2021 NFL Draft: Washington trades up for Justin Fields in NFL mock draft
By Kyle Edmond
TRADE: Buffalo trades No. 30 to Detroit for a second-rounder and future picks
LB. Tulsa. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player. 50. Zaven Collins. 30
For the third time in this mock draft, the Detroit Lions are on the move. First, they trade down from No. 7, then up to No. 12 and now they climb back into the first round. As for the Buffalo Bills, they don’t have any glaring needs, so the idea of dropping back to add picks makes sense for them at this point.
For the Lions, they are not only in a rebuild but a culture shift. It became clear that Dan Campbell wants a certain tone to his team and moving up for Zaven Collins gives the Lions another strong outside linebacker with a lot of potential.
Collins can do a little bit of everything. Over 32 games with Tulsa, Collins totaled 236 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight passes defended, five interceptions and three forced fumbles. Those stats have worked Collins into the same conversation as Micah Parsons, who went No. 14 to Cleveland in this mock.
If the Lions can exit the first round with both Jaylen Waddle and Zaven Collins, that would be a huge first step for the new regime in turning this franchise around. There would obviously be more work to do, but that would be one heck of a start.