But, a month since then and many conversations with the NFL’s best minds, Kiper is changing his tune on the Lions’ first-round pick.
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Kiper has Detroit looking for a defense in his updated NFL first-round mock draft. According to Kiper’s tease, the Lions would select Missouri defensive end Zion Young.
We’ve been begging the Lions to add a long-term threat from the opposite edge to Aidan Hutchinson for a while now. Al-Quadin Muhammad had a surprise last season with 11 sacks, but he is a free agent. Tyrus Wheat was next best in sacks among pure running backs…with 1.5. So while the interior offensive line might be worth a look (Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane?), Detroit has to address the lack of depth at the edge. Young has strong hands and good quickness, and had 6.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season. – Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN
The Lions’ help in the pass rush against Aidan Hutchinson has been a hot projection in most NFL mock drafts.
Adding Young from Missouri would be an exciting first-round pick at No. 17 that would surely excite the Lions fan base.
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: ESPN’s NFL Mock Draft Predicts Missouri Star to Make Detroit Lions