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Speaker 2: What's going on, everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Detroit Lions Podcast. This one with me, Russ Brown, and Jeff Risdon here on the Detroit Lions podcast. Jeff, my man, how the hell are you?

Speaker 3: I am ready to talk about some draft, man. Anytime I get to talk NFL draft, especially with someone like you, like, I'm I'm fired up, dude.

Speaker 2: Yeah. No. I'm with you. I I love doing the draft stuff. It's always a a fun time. Everybody already knows a a lot about how our paths cross and especially our extensive research on the NFL draft and and trying to connect the dots of the greatest mystery that is the NFL draft. I love everything about it. I promise I before I die, I will have a perfect 32 for 32. I that's my goal in my life. Never gonna happen, but

Speaker 3: That's asking a lot. I think the best I ever did was 18. Man. Like, last year, I think I got 12.

Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. The last cup the last two years have been somewhat of a grind. It feels like less and less information or less and less false in or more and more false information, less and less accurate information has been coming out. And, it always it always creates interesting conversations. And I always wonder is, like, part of that, like, AI generate AI generated stuff? Because I don't know what's real or fake anymore. It's

Speaker 3: stuff's all. I I will say, I had a conversation earlier this week. One of one of my old Browns colleagues put out a thing where he talked about and he he examined it, and the mock drafts that are coming out of the combine wind up being more accurate historically than the final mock drafts. And that's certainly been true for me too. So I'm trying to that sounds weird. I'm trying to pay less attention this year, because I think it it throws me off, and and stick with what I what I heard down in Indy. I have heard quite a few things on the Pro Day Circuit, so we'll, you know, I'll intersperse those into there as well. But, you know, I I really wanna know what the lines are gonna do with 17 and then 50. That that's what we're gonna talk about today.

Speaker 2: Yes. We are. We we are gonna we are gonna take a look at the perfect pair for the Detroit lions at, kind of a consensus thought through the NFL draft cycle up to this point for the Detroit lions has been all about, offensive tackle, defensive end, and how all of that is going to be. And that's what everybody thinks it's gonna be at seventeen and fifty, one or the other, and then go get the other position. So we're gonna kinda play the perfect pair game of kind of, I guess, more of like, would you rather have player x at 17 and then player y at at 50 or what what's that all gonna look like? So I'm gonna turn this one over to you to kinda jump start us here at at pick pick 17. I almost said picks, I don't even know what I was gonna say there. But, at pick 17, what are you what are you thinking?

Speaker 3: So the the thing you have to weigh here, and that's the sort of the premise behind this, is if you're gonna get an offensive tackle at 17, that means you're taking an edge at 50. And do you like the options for edge at 50 better than you like the options for offensive tackle at 50? And we're we're we're presuming how the board plays out. I I think there's like, even at 17, I don't think there's any way Francis Mowenow is there. I don't think there's any way go to the other side of the ball. I don't think Ruben Bayne's gonna be there. I don't think David Bailey's gonna be there. You know, your rule so you cross those guys off. I'm gonna say that Monroe Freeling isn't gonna be there either at seventeen just because it it really feels like he's gonna be gone. And I could be mistaken on that. And and, by the way, I know he's your dream pick at 17. I don't wanna I don't wanna squash your dream there because, like, he'd he'd be a fit. Like, if you told me that the lions were getting Monroe Frieling at 17 and Malachi Lawrence at 50, I think we're I think we're done with the show.

Speaker 2: Yeah. Right? In a in a perfect world, that's that's what it is. Right?

Speaker 3: Like Yeah.

Speaker 2: Reeling at 17 would be amazing. But I guess that would be my question to you on on Monroe Freeling. I mean, I I know you're not on board with the thought of it, but I I think we could agree that he's probably going as early as six to your Cleveland or to the Cleveland Browns, not your Cleveland Browns, but to those Cleveland Browns.

Speaker 3: I I'm I'm now accused of hating the Cleveland Browns, which is probably actually closer to the reality. It's it's hard when your hometown team is not one that you like. Just is. Yeah. So I am I'm of the mind that he's gonna go be gone before seventeen. I just am. That's that's where I'm at. Yeah. But I you know? So that so let let's throw out the let's throw out the the the options at seventeen for offensive tackles. Who might be there? Think you're gonna have Spencer Fano, I think, will be there. I think Caleb Lomu will be there. I think Blake Miller will be there. Caden Proctor is probably fifty fifty that he's gonna be there for our our sake of argument. Although, I don't think either of us really likes him. We'll put him in here because I that'd be he's I do think that the lions will have interest in him, Whether I like it or not, that's that's what they do. You think, Heenacker is a viable pick at 17, or do you think he's gonna be closer to 50?

