2020 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions mock draft with Isaiah Simmons on top

The Detroit Lions need to continue to re-shape their defense in the 2020 NFL Draft. This mock draft featuring Isaiah Simmons will help.

Although the New England Patriots have maintained an incredibly high level of defensive play in Matt Patricia’s absence, the Detroit Lions have not experienced any sort of overnight turnaround under his watch in that regard. The 2020 NFL Draft beckons as the Lions cross the midway point of the 2019 season with a 3-5-1 record, fourth place in the ultra-competitive NFC North.

Offensively, the Lions are capable of putting up big numbers with Matthew Stafford at the helm. They rank seventh in the NFL in total yards, fourth in passing yards, and second in the NFL with 20 passing touchdowns so far this season.

Stafford has weapons to get the ball to, and the Lions’ defense certainly has pieces, but they might yet be a draft class away.

Although taking a tight end in the first round is not the most en vogue move in today’s NFL, TJ Hockenson was a rare talent that warranted it. I think the Lions will reap the benefits of that pick for a number of years, but they definitely need to seek out the most potent defensive weapon in the 2020 NFL Draft they can find.

Armed now with the 11th overall pick with seven games yet to play in 2019, the Lions are in pretty good position to add one of this year’s best defensive players through the draft.

As a matter of fact, this mock draft will reflect a new pick after our previous mock draft looked at a scenario where the Lions took cover corner Kristian Fulton of LSU.

The Lions landed another stud SEC cornerback in our full first-round mock draft, which featured an incredible 12 players from LSU and Alabama combined.

But this mock draft will feature another college football powerhouse sending a defensive player to Patricia and the Lions. Let’s look through four rounds of mock draft madness to get the Lions back into playoff contention.