2020 NFL Draft: Patriots find a QB of the future in two-round mock draft

Now here is where the draft truly begins. What in the world do the Detroit Lions do with the third pick in the 2020 NFL Draft? With the clear top two prospects off the board, it’s really anybody’s guess at this point.

Many suggest that they should and will trade to pick to a quarterback-needy team pursuing the likes of a healthy Tua Tagovailoa attempting to leapfrog the Miami Dolphins (or Miami themselves utilizing their three first-rounders to prevent that from happening and going and getting their guy).

I see that as a real possibility, and wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Miami end up selecting Tua at three to fend off other suitors, assuming he is 100% healthy and ready to play. If I am Detroit, I wouldn’t be opposed to that option. With the clear top two prospects gone, they may be able to get whoever they prefer at three at five and pick up another first-rounder or more in the process.

If they do hold onto the pick, some suggest that they take Tua themselves, with an aging Matthew Stafford coming off of an injury. But I think that Stafford still has something left in the tank and they have other needs that they can address at this point. Many suggest they take top cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, but I like Darius Slay and Justin Coleman enough to go in a different direction.

One guy that can help a struggling Detroit defense turn things around against both the run and the pass. Isaiah Simmons from Clemson is a true unicorn that can do absolutely everything on defense. He’s a player that a defensive-minded head coach like Matt Patricia would love to have on his team.

When I say he can play anywhere, I mean ANYWHERE. He has lined up with his hand on the ground on the defensive line and has manned up on the outside against top receivers as a corner. Simmons really lives in the middle of the field as a linebacker/strong safety, but he can be deployed in so many ways.

The Lions defense was awful last season, landing the former Patriots defensive coordinator, Patricia, on the hot seat after just two seasons with the team. Simmons could be a real job saver if he can come in, be utilized creatively by the coaching staff, and have similar production to when he was in college at Clemson.

In 2019, Simmons had104 tackles, 16.5 for loss, eight sacks, three interceptions, eight passes defended and two forced fumbles. That is the stat line of an incredibly versatile player. Simmons cracked the top five for me with the Lions back when they were slated to pick fifth, and I believe after his incredible College Football Playoff showing he can follow the Lions up two spots and become the third pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.