Speaker 2: I mean, I could see them liking him, but, like, if you were to tell me that you're passing on Caleb Lomond for that, I would be alright. What do what are we doing? Because Lomu to me is is ready made. I think he could go and play right now and probably play at a decently high level at left tackle from the jump. So I lean towards Lomu through just those names. I don't know if Max would be the guy maybe in a trade down in a perfect world, but I think he's more closer. Like, him and Blake Miller to me are closer to, like, that 30 to 40 range than at pick 17 just because I think there is still a lot of refinement needed with both players, specifically with Blake Miller. It's all with his lower body. With Max, it's more so just getting stronger and learn football. Right? So, like, the footwork with Max is unbelievable from from Arizona State. His footwork is insane. So I lean towards Caleb Lomu if from that list of players. I would I mean, Fanu would be maybe I'm wrong for discrediting Fanu. I just I look at Caleb Lomu, and I just he screams Detroit lion. He just perfect like, when you think of, like, creating a bill of some player, he's, like, the perfect kinda guy. No character issues from anything we've seen. 21 years of age. They've been trying to get younger this off season. He played the position that they desperately need. He could he's athletic enough to play either spot. Tons of flexibility. Good pass protection. Strong run, run contributor. I love Caleb Lomu at 17. I'd I'd secretly am not mad at that pick at all.

Speaker 3: I'm with you on that. Of of the guys that I listed there, he would be my preference. And and part of it too, he's a natural left tackle. That means you don't have to move from right tackle where he's the world's greatest player. Yeah. And not that he wouldn't be that at the left side, but you have a known commodity there, and you're making less offensive. Look. We already are working in a new center who is coming from an outside scheme, an outside system. I prefer as much continuity as possible. That doesn't mean that, you know, if they take Blake Miller or, Fano, who I think probably needs to stay on the right side if he's staying outside, like, I don't have a problem with that. But in a perfect world, get your left tackle, you know, and Yeah. And not have to worry about it.

Speaker 2: Do you think any of those guys could play, like, would be just better suited as a guard? Like, with Fanu, for example, so many people have just bought into this center conversation with him and, like, instantly, oh, he's playing inside because teams had him snap at center. I don't know if playing seven or eight snaps at the combine justifies you as an interior player. I mean, that's just from my preference and experience.

Speaker 3: I I you know, the it seems like it's a cop out because guys have done it. And, like, Brian Parker is doing it this year, the guy from Duke. Yeah. And he's he's embraced it, like, fully. Like, he's I'll I'll play center. That's good. The the the guy who was before him at Duke, like, his name escapes me, is doing that for the Colts now. Like, okay. I get it. But start him a tackle first and see if it works. I I would rather and this is just me, and I don't know if the lions feel this way or not. But my like, we talked about Max from Arizona State. I'm not sure that he's ready to start in 2026, and I want a guy who is ready to start in 2026. Because, like, nothing against Larry Borom, but I don't want him as a starting tackle week one. I'd I'd much prefer him to be a swing tackle. Or if somebody gets hurt, he steps in.

Speaker 1: He he can in a in

Speaker 3: a bench play guard as well. I love him to be the sixth lineman. Like, I'm good with that.

Speaker 1: And we

Speaker 3: we probably also have to preface this, and we you and I have talked about this on and off the air. What are they doing with Miles Frasier? Where do they envision him? Do they see him like I do as a tackle, or do they see him like he was at LSU as a guard? And we haven't gotten any answers on that. And even, like, behind the scenes, I have asked, and I don't think they really know yet. They're they're gonna kinda see how that plays out this year. So, yeah, all those guys that move positions inside, outside, one of the guys we have to talk about at 50 is probably Jennings Dunker, the right tackle from Iowa who a lot of people think is going to have to kick inside. And I don't I'm not really sold on that either. You know? So that switching position things, I would much rather just

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Speaker 3: Caleb Loomu, 17. Complete left tackle. I'm good.

Speaker 2: Right. Simplify it. Keep it simple. Right? Like and I think that's the thing too. Like, don't overcomplicate it, and I think that's my thing with, like, may maybe that's just my my issue sometimes with, like, the draft process where every single I just feel like too many players get this label of, like, oh, top 50 player, top 50 player, second round pick. I take them in in the second round because we can't get them in the fourth round. I don't always agree with that. Like, for example, Jennings Dunker. I think we are both in agreement that he's probably not a second round player. May maybe you feel differently. But

Speaker 3: No. He No. He's he's he's number 87 on my board. So

Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah. Like, he's not a second round player. He might force the lions to take him because of, you know, how their board stands as far as draft capital goes. But, like, just because you watch a guy doesn't necessarily mean they're a second round pick all of the time. Like, you can have a realistic grade and evaluation and say, hey. This guy's foot speed stinks. This guy's hand placement is really bad. This guy inside might not work or at tackle is

Speaker 3: not gonna work. His knee bone is so bad.

