Detroit Lions: 3 trade-up targets in the 2020 NFL Draft

Jonah Jackson, Interior Offensive Lineman, Ohio State

After losing quality starting guard Graham Glasgow in free agency this offseason, the Detroit Lions are left with a gaping hole at the position on the depth chart. The only starting level guard on the roster is Joe Dahl, and even his play is barely above-replacement level quality.

Beyond Dahl, the roster is quite barren with Joshua Garnett and Oday Aboushi as the next two up on the depth chart. When it’s all said and done, the Lions must walk away from the 2020 NFL Draft with a starting quality offensive guard.

While it’s unlikely the acquire one in the first round, the Lions could find that one of the top two interior linemen are still on the board at 35 overall. However, both Cesar Ruiz and Lloyd Cushenberry are better suited to playing center and the Lions are already set at the position.

Looking beyond those two guards, one that could capture the attention of the Lions is Ohio State guard Jonah Jackson. Jackson is a master at protecting his quarterback, having allowed just one sack in his entire college career as well as a limited number of pressures.

Pro Football Focus credits that impressive statistic to Jackson’s “exceptional” hand usage and “unmatched balance”. An elite pass protector is exactly what the Detroit Lions’ offensive line needs to step in at right guard to protect quarterback Matthew Stafford.

At the moment, it’s unsure whether or not Jackson will make it as far as the first of two Lions’ third-round picks, but the betting odds are he will not. That said, the Lions would need to trade up from 67 overall into the middle of the second round. To move from pick 67 to, say, 49, would require that Detroit send their trade partner the 67th overall pick and a 2021 third-round pick, give or take.