Detroit Lions 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Revitalizing the defense

In the third round of this mock draft, the Detroit Lions go the small-school route, selecting safety Kyle Dugger from Lenior-Rhyne University. Dugger will be overlooked in the 2020 NFL Draft due to his college’s size and Lions general manager Bob Quinn needs to capitalize. The safety position for Detroit has been in question ever since Glover Quin retired after his release last summer.

Safeties Tavon Wilson and Tracy Walker are reliable, good players who excelled in stopping the extra gain this season. This is not a stat any defensive coach wants to see but both of the safeties did lead the team in tackles.

Unfortunately, both players have lacked consistency through the air during their time with the Detroit Lions, giving up big plays, a safeties number one job. So I don’t expect Dugger to come in day one and start, but since the Detroit Lions tend to run a nickel defense, Dugger will undoubtedly see the field.

Like the Detroit Lions safeties last year, Dugger is a tackling machine. He isn’t afraid to bursts into the box and makes a play on the inside run. He shows good instincts and coverage ability but does however lack in the range at the position. He also possesses natural ball skills and tracking as he deflected 13 balls during his junior year.

In 2019, Dugger took home the Cliff Harris Award for best Division II defensive prospect in the nation and his draft stock grew dramatically after the Senior Bowl, where he performed well. Dugger can also contribute through special teams. He returned six punts for a touchdown in college. Overall, Dugger has the attributes needed for your modern-day NFL safety.