Speaker 2: That's the problem with dunker, and I'm glad you bring him up because I guess that would be the follow-up question. If we pivot away from offensive tackle at 17 and we go to defensive end, and we'll get to the defensive end stuff here in a minute. But staying in round two at pick 50 for other offensive tackles, Obviously, we don't know what the board is is going to look like. We think, you know, Max from Arizona State, Blake Miller from Clemson, those guys are gonna be gone. But Yeah. A Jennings dunker could be there. Some of these other guys could be there. You mentioned Jennings Dunker. I'll kinda let you lead with him and and then kinda take it from there. What's your evaluation on him, and what's your viewpoint there at 50 specifically?

Speaker 3: I'd, I hear that's way too early for him. His feet are just so bad, and I I worry like, everybody wants to move him in the guard. Well, the things that he's not good at at tackle that you would normally hide by moving into guard are actually worse at guard for him in this offense. You need a guy who can drive block. Well, one of the one of the biggest criticisms I have of him is when he's engaged, his feet stop. Like, that that doesn't work. We've seen that. That that's Coyote Alsheka. He that that that was his big problem. Like, big strong guy, gets a nice punch and nice surge and conceal, but he can't drive anybody because his feet don't work. That's that's what that's what Tucker is too. So I'm

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 3: I'm really not a huge fan of his. Like, the aesthetic is fantastic. He certainly fits the grit. I mean, who doesn't freaking love that red mullet and the the the but I I don't think he's that good of a football player. And I'm looking at the other tackle options that might be there at 50. Like, Caleb Tiernan from Northwestern. K. He's a solid player. Like, I'd be okay with that, but there's a pretty big drop between Blake Miller and him, in my opinion. I don't know if you agree with that.

Speaker 2: I I agree a 100%. And Caleb Tiernan was one of those guys that I, like no matter how much I watched the film, I and I tried so hard to, like, push the envelope to try to be like, I love this guy. I really wanna like him. And I just couldn't fall in love with his game. There was just, like, something off, like, maybe a little too stiff or didn't lack enough bend or flexibility within his lower half that I didn't like. He that said, he screams Green Bay Packer to me. Like, he is just plug and play. Yeah.

Speaker 3: Green You're right. He does. I didn't know about that. That's a good call.

Speaker 2: And they have so much day two capital. Like, I'm just fully expecting it, like, 52 or 57, whatever those picks are for them. That's the guy that I just see them taking. But, like, outside of Caleb Tiernan, is it is it Gage Casey from Boise State? Is it Jude Bowery from Boston College? These are guys that I don't think you'd take at pick 50. I think these are guys that you would take at in the 80 to a 100 range or even obviously a little bit later. And that even opens up the conversation of, like, Lions have a lot of, you know, fourth and fifth round capital. Is a guy like Markelle Bell from Miami. Is that a player that they would just maybe consider because of his size? They did it with Geo Manu, and it didn't work. It's not necessarily working out. But Markelle Bell, I think there's some intrigue there, I think. Not from maybe the lion's side, but just from a talent perspective.

Speaker 3: Yeah. He is huge. The dude from Memphis, who I profiled the other. Like, he he fits the bill. Is it like a fourth rounder? That that guy can play.

Speaker 2: Yes. He can, dude. Travis Pearl from Memphis.

Speaker 3: Yes. Thank you. I I knew his name was Travis. I couldn't think of his last name. I'm thinking Travis Barker. I'm like, that's the drummer for Blink one eighty two. That's not the same guy.

Speaker 2: Yeah. I understand. Alike. They look nothing alike. Not even close.

Speaker 3: So that opens up like, if you're sold that you can get that guy with when he or someone like that, Austin Barber from Florida fits into that conversation as well. In the fourth round of Demetrius Crownover, who's from Texas a and m, who is either going to wind up being great or not even, like, make it through his rookie camp. And then either neither one would surprise me. High variance I want to avoid high variance players. I'm then there's a lot of them in this draft. He's won actually, I think Dunker is one too. Like, if you feel like you can get that guy in with your fourth round pick or combining your fourth round picks and moving up and in, that opens up your second round to getting a safety or a corner. Or if you wanna really be proactive on your offensive line and get a a guard there, like, okay. But that that would open things up. But I I'm not too I'm not you know, then you can get your edge first. Or Yeah. You could take Dylan. You could take Caleb Downs if he starts to fall. You can take I don't think Sonny Styles is gonna fall, but maybe maybe you fall in love with an off ball linebacker and drop I I that would open up so much more if that's the path that you wanna take.

