The Pride of Detroit crew decided to torture themselves with the ultimate Lions fan exercise: a mock draft competition where actual logic had to apply. Because apparently we needed more ways to set ourselves up for disappointment.
Here’s how they made it interesting. Instead of the usual fantasy land mock drafts where every team ahead of us makes terrible decisions, they used Wide Left’s consensus big board to auto-pick around Detroit’s selections. No unrealistic player drops. No magical scenarios where the perfect fit somehow slides to us because the football gods finally decided to smile on the Motor City.
The rules were simple but brutal: you can’t pick anyone ranked higher on the consensus board than your draft position, trades are allowed but need to make sense, and you get four rounds to build something that doesn’t make Lions fans want to throw their phones.
Jeremy Reisman’s Mock: The Trader
Reisman went full wheeling and dealing mode. Started by taking Georgia OT Monroe Freeling at 17, then traded down with Chicago to grab Arizona DB Treydan Stukes at 57. But he wasn’t done moving around.
The man traded back up to snag Michigan EDGE/LB Jaishawn Barham at 77. Yes, a Wolverine. In a Lions mock draft. The irony is not lost on those of us who remember when Michigan players were basically kryptonite in Allen Park.
Finished it off with Southeastern Louisiana DT Kaleb Proctor in the fourth round. Two trades, four picks, and a strategy that actually makes sense if you squint hard enough.
Meko Scott’s Mock: The Value Hunter
Scott took a different approach, trading down from 17 to 23 and picking up Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor. Smart move when you can get your tackle and add picks in the process.
From there he went Penn State EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton in the second, Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson in the third, and doubled down in the fourth with TCU LB Kaleb Elarms-Orr and Michigan DT Rayshaun Benny. That’s right, another Wolverine. What is happening to this world?
Ryan Mathews’ Mock: The Aggressive Trader
Mathews went big on the trade game, dropping all the way to 29 to take Clemson OT Blake Miller but picking up a haul from Kansas City in the process. Two second round picks and a third? Not bad for sliding twelve spots.
Used that capital to grab Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez at 40, then traded back up for Miami CB Keionte Scott at 53. Wrapped it up with Washington CB Tacario Davis in the fourth.
The boldest move? Trading away a 2027 third rounder. Because nothing says Lions fan confidence like mortgaging tomorrow for today’s draft picks.
All three mocks address the obvious needs: offensive line help, pass rush, and defensive backfield depth. Different approaches, same reality that this team still has holes to fill despite the success we’ve been enjoying.
Which mock makes the most sense? Are we overthinking this whole thing, or is draft strategy actually the one area where Lions fans can out-think the front office? Drop your winner below and tell us which drafter deserves to be banished to the shadow realm.
I love seeing our guys actually put thought into this stuff. Reisman’s trading game is making sense to me – get the value where you can and move around to fill needs. This is the kind of thing that gets me hyped about where we’re headed.
Look I get why people like these mocks but I’ve been burned too many times thinking we have some master plan. Mathews mortgaging a 2027 pick is exactly the kind of move that sounds good now and haunts us later. Hope I’m wrong.
What cracks me up is we’re still doing the same drafting dance after all these years. The holes are always there, the needs never really change, and here we are playing fantasy GM like it’s gonna solve everything. But hey at least we’re thinking about it seriously now.
Honestly all three of these approaches make way more sense than what I’d probably do. Scott’s value hunting looks smart to me, you get your tackle and still have ammunition to work with. This is fun stuff to think about.