NFL offseasons simulations and NFL Mock Draft games

[jaadam4]

Anybody still interested in Mike Evans at all? He's just finished his 10th straight (out of 10 years played) 1k + yard season. Still a huge threat and the kind of player the Lions lack offensively. I dunno

Hell yes. CJGJ was absolutely correct when he spoke about the arsenal of WRs they have in TB. All they need is a QB. I don't think we have the money for Evans considering all the help at CB1 we need and the upcoming extensions

But if Evans could fit into all of it then it would be a no brainer. Can you imagine our offense near the goal line with our OL, LaPorta, Evans and the running game? That would be unstoppable.

[Mainevent]

Evans would be awesome. I'm not sure he leaves the Bucs, but if he does it will likely be for a big short term deal. And that's probably money that is better spent by the Lions on CB, pass rush and OL.

[chemiclord]

For the right price? Sure!

Evans is going to ask for far more than the right price for the Lions, and he's going to get it from someone.

[ghandi]

Danielle Hunter picked the right year to be an unrestricted free agent didnt he? Coming off a career high 16.5 sacks...I doubt he ends up a Lion...He will be 30 in October and unless he is willing to take a 1 or 2 year deal, which I highly doubt, I dont see it happening....i'm thinking Jonah Jackson gets more than 5 mil a year but maybe he takes that with a multiyear deal and more guaranteed money.....Someone will give him a 10M per year deal with good guaranteed money.

[chemiclord]

The Lions are going to target FAs going into their second deals that have the possibility of making the jump to the next level of play, but for whatever reason their old teams have decided to move on. Their targets are going to be more like Emmuanel Moseley than Danielle Hunter.

[El Axe]

I could handle having Big Play Slay back in the D but we'd definitely need to draft a future CB1.

The bummer, from the report I read, is that the Eagles have to wait until June to release him to get the savings. So, we can't wait and hope for it.

He would be the perfect addition. He'd immediately come in as a desperately needed CB1 for a couple years while we groom his replacement.

[Blue Lagoon58]

Mike Evans? Yeah, great, but him $20M+ along with ASB at ~$20M? Make it make sense.

[Whitley]

Here is another one

Resigned G Jonah Jackson 37/4
Resigned Josh Reynolds 18/3

It is pretty imperative that Jackson or Glasnow gets resigned otherwise you are looking at replacing 2 starting Guards and while the draft is deep in IOL this year, you don't want to be a cotender counting on a rookie starting from Day 1. Reynolds is Goff's security blanket. Yeah, it might be a touch of overpay here but there is enough cap room for every one

Cap number going into FA: 67.837 million

Day 2: Signed Andrew Van Ginkel DE 21/3, Kendall Fuller CB 33.75/3

Fuller comes in and is the CB1 from Day 1. The Washington defense was a mess less year but Fuller was still very good. Any regression should be offset by the Lions defense being much, much better than what resided in Washington last year. While this does not eliminate a need for a corner in the draft it makes it that the corner does not have to be a starter from Day 1 (barring injuries). Van Ginkel is a guy that I think still has upside and he can play off the ball or on the edge. He had a very good pressure rate (17.5%) last year.

Cap number: 54.149 million

Day 3: Sua Opeta G 7.5/2, Yosh Nijama T 13.5/3

Maybe Sorsdal makes a huge leap you can't assume it, so the Lions probably go for a guy that has starting upside. Opeta can give up pressures but has flashed at times that he could be a starter and has played both G spots. He did struggle at times starting some for the Eagles last year. Nijama will move into the 3rd tackle spot and has played at both tackle spots. He has length and has held his own against top pass rushers but was not a starter last year. He can recover and plays under control. Worst case he can be a 3rd tackle. Best case a possible option when Decker's contract comes up.

Cap number left: 47.374 million

Day 7: Keisean Nixon CB 10.5/2

Nixon would come and likely be the nickel/slot corner but might be able to start if needed. The number might look a bit high but Nixon is an outstanding returner earning All Pro honors in 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Cap number left: appox. 43+ million.

Draft

29) Graham Barton IOL: Barton has played all over the line in college and down very well (he was a starting C at Duke and moved to LT the next 3 years). Very smart player with toughness. He very well could start at RG and move over to C when Ragnow retires. He arms are shorter than ideal for T which means he will move inside. Consistent effort, tough and smart. He could be a Pro Bowl level player.

50) Ennis Rakestraw Jr. CB: I gave the Lions second rounder (61) and first third rounder (73) to Philly for this pick, a late third (96) and the #35 pick in the fifth round. Rakestraw is not the fastest guy (4.51 40 at the combine) but plays faster. Hard nosed press guy. Very sticky on the first two levels. A very physical tackler and willing to help in run support. Glenn is going to love this guy. He could be a tone setter immediately for the defense and a possible CB1 down the road.