Speaker 2: Yeah. No. It it does. And I I kinda have two follow-up questions. One, I'll just kinda ask and then the other one I'll ask and it'll kinda lead us into the defensive end stuff. But the first question is, you know, we mentioned like packaging, like, the fourth round pick and a fifth round pick, whatever the case may be and potentially moving up somewhere on day two. I think we are all kind of I don't wanna say assuming that's gonna happen but we all know Brad Holmes and he loves getting busy in the third round And there's there's something about that round three that he likes, and he wants to dance, and he wants to find teams that are gonna dance. Obviously, it takes two to tango. But that said, do you think moving up is a possibility? I mean, it seems like a pretty good likelihood.

Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. He he does it more than he doesn't. Yeah. Whether it's just law or Manu or Broderick Martin. Even going back to, like, the first draft, they moved around a little bit. The the Kirby came from an an acquired pick. So, yeah, I can see them. Brad will be one of those guys, and I think he's and he talked about this. It wasn't last year. It was the year before when he got Manu. And he was talking about, like, I wouldn't be able to rest comfortably knowing that I didn't take him because I wanted him so much. Like, I didn't want it to go into Saturday or Friday night taking the chance that I wouldn't be able to get him on Saturday. Like, it it would've would've kept me up. Yeah. And, yeah, I can I can absolutely see that happening this year? So, you know, I I put it in all the the ready things that I do. Like, just because they don't have a third round pick right now does not mean they're not gonna make a third round pick. They'll be very good at the picks that they've got. Over just in the in the NFL, in the last four drafts, over half of all day four picks have been traded. With the lions, it's more than that. In fact, last year, every pick that they made on day three except one came from a traded pick. So don't get comfortable with the the the spots they're in now.

Speaker 2: Yeah. No. Absolutely. Guys, that's why he is Jeff Rizdon. That is why you guys need to follow him at Jeff Rizdon over on Twitter or x, whatever we call it these days. And, of course, you can find me at Russ NFL draft. Smash the follow button. That leaves me to my follow-up question of, like, you know, in I guess to kinda just add real quick off of what you said. I'm with you. I think moving into that third round is is a strong likelihood with Brad Holmes just because of who he is and what he's done and and how he kinda goes about things. But it it really wouldn't surprise me if, like, that move up was to go get some type of defensive back, whether that is a Bud Clark from TCU who we've talked about a great deal on this show many times. Yes, please. Yes, please. Yes. We talked about him a little bit before the show. Keonte Scott ran an official four two five forty yard dash, at the, Miami. Miami Miami Pro Day there. So I would I I don't think he'll be available in the third round. I I think he's gonna end up being a top 50 pick when it's all said and done, but I could see them getting aggressive and moving up for a guy like that just because he kinda fits the Lions' grit in the way he plays. But that that leads me to this question of, like, players falling. You've mentioned Caleb Downs. You mentioned a couple of different guys. We don't necessarily know who could fall, but just off of what maybe some of the tea leaves say, do you think there's a chance that Ruben Bane falls into the lap of the Lions at 17? I don't think so, but

Speaker 3: I don't think so either. That that's falling a long way. Like, I can like, there's a lot of talk that he's either gonna be number two or number three, and I can see worlds where he's not there. But look at look at who's picking above the lions and look at their needs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are picking fifteenth. They are screaming, screaming for a number one and a number two pass rusher on that team. I have a really hard time thinking that that Jason Light would pass on him.

Speaker 2: I'm I'm with you. And even like the, you know, the New Orleans Saints, I know there's so much love for Jeremiah Love there even though they,

Speaker 1: you know, they they added, And we're live on match day as Doug reaches for a Buffalo wing. He's got it. Oh, Oh, and he's gone for a can of Pepsi too. What a finish. There's no doubt about it. It just tastes better. Matchdays deserve Pepsi.

Speaker 2: A running back in the off season, they still have Alvin Kamara, you know, and all the moves that they've made, but there's still that love for, you know, the the possibility of a pass rusher there in New Orleans. Obviously, I could see the Chiefs get getting Reuben Bain. Like, he just kinda screams Kansas City chief in a sense.

Speaker 3: You know, he he's a lot like George Karloftos. He's like, like, a more souped up version of George Karloftos, but that guy's been like, he's been a good player for them, but they need more.

