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2020 NFL Mock Draft: Sifting through the pre-draft noise

By Jacob Camenker

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 05: Andrew Thomas #71 of the Georgia Bulldogs warms up on the field before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 05, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

50. . Defensive Tackle. Detroit Lions. Derrick Brown. 3. player

This year, the NFL Draft starts with the third pick. Will the Lions take Isaiah Simmons? Or maybe Jeff Okudah? Or what if they trade down for a team looking to move up for a quarterback?

All of these are possibilities, especially the trade-down option. But it seems like Derrick Brown may be emerging as the Lions’ favorite option.

The Lions coaching staff needs to be in win-now mode. So, they need to grab someone who they know will contribute at the next level. Brown has an argument as the third-best player and second-best defensive player in the 2020 NFL Draft, so perhaps they’ll take the safe option who should be productive right away at the NFL level.

Brown logged 102 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks over his final two years at Auburn. He’s an excellent interior disruptor and should be a good run stuffer at the next level. He’s a strong pass rusher as well and even if he doesn’t rack up a ton of sacks, he’ll still open up rushing lanes for the other defensive players on the Lions roster.

Next to former Patriots run-stuffer Danny Shelton, Brown would give the Lions a good two-man starting unit at the defensive tackle position and should help Trey Flowers to be more productive. Either way, the team should be much better against the run with the additions of Shelton, Brown, and fast linebacker Jamie Collins, so that should at least give them a chance to be competitive on defense even if they need another linebacker and a true No. 2 corner.

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