The Detroit Lions are sitting at 3-2, but Sports Illustrated’s newest 2027 NFL mock draft just dropped a bombshell, making them wait on secondary help until Round 2. It’s a pass rusher for Round 1, folks, even with cornerback and safety screaming as the biggest needs on this roster right now. General manager Brad Holmes has been adding depth, signing safety Myles Bryant to the practice squad this week, but if he stands pat on a trade, the draft becomes the fix, and this mock says that fix ain’t starting in the secondary.
Edge Rushers Over DBs? Seriously?
Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated published his two-round projection on Wednesday, and it’s got the Lions holding the No. 21 overall pick and snagging Alabama edge rusher Devan Thompkins. I’m telling you, it’s a head-scratcher when the secondary is a glaring hole. Thompkins is a USC transfer who’s been making the most of the attention playing next to Yhonza Pierre. This dude is built like a tank at 6’5″, 300 pounds, and he knows how to use that size and strength. He’s a polished pass rusher and could end Detroit’s long search for a serviceable No. 2 opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Thompkins has three sacks, one forced fumble, and 29 tackles this season for Alabama. That’s a good addition up front, no doubt, but the priority here is wild.
Round 2 For The Back End: Is It Enough?
The secondary *does* get addressed, but not until the second round. Manzano has Detroit taking Ohio State safety Jaylen McClain at No. 52 overall. He says Detroit misses out on Kelley Jones, but McClain’s elite instincts are exactly what a sluggish secondary needs. Despite not being the biggest guy at 6’0″, 203 pounds, he’s always in the right place because of his athleticism and physicality. McClain’s stats this season for Ohio State are solid: 32 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions, and five pass deflections. He would be a good choice, but the question remains: why wait?
Holmes’ History and A Hard Truth For Detroit
This move would be a change of direction for Holmes. The last time Detroit spent a first-round pick on an edge rusher was way back in 2022, grabbing Aidan Hutchinson at No. 2 overall. Since then, it’s been Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell in 2023, cornerback Terrion Arnold in 2024, defensive tackle Tyleik Williams in 2025, and offensive tackle Blake Miller in 2026. Going back to the edge in 2027, given the current glaring needs, would be a hard one for the general manager to defend if that cornerback position is still a gaping hole when the draft rolls around.
What’s immediately next for the Lions? That NFL trade deadline hits November 10 at 4 p.m. ET. Brad Holmes could still pull the trigger and trade for a safety or cornerback to fix those glaring needs right now. If he doesn’t, this mock draft highlights a future where secondary help is pushed to the back burner, and frankly, that’s a gamble when you’re 3-2 and trying to make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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