Speaker 2: Yeah. Exactly. And they lost some guys, and they've got some turnover on the defensive side of the football. So, like, the Chiefs, I just I look at them and I think either a right tackle or they're going defense. That's just what it's gonna be. But for the Lions' sake and the conversation that we're having here, defensive ends at 17, we don't think Reuben Bain will be there. I I think we can both agree David Bailey and Arvell Reese will be gone as well.

Speaker 3: Yes. Yes. But it Absolutely.

Speaker 2: It open it opens up a very interesting conversation. Like, Kendrick Falk is obviously gonna be a player we talk a lot about at 17 because he just fits the bill of the lions.

Speaker 3: Oh, yeah.

Speaker 2: But who are some other guys? And you can obviously start with Kendrick Falk.

Speaker 3: You know, Faulk, to me and I I've I'm on the record as this. If Kendrick Faulk is there at 17, I don't think the lions consider any other options. He is just so perfect for what they want at a position that they happen to need. I mean, aside from the fact that he's, he's a physical clone of Marcus Davenport, except he's healthy. Like, his game the way he plays, his headiness, the fact that he's a team captain, the fact that he's 20 years old. Like Yeah. Like, come on. They're and by the way, that's not necessarily me endorsing the that pick. I wouldn't I I wouldn't be upset with it, but, like, there are others that I would prefer. But it it it reminds me of when the Panay draft happened, and we knew that they love Panay. But there was also Rayshawn Slater out there. And I I actually graded Rayshawn just just a tick higher than than Panay. They they were my they were right next to each other on the big board. But it was very clear that they would prefer Panay Sewell over Rayshawn Slater because of the the playing mentality and the style and the upside that was there. And I think that all that comes into play again when they're considering other dudes that might be there at 20, whether it's Akeem Mazador, who I don't think they're gonna be as high on as a lot of people want them to be, in part because of the age, in part because, like, the way he won in college, it's gonna be more difficult for a guy with his athleticism and his size to win that way in the NFL. You know, basically, like, you know, the ghost leg and move inside or an inside swim or spin. Yeah. It it's not gonna be as easy for him to do that in the NFL, aside from the fact that he's gonna be playing against guys who are actually his own age now instead of,

Speaker 2: you know,

Speaker 3: beating up on young kids. He's he'll be 25 this summer. The the guy he brought up, Keontay Scott, the his fellow Miami one of the reasons why the Miami Hurricanes were so good last year, Keontay Scott's gonna be 26. Like, Carson Beck's gonna be 25. Like, all these dudes are old. They they were seasoned. That was a conscious effort on their part at by God at Work. They had a great team. Fantastic year. So but who else would be there at at defensive end?

Speaker 2: I mean, you're looking at TJ Parker, Cassius Howell.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Park I don't think I don't think Howell's gonna be their cup of tea because he's he's light. He's flighty. He's not he tries hard against the run, but he's just not that good at it. Parker is somebody that I do think they would consider. And I've talked about him coming out of the combine. I thought he did a fantastic job in in both be in front of the camera and behind the scenes in Indianapolis and explaining why he wasn't as productive in 2025 as he was in 2024. And he did so very diplomatically without throwing his Clemson coaches and team under the bus, and he could've. And it would have been warranted because it was true. Mhmm. But, you know, a mature guy. He's a father. He was a team captain. He does win in the way that the Lions want him to. He can play the run very well. There's a lot to like about TJ Parker too. I don't know I don't know where you're at on TJ.

Speaker 2: Oh, I I love him. He I mean, he reminds me and I know this will probably rub people the wrong way or make them run for the hills, but he does remind me a lot of Chris Braswell when he was coming out of Alabama, but I was a big Chris Braswell guy. I I love pass rushers that try to turn speed to power. They like to go to the long arm. They they use their body and their skill set that their body provides them to their advantage. And TJ Parker understands how to do that. He still gotta work on some things, hand refinement, putting together a more defined pass rush plan. But to get a guy at 17 and you get him to kinda plug and play, he's ready to go. He's he's NFL ready, and that's what I love about his ability is that you could play him from day one.

Speaker 3: Russ, he was the number one pick in most mock drafts of or top I shouldn't say that. The first defensive player off the board in almost every preseason mock draft. And he didn't have a great season. He didn't have a bad season, but he didn't necessarily live up to the hype nor did anybody at Clemson for that matter.

Speaker 2: Yeah. That's that was gonna be my follow-up. Nobody did. Kate Klubnick, you name it.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Avion Terrell. I like him, by the way.

