The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off next Tuesday in Indianapolis.
The week-long event consists of player interviews, medical evaluations and on-field testing for over 300 draft prospects.
Earlier this week NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. did conference calls with reporters to preview the Combine and talk about their latest mock draft projections.
Both analysts mentioned the Lions are in a good spot to trade, but if they stay put, Jeremiah has the Lions selecting Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah.
"I've got a big grade on (Okudah)," Jeremiah said. "He does everything you want in terms of size, length, twitch, competitiveness, intelligence, ball skills, toughness. I mean, he checks all the boxes. I would say just beneath Lattimore in terms of my college grade over the last I don't know how many years.
"As a player, you kind of figure out, 'OK, who does he remind you of?' It's Stephon Gillmore when he was coming out of South Carolina. This kid has that type of ability."
Kiper thinks the Lions will go offense, and take Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
"The Lions say they're not shopping quarterback Matthew Stafford, but there is some buzz that they like Tagovailoa, who might not work out for teams before April's draft because of his hip injury," Kiper wrote in his mock. "Is that just a smoke screen? We're still two months away from the draft, of course. Stafford's contract is extremely tough to trade in 2020 – the team could have up to a $32 million dead-cap hit – but what if Detroit likes Tagovailoa so much that it keeps Stafford on the roster for another year?
"This pick also seems like the perfect spot for a team to trade up to get a quarterback, whether that's Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert or someone else. Could the Chargers or Raiders or Jaguars move up to jump the Dolphins at No. 5 and get their guy? Everything is in play here, and since I'm not going to project trades, I'll stick with Tagovailoa at No. 3."
POSITION BY POSITION PREVIEW
Tim Twentyman wrapped up his Combine preview series this week. Check out the final position groups below:
OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS
- In his Mock 3 2.0, Mike O'Hara predicts who the Lions will take with the 3rd pick in the first round of the 2020 draft.
- Throwback: View photos of current Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