92) Jeremiah Trotter LB: It always seems that one of the top LBs slip a round or more every year. I was very surprised to see Trotter this late and while LB isn't a need per se for the Lions. The value is there. A really smart player and is always under control. Very good lateral speed. Excellent blitzer. Elusive player. Not the biggest player and can get engulfed in blocks if he is not active.

96) Roman Wilson WR: Another guy I was surprised that was here. Wilson has lot of speed (4.39 40) and made numerous big plays for Michigan. Does a lot of his work out of the slot. He still needs to work to sell his routes. A definite threat to take the top off the defense. With him in the fold it could make the offense very very scary with him and Jameson as the deep guys. LaPorta and St. Brown working the middle. i don't expect him to last to here, but man what a steal it would be,.

165) Marshawn Lloyd RB: About this time I was wondering about the quality of the draft board this simulation would be. There is not a first round level back in the draft this year. There are about 15-16 guys that are all rated pretty close together. I suppose Lloyd could be here if teams view him as more a complentary piece (like a McKinnon) than a lead or even a main supporting guy. He tends to be more a cut block guy in pass protection and his vision looks to be about average. That being said love him here and he would be a serious challenge to Netflix.

174) Joshua Karty K: The Lions really need a kicker that can not only hit the long FGs but can take the KO return game away from the other team (if wanted). Karty can do that. He has a tremendous leg that can hit 54-56 FGs without having to drive it low. There is tape of him making 56-59 yard game FGs. He might not get a tremendous amount of chances with the Lions consistently going for it on 4th down but it would be very nice to have him. This guy might be a top 100 pick and it wouldnt be a reach.

204) AJ Barner TE: The upside here is probably a TE2 but that is very good value here. And with a decent chance of Brock Wright not being back could be his replacement right here. Barner is an improving run blocker and very good in the early stages of the block. Can get better later on though. Not going to offer much as a pass catcher.

248) Jordan Magee LB: His main impact is going to be Special Teams at first. Very aggressive going downhill. Good instincts.



BTW I might be a a couple numbers off on the overall pick numbers. Still, this would be a home run almost perfect draft the Lions if it went down this way.

[chemiclord]

Between all the mocks that I see with the Lions drafting Sainristil and/or Wilson... and it makes me wonder if these draftniks understand what positions Amon Ra St. Brown and Brian Branch play.

[Whitley]

Between all the mocks that I see with the Lions drafting Sainristil and/or Wilson... and it makes me wonder if these draftniks understand what positions Amon Ra St. Brown and Brian Branch play.

Well right now Sun God and Jameson under contract. Reynolds, Raymond and People-Jones are all FAs. Then you drop off to Antoine Green. Even if Detroit brings back Reynolds, going to need more than 3 good WRs.So drafting one should not be out of the question after dealing with IOL, CB and Edge in FA.draft.

As for Sainristill. I could see that as well. They have Sutton who is a CB2. Jacobs and Vildor should be depth and nothing more.They need to get CB1 (I think Fuller makes the more long term sense). Mosely and CJGJ are free agents. Kerby and Iffy are the starters and I think you are going to see Branch play more S next year. I signed 2 CBs in FA and drafted another that could be a CB1 long term (Rakestraw). I can see the case for MS being drafted if the Lions in the 2nd round opt for like a Kris Jenkins after taking IOL in the first.

[jaadam4]

Please no Sainristil in round 2. He played great at Michigan but he’s still a project and we’ve pissed away too many 2nd round players. Hard pass there

[El Axe]

I go through a variety of mock drafts just to see some alternative ideas or thoughts, but I genuinely loled at this one:

https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/gallery/seahawks-trade-down-target-michael-penix-in-2024-nfl-mock-draft/

It has the Lions trading down twice all the way to 58 from 29. It does not at any point give any reasoning or compensation for why they'd do that -- at a draft hosted in Detroit, I might add. Lions then pick Roman Wilson as their first pick of the draft.

It was published by a Seahawks writer. I gotta believe that there is some sort of jealous saltiness going on. I'm kinda surprised that he didn't have the Lions completely trade out of the first two rounds, lol.

"The Lions now have 20 picks in the 2025 draft"

[Whitley]

Please no Sainristil in round 2. He played great at Michigan but he’s still a project and we’ve pissed away too many 2nd round players. Hard pass there

I never said take MS in round 2. I see him as a possible Round 3 guy if no CB taken in the first two rounds.

[jaadam4]

I never said take MS in round 2. I see him as a possible Round 3 guy if no CB taken in the first two rounds.

no I know you didn’t. I was meaning that Ive seen draft peeps predicting we’ll take him in the first couple of rounds. I like him as a gadget player but not a first or second round press CB.

[jaadam4]

I prob wouldn’t take him until the 4th round.