Speaker 2: I'm with you. If they took him at 17, I wouldn't be upset about

Speaker 3: him. Either. And I do do we do you think that they would do that?

Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting. He's one of the few corners I think they met with outside of maybe Delaine,

Speaker 1: and I don't think Delaine

Speaker 2: after today, Delaine's off the board.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Delaine's gone.

Speaker 2: He there's no like, I think he could go as early as four or five, to be honest with you. I maybe even three, but, yeah, no. I I don't think, Evian Tyrell would be one that would make me, really, like, second guess anything or be be upset or pissed off. I would be happy with a guy that I I generally think is gonna be a better pro than he is a college player because of the fluidity and the competitiveness that he plays with. I mean, he is just so damn fluid. He is gonna run routes for receivers. That ability to mirror and match is really different. So I I'm a big fan. Sure. He's my he's my CB two for people out there. I mean, I know that's probably a little rich with Jermaine McCoy and Colton, Colton Hood and all that, but I I love Eviantorell.

Speaker 3: I'm with you on that. So so let's say TJ Parker is a viable candidate at 17, and then you would throw in an offensive tackle or at 50, or you're taking a guy like, I don't know, Jalen Kilgore or, my life's spacing out on these day two defensive backs, but there's there's some really good ones.

Speaker 2: AJ Holes. Yeah.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. There's a few guys that you Keonte Scott comes into play there.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 3: I know I'm not this high on him, but I can see the Lions loving Davis and a big Nissan from Ohio State as an outside corner on day two. And then, like we talked about with the offensive tackle, that's where you go in and you get your Travis Barker, your Markel Bell, or somebody like that. And you grit your teeth and start Larry Borom in 2025 or 2026, and hope that one of these guys develops in the 2027 and or Borom lives up to the the potential in his contract because they clearly see something in him and that you go with that. And that that's sort of where, you know, when we were talking about, you know, doing this sort of show. That's the kind of thing. Like, you're gonna have all these different options, and I I kinda wanna see, like, where you're at and where the people watching are at and listening to this are at on the combinations of that. Like, if you take Terrell there or, you know, if if you take TJ Parker or if you take Akim Masador as 17, will you be okay enough with the offensive line options later to justify that? And Yeah. Just I I wanted to talk through with you because you know how I think and I know how you think for the most part. Yeah. And I I kinda want offensive tackle.

Speaker 2: That's where I was leading to my next comment. Like, just going through the list, we had a lot of hesitation after we got through Kendrick Faulk because we Yes. Can all agree that Rhys, Bailey, and Bane, those guys are gone. You take fault, that's fine if he's there. He might be gone. We mentioned Tampa Bay at fifteen. Why wouldn't they take him?

Speaker 3: Yeah. So The new one's at what the they're they're nine, I think. Cincinnati certainly will have interest there that he's a he's got Cincinnati Bengal written all over him too. So there's a very fair chance Kildreth Falck will be gone. Yeah.

Speaker 2: And that and that's your point to, you know, mock drafts from earlier in the year after the combine, the most probably most commonly mocked player at 10 to Cincinnati was probably Keldrick Falk coming out of the combine. So if we go They

Speaker 3: have no use for him, but that's what they do.

Speaker 2: Right. Exactly. Because that's they're the Bengals. So, like, fault could very well be gone. And then you you then get to kind of that next tier of Messador and Parker. And Messador would probably make a lot of sense for Tampa Bay. Parker would make sense, but then it kind of dries up. Like, I don't know if Zion Young at 17 makes sense. I don't think the Lions want anything to do with our Mason Thomas for people out there.

Speaker 3: Their style of rusher.

Speaker 2: Not this.

Speaker 3: I don't think I think Zion Young the fact that he was, integrally involved in the tunnel thing at Michigan, And, oh, by the way, he got a DUI in December. Like, I I don't think they're gonna consider him, honestly. Fair or not, I just I don't think that they wanna deal with that sort of thing.

Speaker 2: No. You're absolutely right. And, I mean, like, think about that for people out there. They have Caleb Lomu or R Mason Thomas. They're they're gonna take Caleb Lomu. I mean, I just it is what it is. Like, when you gotta check things off and you gotta do a pros and cons list, you get through that pros and cons list and our Mason Thomas just has a little bit more cons than, a player like Caleb Lomou. So I think when you get to pick 50, it gets really interesting at defensive end because as we pivot away from guys that pick 17, we didn't get to 50. And as we mentioned, R Mason Thomas is not gonna be their style of guy. Zion Young will probably be gone, but is Gabe Jakos, Malachi Lawrence, Derrick Moore, one of those three or obviously the Penn State kid that I knew you're gonna bring up. How does it how does this turn at 50 at DN?

