NFL draft Day 2 fits for Detroit Lions, who have 3 picks in 2023 second round
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brad Holmes has started the second day of each of his first two drafts as Detroit Lions general manager by taking a defensive lineman with medical concerns.
In 2021, he used the ninth pick of the second round on Levi Onwuzurike, who did not play a snap last season because of a back injury. Last year, he took Josh Paschal, who missed the start of his rookie season with hernia surgery, at Pick No. 46.
Part of the reason Onwuzurike and Paschal were available when they were might have been due to their medicals, and Holmes said at his pre-draft news conference earlier this month he didn't take either player expecting they'd miss the time they did.
"I know about all player’s medical before we acquire a player, but there’s just some unfortunate things that may happen after you acquire them, so you got to just live with that," Holmes said. "You just make the best decision and if something happens afterwards you just deal with it."
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Holmes said he will not change his draft philosophy based on what's happened to Paschal (who returned to play key snaps in the second half of last season) and Onwuzurike (whose future is less certain coming off back surgery).
Several players with medical concerns are among those who could be candidates for the Lions with their three Day 2 picks Friday. The Lions own the 34th, 48th and 55th overall picks in the second round, and do not currently have a selection in Round 3.
Here are 24 players who could make sense for the Lions on Day 2.
QB Will Levis, Kentucky
Levis had the most dramatic slide of the draft, tumbling from potential top-five pick out of the first round. The fact that no team traded up into the back of Round 1 to get him (and get the fifth-year option on his contract) means he could slide further. But the Lions need a backup for Jared Goff and with three second-round picks, Levis might be good value at some point.
QB Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Hooker was in the midst of a standout season when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in November. There was a thought he would go in Round 1, too. But he's available on Day 2 and has all the makings of a solid NFL backup once healthy.
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TE Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
Just one member of the deep tight end class in years went in Round 1, which means there are plenty of good players left at the position on Day 2. Mayer is the best of the bunch, a combo tight end who excels as an inline blocker and caught 180 passes the past three years.
TE Darnell Washington, Georgia
At 6 feet 7 and 264 pounds, Washington is one of the best blocking tight ends in this year's class. "(He's) an absolute Adonis," ESPN analyst Todd McShay said. "He can run block inline, he can block on the move. He’s never going to be a great receiver like you saw at Georgia, but he can be productive and he’s got good traits to contribute."
TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon State
Musgrave missed time with a knee injury last season, but he's one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the draft. He said at the Senior Bowl he was a big fan of Dan Campbell's from watching "Hard Knocks."
TE Luke Schoonmaker, Michigan
A half-dozen tight ends could go Friday, including Schoonmaker, a combo tight end whose 35 catches last season were nearly double his total from his first four years. The Lions could deal down from one of their second-round picks and likely still get Schoonmaker in Round 3.
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TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
The Lions traded away an Iowa tight end last year in T.J. Hockenson, and if they want a receiving specialist at the position they could add another Hawkeye product in LaPorta today. LaPorta led Iowa in receptions each of the past two seasons and ran a 4.59-second 40 at the combine.
WR Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Wide receiver is far from the Lions' most pressing need, but Hyatt is one the premier deep threats in the draft. He averaged 18.9 yards per catch, scored 15 touchdowns last season and would add another playmaking pass catcher to the Lions' core.
WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
With only two receivers under contract beyond 2023, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, the Lions need to add to the position at some point. Reed returns punts and kicks and could be a candidate at the end of Round 2.
OG O'Cyrus Torrence, Florida
The Lions have some a long-term need at the guard spot with Jonah Jackson, Graham Glasgow and Halapoulivaati Vaitai all on expiring contracts and Vaitai coming off back surgery. Torrence, who spent his first three college seasons at Louisiana, said he models his game after Lions right tackle Penei Sewell.
OG Steve Avila, TCU
Avila was part of the parade of interior linemen who made top-30 visits to the Lions this spring. He was a three-year starter and team captain at TCU who played four positions — center, both guards and right tackle — in his college career.
OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State
Mauch likely projects at guard in the NFL because of his short arms, but he started 37 games at left tackle for the Bison. Started his college career as a walk-on tight end who played quarterback on his nine-man high school team.
OL Matthew Bergeron, Syracuse
Another college tackle who could project inside to guard in the NFL, Bergeron is considered one of the top run blockers in the draft. Allowed five sacks and was penalized three times in 686 snaps last season.
C Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin
The Lions have Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow under contract for three more years, but Tippmann is big enough to play guard and would provide insurance at center in case Ragnow's toe problems continue. He should be one of the first linemen drafted.
DT Zacch Pickens, South Carolina
Pickens solidified his stock as a top-100 player with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. A team captain at South Carolina, he has long arms (34⅜ inches) and the ability to play both inside positions.
DL Keion White, Georgia Tech
After passing on edge help in Round 1, the Lions could get a steal in White if he makes it to Pick 48. White began his college career as a tight end at Old Dominion, and finished it as a respected team captain who had 7.5 sacks in his first full season on the defensive line.
DE Derick Hall, Auburn
Hall might never be a 12-sack-a-year guy, but he has the length to play as an every down defensive end and earns high marks for football character. Would team with Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Paschal and James Houston to give the Lions a young pass-rushing nucleus.
DT Siaki Ika, Baylor
Onwuzurike's lingering back problems have amplified the Lions' need for a young interior run defender and Ika is one of the best ones still on the board. He's tough to move at 6-3 and 335 pounds, and while he's been projected as a Day 3 pick, the Lions could pull the trigger early or in a trade down.
CB Julius Brents, Kansas State
The Lions signed three starters for their secondary in free agency but have room to add more talent at cornerback after passing on the position in Round 1. Brents is one of the draft's most physically imposing cornerbacks at 6-3 and with 34-inch arms.
CB Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
Like Brents, Porter is a long cornerback who is at his best when he's disrupting receivers at the line of scrimmage. Porter didn't have big interception totals at Penn State, which could ding his stock with the Lions.
CB Tyrique Stevenson, Miami (Florida)
Stevenson had three interceptions in two seasons at Miami after spending his first two years at Georgia. A press cornerback, he's one of the better tacklers at the position in this year's draft.
CB Clark Phillips III, Utah
If the Lions wait to fill their cornerback need, they could add a player like Phillips, the 2022 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. At 5-9, Phillips projects as a slot cornerback in the NFL but has the ball skills (four career pick-sixes) the Lions desire.
DB Brian Branch, Alabama
Branch should be the first safety off the board sometime early Friday. He was an accomplished slot defender in college and could fill that role in the NFL, though he has the range to play as a single-high safety, too.
DB Jartavius Martin, Illinois
Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown, another Day 2 possibility, garnered more attention in the Illinois secondary, but Martin had three interceptions, 11 pass breakups and like Phillips could be a target at 55 or in a trade down.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.