By NATE ATKINS -- natkins@mlive.com

The mock draft roundup is back.

It took a little time for me to catch up on this year's prospects, something I did in time to release my first mock draft of the season. So now, I'm ready to give some basic feedback on the players that other mock drafts send each week to the Detroit Lions, who hold the No. 20 pick.

Our understanding of these prospects is obviously only going to change for the better as we move onto the Senior Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and pro days. The reactions right now are more theoretical, based on fit more than where they might go or anything too based on their measurements. And it's all while recognizing that free agency will change these needs entirely anyway.

Let's get to it:

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Vita Vea, DT, Washington

Mocked by: Pro Football Focus

Nate's mock: No. 13 to Redskins

Nate's reaction: You'll hear a lot of buzz about this guy to the Lions for a while. He's enormous yet lean, having played in the up-tempo PAC-12. He's a nose or run-stuffing tackle, but he brings some short-area quickness to provide a sense of a rush. And that fits a defense like what Matt Patricia runs, and it fits what the Lions are looking for with Haloti Ngata aging and currently a free agent. A number of teams picking above Detroit have the same need, though.

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Marvin Fong | Cleveland.com

Billy Price, OG/C, Ohio State

Mocked by: NFL Draft Scout's Dane Brugler, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah

Nate's mock: No. 22 to Broncos

Nate's reaction: I get the theory behind this pick from a distance. Billy Price is experienced at all three interior spots. He's nasty in the run game. Detroit has an opening at left guard and Price could reunite with Taylor Decker on the left side, which would create the chemistry to help spark the running game. I just think the Lions would need to feel as if they've addressed more mission-critical positions like defensive line in free agency. Teams can develop guards inexpensively with good players on either side, and Detroit has dedicated so many resources to this position group already. But the player does fit.

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Harold Landry, EDGE, Boston College

Mocked by: Bleacher Report's Matt Miller

Nate's mock: No. 20 to Lions

Nate's reaction: This is the selection I made for Detroit, too, and that's because Landry seems to combine the ability and motor with the production you want to see at a serious position of need for the Lions. He totaled 30.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks in 20 games over the past two seasons in a power conference. He has a smooth and burstful rip around the edge in the pass rush, but he's also tougher than his size in setting an edge and has shown some ability to drop back in coverage. His weight will be interesting to measure at the combine.

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Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan

Mocked by: CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso

Nate's mock: No. 19 to Cowboys

Nate's reaction: Most mocks of the hometown player to the NFL team are lazy ideas, but this one's gotten buzz for the right reasons, at least early on. The Lions haven't had interior pressure since Ndamukong Suh left, and it's been a major problem. Hurst looks like he could be the most disruptive interior force in the draft. He's going to be one to monitor closely throughout this whole process.

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Marvin Fong | Cleveland.com

Sam Hubbard, EDGE, Ohio State

Mocked by: ESPN's Mel Kiper

Nate's mock: No. 32 to Patriots

Nate's reaction: I've watched a lot of Hubbard because he's played in a lot of meaningful games over the past three years. He's fit in nicely in Ohio State's deep defensive line, showing some balanced play and often wearing teams down by the end of games. He has the size to hold at a 4-3 end spot in base, which will intrigue some teams. I just don't see a down-to-down disrupter generally worthy of this high of a pick. It's possible he was buried by Ohio State's line, and his testing could shoot him up. He does seem like the type of end the Patriots would like to use, so it'll be an idea worth exploring.

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