We’re less than a week from the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, and the Lions will soon welcome their next wave of prospects.
“I’m so excited about the draft being in Detroit,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said Thursday. “I really am. It’s just another opportunity for our franchise, our city, just for the world to kind of migrate to downtown Detroit. … We have multiple major NFL markets that are within driving distance. I expect it to be pretty packed. I’m excited for the local businesses. I just think it’s going to be really exciting.”
While we wait to see which prospects Holmes and company identify and select for the franchise, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is here with his own thoughts on how the draft could unfold for the Lions. Brugler this week published his annual seven-round mock draft, equipped with picks for every team, and some trades along the way.
His haul for the Lions includes help in the trenches, potential starters in the secondary and at wide receiver, a new kicker and some depth. Let’s discuss each pick, their fit with the team and Brugler’s scouting report.
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Second round, No. 44: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
Lions trade No. 29 to the Las Vegas Raiders for Nos. 44 and 77
Draft stock: No. 34 overall (No. 3 center)
Summary and fit: In terms of culture and on-field fit, Frazier just feels like a Lion. In middle school, he built a home gym for himself. He was a four-time state champion wrestler in high school. He has been described as a football junkie. He was running again just nine weeks after breaking his leg. And he has 46 career starts at center and guard. A pretty clean evaluation, for one of the better center prospects in the class.
The only real question is whether Frazier is a center-only prospect, or would he be able to play guard. He did it in college, but he doesn’t have the desired arm length. If he can play guard, there could be an opening in the starting lineup in 2025 if Kevin Zeitler (on a one-year deal) departs. If not, Frazier could be blocked at center until All-Pro Frank Ragnow retires. Still, considering how important the Lions’ offensive line is to their success, having ready-made depth is never a bad thing.
Brugler’s take: “Frazier might not boast elite athleticism or length, but he is good enough in those areas and will win over NFL teams with his core strength, football IQ, competitive toughness and understanding of leverage. He projects as a quality NFL starting center the moment he is drafted.”
Second round, No. 61: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Draft stock: No. 71 overall (No. 7 DT)
Summary and fit: Brugler has the Lions double-dipping in the trenches, this time adding Fiske from FSU. One of the big winners from the NFL combine, Fiske ran a 4.78 40 at 292 pounds, and recorded a 33 1/2-inch vertical jump and relative athletic score of 9.89 — 20th all-time. He’s a Midwest kid from Michigan City, Ind., who attended Western Michigan before transferring to Florida State. He recorded 12 sacks and 21 tackles for a loss in his final two years of college. He wins with foot speed and motor, creating a potentially elite interior defensive line rotation with Alim McNeill and DJ Reader.
Brugler’s take: “Fiske doesn’t have a deep arsenal of counters if he doesn’t win early, but he already has a professional mindset and his twitchy urgency and steady play strength will translate well to the pro game. He projects as a rotational three-technique with versatility to move around an aggressive front.”
Former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer called Ja’Lynn Polk “one of the toughest and strongest kids” on the Huskies. (John David Mercer / USA Today)
Third round, No. 72: Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Draft stock: No. 74 overall (No. 13 WR)
Summary and fit: With the first of two third-round picks, the Lions go back to offense, selecting in Polk one of three talented Washington receiver prospects in the draft. The Lions lost Josh Reynolds in the offseason and could be in the market for another receiver, in what’s viewed as a deep class. Polk could fit right in as an instinctive player who can adjust to imperfect ball placement in the air. Former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer called Polk “one of the toughest and strongest kids” on a Huskies team that reached the national championship game. He also plays with tenacity as a blocker, something the Lions surely will like. He’s not a finished product, but he would be a cheap and effective wide receiver option who fits what the Lions are about.
Brugler’s take: “Polk must continue developing as a route runner, but he is natural athlete addressing the football, with three-level instincts and pro-level toughness. A potential NFL starter, his game is reminiscent of Josh Palmer’s when he was coming out of Tennessee.”
Third round, No. 77: Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest
Draft stock: Third-fourth round (No. 13 CB)
Summary and fit: Carson has a lot of tools the Lions should like. His football IQ shows up on tape, as he’s quick to dissect screens and pass off receivers in zone coverage. He’s also physical at the line of scrimmage, has fluid hips, solid length and positional versatility. Clocked at a 4.52 40 at his pro day, Carson makes up for average speed with natural instincts. He’s dealt with injuries in his college career (he missed 11 of his final 30 games at Wake Forest) and isn’t known for his ball skills, but he offers starting potential in the future. Good value at this stage in the draft. The Lions brought him in for a top-30 visit, so they’re doing their homework.