Speaker 3: Yeah. Dan, I did a Sutton, the way he killed his pro day, and he is definitely a lion style. He's a crush the can type rusher. He is he has experience being a complimentary rusher. Remember, they had they had Abdul Carter in the other side. Like

Speaker 1: Yeah.

Speaker 3: Chop he played with Chop Robinson as well. Like, he understands what it's like to be the number two. I think there's a heel in that. I really do. I don't think he's worth the fiftieth pick in in my world, but he certainly makes sense for the Lions. All those guys make sense. That's a little rich for me for Derek Moore, but I wouldn't I wouldn't hate it, especially if you're getting to Caleb Lobo in the first round. So yeah. I know we talked a little off the air before we got on this about Dan and I and, like, he is, he's got lines written all over him, doesn't he?

Speaker 2: He does. He he really does. And I think I might have messaged you, like, a week or two ago when I was watching his film. And and just every single snap, I was like, is this guy not a Detroit lion already? Like, am I missing something?

Speaker 3: Yeah.

Speaker 2: Ran a four six three forty, six nine in the three cone, six five, two fifty six, thirty three and a half inch arms, big hands. He he understands

Speaker 3: Very good run defender. Got good eyes. He can get off blocks. Like

Speaker 2: Yep. Yeah. He squeezes blocks down. Like, he just kinda screams it. And and I guess that's the thing. Like, the Lions don't care about what these mock draft boards say, what our board say. Their board is their board. And if and if DDS is that guy, by all means, they're gonna go out and get their guy. And even if that means in a small trade down, maybe that's how they get some additional day two capital somehow, because there's so many teams with capital. But it it it's really interesting, and I I'm glad we're having the conversation because I lean towards Gabe Jacas out of Illinois. I would sprint to the podium at 50 if it were me. He's he's just he screams the lions. Right? Just because of Yeah. Kind of the power rusher that he is, good against the run, team captain, clean bill of health, and I I I love his skill set.

Speaker 3: With him on against the run, so there's a lot of people that are still under the perception that he's a terrible run defender. He was earlier in his career. Illinois used to yank him. That did change last year. Like, I I wouldn't call him a great run defender yet, but he got so much better at it because he he learned that he had to. I like guys to go back to Blake Miller real quick, One of the things that he he he was not good, he he would open the gate too much as a right tackle. He learned how to fix that. Like, if you just read scouting reports from last summer or early even early in the season, Like, that's not who this guy is anymore. And and that's that's the way Gabe from Illinois that that's exactly how he is now. Like, that information is still out there. And for people that didn't watch a lot of Illinois or or, you know, reading from scouting reports even back in November, Like, that's not who he is. That's not who he was. Like, he he did grow his game. And the lions do like guys who continue to to keep growing their game. That's why I think even though Miller's old or older, he's actually not that much older than Murrow Freeling and has a lot more experience. I think that's one of the reasons why they would certainly consider him as 17 as well.

Speaker 2: I yeah. I'm with you. If if they walked away with DDS from Penn State or Gabe Jocas out of Illinois, and if I'm saying that wrong, my apologies, folks.

Speaker 3: I believe it's Jocas.

Speaker 2: Jocas? Well

Speaker 3: I think so.

Speaker 2: The j is not silent in my head. Okay? So the j is there. Malachi Lawrence would be the last one here at 50.

Speaker 3: He's so good. He's so good.

Speaker 2: I don't think he's gonna be there. Like, he's screwed.

Speaker 3: I don't either. I have I've talked with a couple people that think he's going in the first, which and this is one of those like, he played at UCF and, like, I know I know, like, fizz like, they're they're they're one of the five biggest schools in the country, but they don't play in a power conference per se. So Yeah. They get lumped. It's like, oh, that's it's not a big they don't they don't play the competition. Like, if he played at Georgia or Texas or Ohio State, like, he's a top 25 player. Like, people would be upset that he's not with with the way that he's played. So I I do think that the world is waking up to the fact that he's probably gonna be a top 40 pick, I would guess. So be nice to have him at 50, though.

