Finally, 2024 draft week is here. Naturally, this year’s events will take place in Detroit, as the NFL will convene in the Motor City for its premier offseason gathering.
Draft week also signals the end of this year’s mock draft season, which is a relief for some. This week, all those who participated in the pre-draft phase will release their final mock drafts for the year. So shall we.
The Detroit Lions find themselves in a situation that is both envied and unfamiliar to them. As per the usual draft philosophy of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, they can select the “best player available” with a late first-round pick (No. 29 overall). It is possible to trade down, trade up, or exit the first round.
Here is our final 2024 Lions mock draft using the mock draft simulator from Pro Football Network.
First Round, Los Angeles Rams via Pick No. 19: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Trading up for desired players was the strategy going into a recent mock draft. This time, not so much; I was prepared to remain still the entire time.
But with Mitchell, perhaps the best cornerback in this year’s class, falling, a move up started to look increasingly appealing. When Pick No. 19 came along and he was still available, I made use of Brad Holmes’s Rams connections to make an irresistible offer.
Over his last three seasons at Toledo, Mitchell had 45 pass breakups (37 over the last two seasons) and advanced himself as an NFL prospect each year. More interceptions might have been nice to see last year (just one), but they can be random and he had five interceptions in 2022 (with two pick-sixes).
Mitchell was Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-graded college cornerback in 2022 and 2023, with high-end marks as a cover man and solid marks beyond that. Over those two seasons, he allowed just 56 receptions on 140 total targets in his coverage with 36 forced incompletions (per PFF). He has ideal size (6-foot, 195 pounds) and plenty of athleticism (9.80 Relative Athletic Score).
There is a narrow group of players the Lions should consider trading up significantly for. Mitchell is for sure one, and he might be atop the list.
Holmes dismissed the idea of being in any kind of win-now, “Super Bowl window” mode as a driver for the draft plan. But Mitchell’s tumble in this mock sim made a trade up to get him irresistible, so I went all-in.