Brugler’s take: “Carson needs to prove he can stay healthy and be on the field for a full season, but he has the competitive athleticism and football IQ needed for coverage duties in the NFL. He offers inside-outside versatility and projects as an eventual NFL starter.”
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Fifth round, No. 163: Braiden McGregor, edge, Michigan
Draft stock: Sixth-seventh round (No. 23 edge)
Summary and fit: A 2020 four-star prospect out of Port Huron, Mich., McGregor attended Michigan but started full-time only in his final year. At 6-foot-5, 257 pounds with a quick first step, he’s got the physical package that makes him an attractive option, but lacked production with just 6 1/2 career sacks. Still, there could be some untapped potential the NFL could unlock — perhaps in a John Cominsky type of role. If McGregor can develop into a rotational edge, this would be a solid pick on Day 3.
Brugler’s take: “McGregor will need time to become more polished destructing blocks, but he is long, fast and explosive, making him an interesting draft-and-develop target on Day 3. His raw tools and upside remind me of Alex Wright, who was a third-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and has grown into a valuable role player for the Cleveland Browns.”
Will Reichard finished at Alabama as the NCAA’s career points leader. (Scott Wachter / USA Today)
Sixth round, No. 201: Will Reichard, K, Alabama
Draft stock: Fifth round (No. 1 kicker)
Summary and fit: A kicker! A kicker! With the 2024 sixth-rounder acquired from the Bucs in the Carlton Davis III trade, Brugler has the Lions selecting arguably the top kicker in the draft. In his final year in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Reichard made 22 of 25 attempts, including 7-of-10 from 40 to 49 yards and 5-of-5 from 50-plus. The Lions did not add a kicker in free agency, opting to re-sign Michael Badgley instead. Even then, the expectation is competition will be added. Maybe the Lions keep an eye on Jake Bates of the UFL’s Michigan Panthers. Maybe they opt for the draft instead.
Reichard is Brugler’s highest-graded kicker with a fifth-round grade. He has the Lions snagging him in the sixth, but the top kickers tend to go higher sometimes.
Sixth round, No. 205: Sione Vaki, S, Utah
Draft stock: Sixth round (No. 18 safety)
Summary and fit: Four picks later, the Lions are back on the clock, with Brugler selecting Vaki, a Utah DB/RB. Vaki is an intriguing prospect due to his backstory and unique positional versatility. Coming out of high school as part of the 2019 recruiting class, Vaki served a religious mission as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It delayed his college career three seasons. In his final year, Vaki split time at safety (51 tackles and 8 TFLs) and running back (520 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns). The Lions brought Vaki in for a visit, and given his athleticism, he could grow into a depth role defensively, while contributing on special teams early in his career.
Brugler’s take: “Vaki plays with the physicality and downhill speed NFL coaches desire at safety, but his fluidity and instincts in coverage don’t match up and will hinder his chances of earning steady defensive snaps at the next level. His potential as a core special teamer could be his ticket to an NFL roster spot.”
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Seventh round, No. 249: Johnny Dixon, CB, Penn State
Draft stock: Sixth-seventh round (No. 31 CB)
Summary and fit: Dixon began his career at South Carolina before entering the transfer portal and landing at Penn State. He took over for Joey Porter Jr. in the starting lineup in his final season, albeit, with mixed results. Dixon has fluid hips, strong recovery speed and plays a competitive brand of football — almost too competitive. He was flagged eight times for pass interference the past two seasons. He’s a messy tackler with below-average arm length. There’s a lot of work to do here, but you’re not gonna find a clean prospect in the seventh round, anyway. Ideally, he develops into defensive depth and a contributor on special teams.
Brugler’s take: “Dixon is a feisty man-cover cornerback who is just as likely to lead the team in passes defended as he is coverage penalties. He has the talent to get onto an NFL field (defense and special teams), although he will need to make adjustments to stay there.”
(Top photo of West Virginia center Zach Frazier: Ben Queen / USA Today)
