Perfect Picks 2023: Detroit Lions
By Tayyib Abu
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Jalen Carter (Defensive Tackle, Georgia)
Jalen Carter’s college performances for the Georgia Bulldogs confirmed one thing, he is a monstrous defensive lineman. A back-to-back National Champion, Carter is the prototype interior defender for football in 2023.
More than a space eater, Carter is a disruptor. With relentless power, Carter can pressure the quarterback and collapse the pocket. Over the last two seasons, Carter recorded 66 total quarterback pressures and six sacks.
The Detroit Lions have their blue-chip defensive end in Aidan Hutchinson. Pairing him with a run-stuffing, pressure-generating lineman would take the Lions’ defensive line to a new level. There are concerns around Carter, however.
Legal trouble surrounding a car crash emerged during the scouting combine, and a worrying weigh-in at the Georgia pro day could sink Carter’s stock. Only in interviews and meetings can teams decode Carter’s personality. Nevertheless, Carter’s athletic profile and performances at Georgia do not lie. If the Honolulu Blue were to add another blue-chip talent, it would shake things up in the NFC.
Round 2 - Bijan Robinson (Running Back, Texas)
Thanks to the Matthew Stafford trade, the Lions will pick again in Round One. And the PFN board had Bijan Robinson there at 18 overall.
Robinson is perhaps the most talented back available in the draft since Saquon Barkley entered the draft in 2018. The Texas product is a ferocious, slashing runner with speed and power. Speaking to The Athletic, Robinson even compared himself to the greatest Lion of all time; “I’m a knee-bender when I run the ball. Another guy that was a knee-bender was Barry Sanders. To try to redirect (defenders) and be as low to the ground as you can get and understand, you have to feel defenders, read their shoulders, and read angles to break as many tackles as possible to try to get north and south.”
Robinson was a tackle-evading machine at Texas, forcing 212 missed tackles during his college career. Robinson also recorded over 2,300 yards after contact. He churns through contact and powers through defenders. A true every-down-back Robinson would turbocharge Detroit’s backfield.
With D’Andre Swift on thin ice with an extensive injury history, the Lions could cut bait with Swift after 2023 and get Robinson to become the lead back. With pace, power, solid hands, and a desire to plow through defenders, Robinson feels like a perfect fit.
Mid Round Gem - Jack Campbell (Linebacker, Iowa)
The Lions still need linebacker help. They have re-signed veteran Alex Anzalone and have budding youngster Malcolm Rodriguez on the roster. However, with 3rd-year player Derrick Barnes yet to catch fire and two special teamers in Jalen Reeves Maybin and Anthony Pittman. Iowa’s Jack Campbell would provide long-term depth, talent, and leadership to Detroit’s linebacking corps.
A three-down linebacker, Campbell is an aggressive, downhill thumper. He analyzes skillfully and keys the run with a high IQ. Campbell owns a high motor, plays fast to the ball, and is relentless. The Dick Butkus award-winning backer stood out at Iowa as he propelled their defense to the top in 2022.
At 6-foot-5 and nearly 250 pounds, Campbell has the weight, size, and power to play linebacker. And his 3-cone time of 6.74 was more than respectable. A former captain, Campbell is a born and bred leader. In Brad Holmes’ words, Campbell is a pure football player.
Late Round Sleeper - Aidan O'Connell (Quarterback, Purdue)
The Lions’ backup quarterback situation is a mess. After flirtations with David Blough, Tim Boyle, Nate Sudfeld, and Josh Dobbs, the Lions have to settle on a quarterback that can stay on the roster and fill in for Jared Goff, if necessary.
Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell is stylistically similar to Goff as he is accurate, competent, and owns a solid IQ. With Ben Johnson as an offensive coordinator, Mark Brunel as quarterback coach, and a friendly offensive scheme to learn, O’Connell could be a little hidden gem for the Lions.
Draft In Full:
Round 1 – Jalen Carter (Defensive Tackle, Georgia)
Round 1 – Bijan Robinson (Running Back, Texas)
Round 2 – Jack Campbell (Linebacker, Iowa)
Round 2 – Dalton Kincaid (Tight End, Utah)
Round 3 – Mazi Smith (Defensive Tackle, Michigan)
Round 5 – Aidan O’Connell (Quarterback, Purdue)
Round 6 – Juice Scruggs (Offensive Guard, Penn State)
Round 6 – Brandon Kipper (Offensive State, Oregon State)
Tayyib Abu
NFL Contributor
TAYYIB IS AN AVID NFL FAN AND, AS A FOLLOWER OF THE DETROIT LIONS, IS A PERMANENT RESIDENT IN THE HONOLULU BLUE HEARTBREAK HOTEL. WRITING FOOTBALL ARTICLES SINCE 2019, TAYYIB LOVES EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SPORT EXCEPT THAT WINS ARE NOT A QB STAT. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @TAYYIBABU1