipped a bit in 2023.
King is an interesting evaluation who has the potential to be a shutdown cornerback at the next level. He's worth keeping an eye on throughout the week to see how he performs against the top wide receiver competition.
Laiatu Latu, EDGE, UCLA
After nearly ending his career due to injury, Latu has enjoyed a superb two-year revival with UCLA. This season, he was among the best EDGE rushers in all of college football with 13 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
His skill set and the positional demand of EDGE rushers likely mean he will be off the board before Detroit is on the clock, assuming his medicals check out. However, Holmes has never been afraid to move up to get a player he likes.
The injury history is also concerning with Latu, so his physical evaluations are worth monitoring.
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Mitchell was superb for the Rockets this season, earning a 91.6 Pro Football Focus coverage grade. Though he didn't play at the top level of competition compared to others, he was a legitimate shutdown player, and performed well against Power Five competition in Illinois in Week 1.
Mitchell is viewed by many as a potential first-round pick, so he is an option for the Lions with the 29th pick. He was tabbed with just three missed tackles this season, meaning he has an element of physicality to his game that will appeal to Detroit's style of play.
Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State
The Lions have one of the league's best offensive lines, but the unit is entering a pivotal stage. Left guard Jonah Jackson is a free agent, so Detroit could seek out younger options to add to the group.
Beebe was believed to be one of the better options in last year's class, but elected to return for a final season. He split some time between right tackle and left guard for the Wildcats this season, but was predominantly on the interior.
His versatility is an attractive quality, as is the 90.4 run-blocking grade he earned from PFF for his performance this season. He's a smash-mouth player who fits the identity of Detroit's offensive line.
