Mock drafters are getting bolder with predictions for the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick this year. Throughout the offseason, most expected the team to target an edge rusher, and mock drafts largely reflected that.<\/p>\n
However, some recent predictions suggest a different approach. CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso recently projected Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III to Detroit, despite the team having two 1,000-yard receivers last season. Now, ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum has the Lions picking a player at a position where they already have two stars.<\/p>\n
In his latest mock draft, Tannenbaum predicted the Lions would take Georgia safety Malaki Starks with the 28th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. His talent is unquestioned.<\/p>\n
As a freshman, he started for Georgia\u2019s championship-winning defense. He then earned All-American honors in the next two seasons. Over three years, Starks recorded 197 tackles, 17 pass breakups, and six interceptions.<\/p>\n
The issue is finding a role for Starks in Detroit. The Lions already boast a stacked safety group. Kerby Joseph earned First-Team All-Pro honors last season, while Brian Branch made the Pro Bowl.<\/p>\n
Drafting Starks would only make sense if the Lions doubt they can extend Joseph, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Otherwise, there are too many pressing needs for Detroit to spend a first-round pick on a player who could be stuck behind stars for most of his rookie deal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mock drafters are getting bolder with predictions for the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick this year. Throughout the offseason, most expected the team to target an edge rusher, and mock drafts largely reflected that. However, some recent predictions suggest a different approach. CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso recently projected Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III to Detroit, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[378],"tags":[2504],"class_list":["post-28586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-detroit-lions","tag-brian-branch"],"yoast_head":"\n