Detroit Lions 2012: Full 7-Round Mock Draft

The Detroit Lions have a clear set of needs and will use the 2012 NFL draft to address them.  The Lions know what their needs are and will set out to add depth, skill and playmaking ability to those positions in April's draft. 

The All-Star games are done, the scouting combine is complete, and all that is left are Pro-Days and individual workouts and meetings. 

Free agency is set to begin on March 13, and the list of needs will get narrowed through the free-agency process. 

As of March 4th and before free agency, here is a look at who the Lions could be adding in all seven rounds of the 2012 NFL draft, based on their team needs as of March 4.

Round 1

Cordy Glenn, University of Georgia, Guard

Cordy Glenn is a massive man who recently measured in at 6’5.5” and 345 pounds at the NFL combine. 

He showcased his ability to move and fits a major need for the Detroit Lions. 

The Lions offensive line does a poor job of moving bodies up front. 

The addition of Cordy Glenn gives them a player who will get some significant push in the run game and a player with superior strength on the interior of their line. 

Glenn has very long arms and will use his length and power to seal defensive lineman away from the play.  He can move when he is asked to pull and is a very versatile lineman. 

There has been talk about his ability to move to tackle but realistically is best projected to play guard and to play guard at a very high level for a long time.  He would instantly add stability to their offensive line.

  

Other Players in the Mix in Round 1

Courtney Upshaw, LB, University of Alabama

Don’t’a High tower, LB, University of Alabama

Peter Konz, C/G, University of Wisconsin

Round 2

Casay Hayward, Cornerback, Vanderbilt

Casay Hayward is a good-sized cornerback, and he plays the position that is most pressing for the Lions to address. 

At the combine in Indianapolis, he weighed in at 5’11” and 192 pounds. 

The Lions struggled to make plays in their secondary in 2011 and need to add skill and depth to the position. 

The Lions got torched late in the season when their starters were injured.

Hayward is a safe player, but not spectacular, coming into the NFL.  He looks to be a good read-and-react type of player who is at his best in zone coverage. 

The Lions can't really make a mistake adding playmaking ability, skill and talent to the cornerback position. 

Simply put, the Lions need to add talented players who can eat up space with their ability to run in their secondary.

Other Players in the Mix in Round 2

Alfonzo Dennard, Cornerback, University of Nebraska

Bobby Wagner, Linebacker, Utah State

Kevin Zeitler, Guard, University of Wisconsin

Round 3

Harrison Smith, Safety, Notre Dame

Harrison Smith has prototype NFL safety size and is known to be a very productive player on film. 

Secondary is a huge position of need for the Lions, and adding a player who can just make plays at this point in the draft is a good move. 

At the combine in Indianapolis, he weighed in at just under 6’2” and 213 pounds. 

He is the kind of player the Lions definitely need—steady and solid.

Smith has very good instincts and uses those instincts to play a little faster than what his speed really is.  People who know Notre Dame football talk about his ability to tackle, even the open field. 

It seems like in the NFL these days, most safeties are simply players who want to turn themselves into missiles, but Smith is a player who will wrap up and finish the tackle.  Lions fans should consider themselves lucky to get a player of Smith's caliber this late in the draft.

 

Other Players in the Mix in Round 3

Mitchell Schwartz, Offensive Tackle, University of California

Markelle Martin, Safety, Oklahoma State University

Senio Kelemente, Guard, University of Washington

Round 4

James-Michael Johnson, Linebacker, University of Nevada

James-Michael Johnson has good size to play middle linebacker in a 4-3 base defense. 

Linebacker is a position of need for the Detroit Lions, and depending on what happens in free agency it has the ability to become a priority. 

Johnson weighed in at the combine at just over 6’1” inches and 241 pounds.  He has good pop at the point of attack and a very good ability to stop the run.

James-Michael Johnson is an explosive football player who down the road could anchor the Lions defense. 

He is an intelligent football player who always finds himself around the football.  He takes good angles and with his quick first step will create collisions at the line of scrimmage, and turnovers also.  

He will need to learn how to be more effective in coverage, but at this point a draft you are getting a guy who can be productive right away.

Other Players in the Mix in Round 4

Nate Potter, Offensive Tackle, Boise State University

Michael Brewster, Center, Ohio State University

Malik Jackson, Defensive End, University of Tennessee

Round 5

Andrew Datko, Offensive Tackle, Florida State University

Andrew Datko is a big offensive tackle from Florida State University. 

Tackle is clearly a need for the Lions as Jeff Backus is getting older and the Lions don't yet have his replacement. 

Datko measured in at the NFL combine at 6’6” and 315 pounds. 

Some consider him to be slender, and he will need to add some muscle to his frame to be able to handle the guys he will see across from him in the NFL.

Datko has long arms and is a rangy offensive tackle who displays the ability to quickly get to the second level and engage a target.  He has missed time with a shoulder injury and is considered a bit of a project but the turnaround time to get him complete is not long. 

With some added bulk and some NFL coaching, he is the kind of player that could be competitive in a year.  Given the time-frame that the Lions have, the need to identify their next left tackle is pressing.  Adding talent at the position through the draft is never a bad idea.

Other Players in the Mix in Round 5

Sean Spence, Outside Linebacker/Safety, the University of Miami

Lucas Nix, Guard, Pittsburgh University

Jeff Allen, Guard, The University of Illinois

Round 7

Mike Harris, Cornerback, Florida State University

Mike Harris is a very physical cornerback out of Florida State University. 

Again, the need is pressing at cornerback for the Lions, and Harris adds some physicality and good ball skills to their secondary. 

At the combine, Harris weighed in at just over 5’10” and 188 lbs. 

Harris needs to develop as a reliable cover cornerback, but he does bring skills to the table immediately.

Harris is not a super-fast cornerback and will get beat initially by wide receivers with elite speed.  He needs some NFL coaching as far as the coverage game goes. 

Harris is a big hitter and a very willing tackler.  He is a sure tackler with good ball skills and a player that will find the football against the run.  Harris is the kind of player who could make the team out of camp because of his ability to play special teams.

Other Players in the Mix in Round 7

Demario Davis, Linebacker, Arkansas State University

Tom Compton, Guard, South Dakota University

Matt Reynolds, Offensive Tackle, BYU

Round 7

Markus Zusevics, Offensive Tackle, University of Iowa

Markus Zusevics is a powerful offensive tackle from the University of Iowa. 

The Detroit Lions need to find a player to replace Jeff Backus, and there is nothing wrong with trying in the draft. 

Zusevics measured in just under 6’5” and 303 pounds at the combine. 

He is considered a project, and he will need to add bulk to his frame to be able to compete with the big defenders he will see in the NFL. 

There is an injury risk with him, as he tore a pectoral muscle during the bench press drill at the combine.

Zusevics is a very good player in the power run game, displaying powerful hands and very good strength and balance.  With the added bulk, he looks like a player that transitions to guard down the road and can dominate in space with his strength. 

He has quick feet, a quick first step and held up well in the pass game at Iowa.  He is a gamble because he needs to recover from the torn pectoral muscle, but if he does and can add some bulk, he is a player who can offer nice things as an offensive lineman in two years. 

Other Players in the Mix in Round 7

Robert Blanton, Cornerback, University of Notre Dame

D’Anton Lynn, Safety, Penn State University

Justin Bethel. Cornerback, Presbyterian University