Detroit Lions Mock Draft: Full 7-Round Team Prediction

The NFL draft is kind of like a newspaper's crossword puzzle.

There are always a few spots that everyone can fill in (such as Andrew Luck to the Indianapolis Colts), but for the most part you have to make your best educated guess and wait to find out the answers later.

That is kind of where we stand in regards to the Detroit Lions this year. There is no Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson, or Gosder Cherilus who absolutely jumps off the draft board.

Okay, I am kidding about Cherilus, but the Lions do have certain need areas, especially at cornerback and along the offensive line.

Detroit's brain trust has made good decisions in recent drafts, and with little room under the salary cap this year, they will likely have to make economical ones as well.

Without further ado, let's start with Round 1.

Round 1: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama Lions (formerly a Florida Gator)

Remember how I just said the Detroit Lions need to be economical in this draft?

That would likely mean taking a lineman with this pick, but how do you pass on a talent like Janoris Jenkins if he is still on the board?

The former Florida Gators cornerback may fall lower than his talent should dictate due to the fact that he has had numerous off-the-field troubles.

However, he was a model citizen this past season at small North Alabama.

There is a particularly deep free-agent cornerback class out there this offseason, but again I will highlight the fact that Detroit is strapped for cash.

So is Jenkins the smartest move money wise?

Maybe not in regards to other potential draft picks, but he still has a better price tag than an upper-echelon free agent.

Round 2: Kelechi Osemele, G/T, Iowa State Cyclones

Is Kelechi Osemele an NFL tackle, or does he make the transition back to his natural guard position?

At 6'5", 333 pounds, I'm not sure the Lions particularly care because he could be great for them either way.

The likelihood is that he is a guard and that is why he would be selected at this point in the draft.

He has raw brute strength and can be a marked improvement for Detroit's running game, exactly what the team should be looking for in this draft.

Osemele has played both guard and tackle at Iowa State, so perhaps there is a chance that he could be a versatile option along the offensive line.

For now he is seen as an elite guard prospect who can simply bulldoze defensive linemen.

Sounds good to me.

Round 3: Ben Jones, C, Georgia Bulldogs

The time has come to find a replacement for Dominic Raiola.

Is Ben Jones the perfect piece to fill in along the Lions offensive line? 

Well, that depends on if you like the job Raiola has done.

Jones, like Raiola, is a great pass-protecting center who also struggles a bit when it comes to run blocking.

Luckily, his pass-blocking proficiency is an extreme asset as he uses his intelligence and pure leverage to get the upper hand on defenders.

Jones has good size at 6'3", 304 pounds and does not provide much concern in the form of injuries.

Any lingering connection he may have from the time he shared with Matthew Stafford at Georgia would only be an added bonus.

Round 4: Sean Spence, OLB, Miami Hurricanes

Sean Spence is a quick and versatile linebacker prospect out of Miami.

At 6'1", 224 pounds, he is slightly undersized by NFL standards, which is why he should still be on the board at this point.

What benefits Spence is his tremendous athletic ability. He could fit into nickel and dime sets and could potentially work his way into a weak-side linebacker role.

His career as a Hurricane only strengthens the argument that he deserves a chance on an NFL roster.

He had back-to-back seasons of over 100 tackles and was named team co-MVP in 2010.

Detroit could move Spence all over the place on defense, and he would be a nice piece of depth to the puzzle.

Round 5: B.J. Cunningham, WR, Michigan State Spartans

There are two in-state wide receivers that the Lions could potentially take in the fifth round: B.J. Cunningham of Michigan State and Jordan White of Western Michigan.

Cunningham is the bigger of the pair at 6'2", 216 pounds, and he has an excellent pair of hands.

While he is slightly slower than White, Cunningham's 1,300 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns this season are a testament to his play-making abilities.

I see Cunningham as more of an outside receiver and White as a slot guy, so it depends on what Detroit deems to be a better fit, if they even go in this direction.

Nate Burleson will need a replacement at some point, and the combination of Calvin Johnson, Titus Young and B.J. Cunningham would be a tremendous trio.

Round 7: Julian Miller, DE, West Virginia Mountaineers

With the Lions' sixth-round pick forfeited due the tampering charges surrounding Jarrad Page and Gunther Cunningham in 2010, we move into the seventh and final round.

Julian Miller is a name that may be unknown to most, but he is a talented defensive end who is ranked far too low on most draft boards.

He may not be the most physically-imposing defensive end at 6'4", 270 pounds, but he is athletic and not afraid to throw around what weight he has.

The Lions love to have quality along the defensive line, and Miller is someone they can take late in the draft and be certain of the work ethic and skills he will bring to the table.

Everyone knows of the uncertainty surrounding Cliff Avril's status with the franchise and how Kyle Vanden Bosch is getting older and constantly hampered by injury.

While Miller is in no way a guy who is ready to step right into a starting role, he can be someone worth developing for the future.