NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah, one of the more respected draft analysts and talent evaluators in NFL circles, released his Mock Draft 2.0 this week and took part in a national conference call on Friday.
At No. 6 overall, Jeremiah mocked Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy to the Lions.
"Aidan Hutchinson was a home run pick last year, and fellow rookie James Houston was very productive in limited playing time," Jeremiah wrote. "Murphy would give the Lions three outstanding young edge rushers."
Talking about the edge rushers specifically on Friday, Jeremiah said Murphy is his third best edge rusher in the class behind Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson. Jeremiah said Wilson, Murphy and Iowa's Lukas Van Ness could all be in play for the Lions at No. 6.
View photos of the defensive line prospects who were invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore (99) tackles Southern Illinois running back Romeir Elliott (1), during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton
Iowa State defensive lineman MJ Anderson (3) celebrates after sacking Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Oklahoma won 27-13. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
FILE - Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah gets into position during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Manhattan, Kan. Anudike-Uzomah was selected top defensive player in the Associated Press Big 12 Midseason Awards, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado (87) gets signals from the bench during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
Georgia linebacker Robert Beal Jr. plays against Vanderbilt during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Wisconsin nose tackle Keeanu Benton plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Clemson's Bryan Bresee (11) rushes during the first half of an NCAA football game against Georgia Tech on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter warms up before an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
Coastal Carolina nose tackle Jerrod Clark (15) runs during the first half of an NCAA football game against Georgia State on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Texas defensive lineman Keondre Coburn (99) rushes the quarterback during an NCAA college football game against Louisiana-Monroe, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)
Florida linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. (1) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama defensive lineman DJ Dale (94) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Florida defensive lineman Gervon Dexter Sr. (9) sets up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Cincinnati quarterback Evan Prater is sacked by Louisville's YaYa Diaby during the fourth quarter of Louisville's 24-7 win in the Fenway Bowl NCAA college football game at Fenway Park Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Boston. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Rice defensive end Ikenna Enechukwu (91) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke).
San Jose State defensive lineman Viliami Fehoko (42) sacks Colorado State quarterback Clay Millen (11) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey (7) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
LSU defensive end Ali Gaye (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Appalachian State linebacker Nick Hampton during an NCAA football game against Georgia State on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in Boone, N.C. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Ohio State defensive lineman Zach Harrison plays against Iowa during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Clemson defensive end K.J. Henry (5) plays against North Carolina State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
TCU defensive lineman Dylan Horton (98) is seen during an NCAA football game against Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 55-24. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Baylor defensive lineman Siaki Ika (62) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Texas State in Waco, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
National defensive lineman Thomas Incoom of Central Michigan (8) during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
FILE - Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (8) plays against Miami during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Kancey was named the AP All-ACC defensive player of the year, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Oklahoma State defensive end Tyler Lacy (89) is seen during an NCAA football game against TCU on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 43-40 in double overtime. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
American linebacker Isaiah Land of Florida A&M (51) runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV gets set for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. Baylor won 31-24. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Missouri defensive lineman Isaiah McGuire during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Michigan linebacker Mike Morris plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Ferris State defensive end Caleb Murphy (12) holds the NCAA Division II college football championship trophy on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 in McKinney, Texas. (AP Photo/Emil T. Lippe)
Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy (98) plays against Syracuse during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Maryland offensive lineman Jaelyn Duncan (71) looks to block Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (97) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) scrambles past Texas defensive lineman Moro Ojomo (98) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
South Carolina defensive lineman Zacch Pickens (6) gestures after a stop against South Carolina State on third down during the second half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Eastern Michigan's Jose Ramirez plays during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Ypsilanti, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Oklahoma's Jalen Redmond (31) sacks Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Mississippi defensive end Tavius Robinson (95) is shown during an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Mississippi won 52-28. (AP Photo/John Amis)
LSU defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (99) in action during an NCAA college football game against Southern in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Arizona State defensive lineman Nesta Jade Silvera (4) stands on the field during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) plays against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith (4) rushes the passer in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
West Virginia defensive lineman Dante Stills (55) plays against Pittsburgh during an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
FILE - Southern California defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu celebrates a stop of California on fourth down during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. USC has created more turnovers and had more sacks in its first season with defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
Iowa's Lukas Van Ness (91) tackles Nebraska quarterback Logan Smothers (8) in the end zone for a touch back during the second half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Iowa defeated Nebraska 28-21. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White (6) follows a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Texas Tech linebacker Tyree Wilson (19) on the field against Baylor during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Auburn defensive end Colby Wooden (25) reacts during an NCAA football game against LSU on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Alabama defensive lineman Byron Young (47) cheers the crowd during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Tennessee defensive lineman Byron Young (6) chases after Tennessee Martin quarterback Dresser Winn (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Mississippi State defensive tackle Cameron Young (93) pursues Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby (4) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Mississippi State won 40-17. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
"For me, Tyree Wilson (is the best of that group) by a significant margin," he said. "There's a lot of buzz around him around the league. The league has him and Anderson a lot closer than people might think. He's got freakish wingspan and burst."
