Detroit Lions: Three-round 2021 NFL mock draft recap

Recapping the three-round haul for the Detroit Lions in the recent 2021 NFL mock draft at NFL Mocks.

On Monday morning, a brand new 2021 NFL mock draft dropped on NFL Mocks and this time we went three rounds deep with our predictions. This kind of mock draft allows us to look a bit deeper into the class and see how draft classes for specific teams can take shape. With this mock draft fresh on the mind, I wanted to take a quick look at some specific draft classes. Let’s take a look at the interesting mix of players the Detroit Lions were able to put together.

The Detroit Lions made three selections in this mock draft, beginning with their pick at No. 10 overall. By the end, their three-round mock draft haul came together as followed:

Round 1, 10th Overall: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
Round 2, 42nd Overall: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
Round 3, 74th Overall: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina

With Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola all hitting free agency this offseason, wide receiver could be a massive need for the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Lions will undoubtedly do everything that they can to bring Golladay back, but both him and Jones returning seems relatively unlikely. With this in mind, wide receiver will undoubtedly be on the Lions’ radar as early as the first round.

In this mock draft, Ja’Marr Chase slipped a bit further than usual, allowing the Lions to scoop up the player who many consider to be the best wide receiver in the class. Chase is a smooth and explosive wide receiver who can make plays at all levels of the defense. He is a precise route runner who always seems to be open and he undoubtedly does a great job of creating after the catch.

Chase also shows incredibly strong hands and tracks the ball in the air incredibly well. Simply put, he is an incredibly well-rounded receiver who can impact the game in a variety of ways. Pairing Chase with Golladay on the outside would give the Detriot Lions arguably the best young wide receiver duo in the entire NFL.

Finishing with defensive assets

In the second round of this mock draft, the Lions scooped up USC interior defensive lineman Jay Tufele. Tufele is considered by most to be a fringe first-round prospect and would be a fantastic value selection for a team like the Lions in this range.

With an impressive combination of size, power and quickness, Tufele can consistently impact both as a run defender and pass rusher. Tufele can sink in and plug gaps as a two-gap defender and also shows plenty of upside as a one-gap penetrator. Make no mistake about it, Tufele is a gifted defensive lineman who could quickly grow into an impact player for the Detroit Lions.

Detroit rounded out their mock draft haul with the selection of North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt in the third round. Surratt is a converted quarterback who shows great athleticism and on-field instincts at the linebacker position. He thinks the game at a high level and also shows impressive playmaking ability in pass coverage. Surratt is a gifted player with sky-high long-term upside.

In this mock draft, the Detroit Lions did a nice job of adding impact talent for their team on both sides of the ball. This group of players would not only help them compete right away, but also improve their upside for the long-term. Agree? Disagree? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.