Speaker 2: Yeah. And when you talk through it, like, as we talk about some of those other pass rushers at 17, like, if TJ Parker is not for you but Malachi Lawrence is, a team like Dallas, for example, at 20, if they like Lawrence over Parker, they're gonna take Malachi Lawrence at 20. The Philadelphia Eagles, same thing at at pick 23. They could use a pass rusher. They lost Jalen Phillips. They could use a player like that. Obviously, you know, the the the Browns have two first round picks. If they go tackle at six, do they consider a pass rusher opposite of Miles Garrett? At 24, you don't know. I mean, the Buffalo Bills, we've got there's so many teams that could use everybody needs pass rushers. So that's why I lean towards getting and I know I'm kind of putting my foot in my mouth, but that's why I lean towards offensive tackle. Let the run of the pass rushers go. Don't force your hand there, and then you kinda decipher the board from there. And if it's Gabe Yacaus or if it's Malachi Lawrence or, DDS, whoever it is at pick 50. I'm I'm all for it. I don't know if that's how you see it. I know the I'm

Speaker 3: I'm with you on that. I'd I would much rather take the chance on the first round offensive tackle and see what you can get on day two with the pass rush. Because the pass rush you're getting at 50 is better than the offensive lineman that you're gonna get at 50.

Speaker 2: Yeah. Do you think at any point as we kinda wrap up shop here, do you think at any point at pick 50, there's any type of surprise where maybe they do go running back like Kajedarian Price as we've commonly seen mocked out of Notre Dame?

Speaker 3: Look. With Brad Holmes, anything's possible. I would think that at that spot, that's an area where, like, if Jacob Rodriguez, the linebacker from Texas Tech falls there, I could see them biting on him. Or it would have to be, like, a specific player, I think, more than, like, a position. I'm trying to think of other guys that would be, like, that would make sense. Their price price absolutely would make sense. Would they take, not the not the first tight end. Kenyan Sadiq's gonna be gone. But would they take Oscar Delp from Georgia there? Would they take Max Claire there? Yeah. I hope not, but you can't rule it out. Right?

Speaker 2: No. That that and that's why we're having the conversation just to kinda open people's mind of, like, hey. When you're doing a mock draft, it's not always gonna be the same thing at pick 17. It's not always gonna be the same thing at pick 50. Because if we're feeling this way about certain players like, Kendrick Falk as we talked about, 20 years old, team captain, well put together. If we're seeing it, you know NFL teams are seeing it. So that's always worth having in the conversation and in the back of your mind, but I think it was a really great conversation. I'm glad we didn't go too much into detail about Caden Proctor at 17 because I wouldn't be mad, but I just would not be as I would rather have the corner of Avion Terrell Yeah. Or or Jermaine McCoy or something rather than taking Caden Proctor who can't stand on his own two feet and pass protect. So

Speaker 3: Yeah. I'm not I'm not a fan. Just not. But I I I talked to somebody after a pro day last week who insists that he's going in the top 10. It's what the NFL does. Not but, like, people love to criticize people like you and I for making mistakes. NFL teams do it too. There's a whole lot of busts out there. There really are. Yeah. Not saying that we're better than them, but they're not a lot better than us. That's quite frankly. History proves that. You know, somebody took Zach Wilson number two. He got fired, thankfully. Somebody took Anthony Richardson where they took him. Like Fourth. Yeah. Somebody took JJ McCarthy really high and got fired. These things happen. Yeah. NFL teams make mistakes too.

Speaker 2: Yep. Yep. No. Absolutely. But it's always a fun exercise trying to put together, the the pairing of pick seventeen and and fifty just because it it those are the two picks where it feels like that's gonna provide the most immediate impact. I think it's pretty clear just off of free agency, offensive tackle and defensive end are the two positions of need for the lions. And I know they don't draft off of need, but I think it would be a complete malpractice irresponsible general managing of Brad Holmes in the scouting department to go any other direction in those two positions unless, of course, it is like absolute no brainer Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs. One of those guys is there at pick 17. Outside of that, I don't I don't see in any scenario where where you're drafting anything but offensive tackle or defensive end at seventeen and fifty.

Speaker 3: I'm with you there.

Speaker 2: That's what we're Cool. You got it. Yeah. Let's hope. We'll obviously keep breaking more of this down on a for Jeff's sake, daily basis. For me, couple times a week's sake here, the Detroit Lions podcast. You got anything else to add?

Speaker 3: No. This was fun. We we gotta do we gotta keep going, and then we're gonna have another round table where all of us get together. Unfortunately, schedules just clash last week, but we'll get Graham. We'll get Bish in. We'll get Chris in, and we'll we'll have a a Motley Crue fun session.

Speaker 2: That we will. We will get it all in. We will we will do it all right here on the Detroit Lions podcast. If you guys want more, of course, like I said, follow us on Twitter or x at Russ NFL draft and at Jeff Rizdon. And, of course, you guys can rate, review, and subscribe to the Detroit Lions subscribe to the Detroit Lions Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms. He's Jeff Rizdon. I'm Russ Brown. This has been the Detroit Lions Podcast.