Wilson (6-6, 275) had 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 10 games played this past season. Jeremiah actually has Wilson being drafted before Anderson at No. 3 to Arizona and then Anderson going No. 5 to Seattle.
"Myles Murphy (6-5, 275) is a tricky one because it's all in there, he has it all in his body, but he hasn't gotten it all figured out yet," Jeremiah said of Murphy's 6.5 sacks and 11.0 tackles for loss this past season. "But between his combination of length and explosiveness I think there's more there. He's going to develop more as a rusher."
Van Ness is an interesting prospect because he has all the physical tools and recorded 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks this past year even though he was never a starter for the Hawkeyes.
"I'm going to end up moving him up in my next update of my Top 50. I think I have him at 22 right now," Jeremiah said of Van Ness. "It's curious when you're watching him because he doesn't start ... but I had a chance to do my homework on that. That's just the way their program runs. They are going to run with the older upperclassmen, the leaders that have been in those spots and they are going to roll those guys out there as starters even though everyone knows this was their best guy.
"But he's got big-time, big-time explosiveness and power. Kind of a bull in a China shop. Again, someone who is just figuring it out, but when you watch him against the best tackles he played against he got after them."
With Detroit's second pick in the first round, No. 18 overall, Jeremiah has the Lions addressing the other side of the ball with Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.
"The Lions have the perfect situation for Richardson as he enters the league," Jeremiah wrote. "He can sit behind Jared Goff for at least a year and then provide the rewards that come from building a team around a quarterback playing on his rookie contract."
Jeremiah said Friday afternoon he now doesn't believe Richardson will make it to pick No. 18 after talking with some teams this week. He said some teams have Richardson as the No. 2 quarterback on their board and thinks he'll hear his name before pick No. 18.
Jeremiah also touched on a number of other topics related to the 2023 NFL Draft, as follows:
- As far as the top position groups in this year's draft class, Jeremiah mentioned cornerback, edge rusher, tight end and running back. Jeremiah said it's the best tight end group he's seen in 10 years. He has 11 tight ends with a grade in the top three rounds. The Lions could certainly be interested in adding one at some point.
- The No. 1 and No. 2 best players in this draft, according to Jeremiah, are Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter and Anderson. Jeremiah said he has a better grade on Carter coming out than he did on Jets Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams a few years ago.
- It's not as good a draft at wide receiver that we've seen in previous years, according to Jeremiah.
- Jeremiah loves Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who he mocked going to Philadelphia at No. 10. He said he reminds him of Asante Samuel, who recorded 51 career interceptions and was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All Pro.
- There isn't a can't-miss quarterback in this class like an Andrew Luck, Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence from past years, but Jeremiah thinks there are five quarterbacks who can be franchise guys, led by Alabama's Bryce Young. The other four Jeremiah mentioned are C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), Will Levis (Kentucky), Richardson (Florida) and Hendon Hooker (Tennessee).
- Any Michigan fans out there? Jeremiah has third-round grades on center Olusegun Oluwatimi, linebacker Mike Morris and tight end Luke Schoonmaker. He has a second-round grade on cornerback DJ Turner, and thinks defensive tackle Mazi Smith is the best prospect of the bunch and one of his Top 50 players in the draft.
- Jeremiah said Michigan State wide receiver Jayden Reed is a third-round prospect and can be a really good No. 3 receiver in the NFL with the potential to be a No. 2 guy.
- Jeremiah said Texas' Bijan Robinson is the best running back prospect to come out in a few years and is one of the best players in this draft.
