Three outstanding prospects match Detroit’s style.
Early in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions might focus on the defensive end of the ball.

Throughout the season, coordinator Aaron Glenn’s team had trouble finding the ideal balance between rush and coverage. Consequently, they might target the secondary and defensive lines early in the draft.

Detroit may take into consideration two Missouri defenders in the draft: defensive end Darius Robinson and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Ahead of the NFL Combine, NFL Network Draft expert Daniel Jeremiah recently held a conference call and talked extensively about both players. He made the comparison between Robinson and Cam Jordan, a defender from New Orleans who has had a remarkable NFL career.

Reasons the Detroit Lions May Upgrade in the NFL Draft”No, I believe that’s a pass rush. He found himself in a difficult situation where Missouri was trying to determine whether he would be an outsider or an insider, as he is larger,” Jeremiah remarked. “Cam Jordan is a name that is mentioned merely based on body type. Because he was such an athlete, I recall watching Cam Jordan at Cal work out and run with the skill players. There is a man who weighs 286 pounds and has amazing movement.”

Robinson is from Canton, so he has ties to Michigan. Jeremiah thinks he’s a better player playing up on the edge rather than lining up inside because of his strength and toughness.

Consequently, his worth can keep rising during the pre-draft phase.

“I felt he was better as a fit on the outside; standing up on the edge, he can really close from the backside; the strength, he can surge through your chest,” Jeremiah said. “I just felt that he was really unlocked by the broader alignment, and you saw it in the Senior Bowl. Therefore, he strikes me as someone who will probably make it big in his 20s. And he has the capacity to get into that area, so I believe he is worthy.”

In contrast, Rakestraw is regarded as a strong, powerful defender with a lot of promise as a boundary corner. His tackle skills and ferocity at the line of scrimmage make him an intriguing fit with the Lions, even though his stats aren’t particularly impressive.

“Yes, I believe he is in that range. Jeremiah said, “I have him a little bit higher than that.” “I know that when it comes to his toughness, feistiness, aggressiveness, energy, and enthusiasm on the field, I have a slightly better opinion of him than some other teams do, but nonetheless. Indeed, he is a perfect fit for Detroit.”

The expert selected Zach Frazier, an offensive lineman from West Virginia, with the 29th overall pick in his most recent mock draft. Exploring the blocker’s past, Jeremiah said that the combination of his raw strength and wrestling experience made him another excellent addition to Dan Campbell’s squad.

“Looking at the center from West Virginia, I was giving them Frazier for almost the same reason. because the man is a four-time state wrestling champion. He’s quite physically fit,” Jeremiah remarked. “The best thing they’ve done in Detroit is that he plays in a brutal way and finishes guys. Despite all the talent they’ve added, I believe the most important thing they’ve done is develop a genuine sense of self and mission. They went out and looked for men who fit, and they had that vision from the start. Both of those guys seem like players that the Detroit Lions would want.”

laying the groundwork

The immediate reaction to the Lions’ 2023 rookie class was harsh criticism, as Holmes made unexpected choices.

But in the end, the group produced a historically high caliber of work, especially in the first four selections. By the end of the season, all four were starters and had a significant impact on the team’s drive to the NFC Championship.

The fact that linebacker and running back, the positions Holmes pursued in the first round, aren’t seen as very valuable, is what first made the choices confusing. Therefore, some people thought it was a stretch to choose Jack Campbell and Jimmy Gibbs.

A year later, these selections proved to be just what the Lions required. One well-known NFL Draft analyst, though, does not believe that other teams will take Holmes’ lead and stop caring about traditional positional worth.

Jeremiah noted that Holmes’s success in his first two rounds directly influenced the judgments made by the Lions in 2023.

“Yes, you can go do that once you’ve already developed the foundation, but we’ve concentrated so much on them not choosing those ‘non-valued’ roles,” Jeremiah remarked. “What Brad and those others accomplished earlier to widen the line of scrimmage on both sides made that draft successful.

“The quarterback was on board. They had already laid the groundwork for the pricey, elite positions because they had hit a home run with the wide receiver, Jeremiah said. “That gave them a significant advantage over the other teams in the league, allowing them to take advantage of opportunities to score runs, hit home runs with the tight end, and intercept passes from the linebacker. After the foundation is in place, you can accomplish those tasks.