The Detroit Lions hold a lot of power in the upcoming NFL draft. Detroit picks third, and likely holds the key to drafting Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Some have suggested the Lions take the top available quarterback prospect and move on from Matthew Stafford. Others have pointed to the team’s porous defense and cried for the franchise to trade back and stack assets.

Related: Kyle Meinke’s 2020 NFL mock draft 1.0: Lions land Ohio State star Chase Young

With all that said, let’s dive into Ben Raven’s first mock draft:

1. Cincinnati Bengals -- LSU QB Joe Burrow

This pick seems as close to being locked in as possible at this point. Burrow, the Heisman winner, completed 76.3% of his passes with 5,671 yards with 60 touchdowns and only six interceptions while leading LSU to a national championship.

2. Washington -- Ohio State DE Chase Young

Going with a trade or quarterback here is tempting based on all of Washington’s needs and the fact Ron Rivera wasn’t the coach when the team took quarterback Dwayne Haskins in the first round last year.

The pick here is Young, though, as Washington continues to invest in its defense. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting thanks to 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Washington spent first-round picks on defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in consecutive years, and another on edge rusher Montez Sweat last year.

3. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Detroit Lions) -- Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa

While tempted to make something happen with Tua at No. 2, Chase Young is too perfect of a gift for the new regime in Washington.

That brings us to the trade between the Dolphins and Lions. It’s a trendy, popular move for good reason. Miami needs a quarterback and has the assets to move up. Pair that with Detroit’s needs all over the board and quarterback Matthew Stafford’s performance before an injury, and this partnership is easy to envision. The Dolphins send the No. 5 and 18 picks to Detroit for the No. 3 spot in this mock draft.

Teams have paid much higher prices for worse quarterback prospects in the draft in recent years.

4. New York Giants -- Ohio State CB Jeff Okudah

The Lions trade back but miss out on Okudah with the New York Giants taking the cornerback. Much like Detroit, the Giants have holes all over the board with distinct needs on defense.

New York took its quarterback of the future last year in Daniel Jones and still has holes on the offensive line. The Giants can find their offensive line depth early in the second and third rounds or in free agency with more than $60 million in cap space. Okudah’s potential as a shutdown corner that can do it in man and the press is too much to pass on.

There is a reason he’s projected by many as a top-three pick. That doesn’t often happen at his position, which usually means the prospect is a special one. Last year’s first-round pick DeAndre Baker struggled mightily, so the future of the position remains murky for the Giants.

Jeff Okudah allowed just 3.1 yards per target in press coverage this season, over 3.5 yards below the FBS average (per @PFF).



He’s the best NFL draft prospect at corner since Jalen Ramsey to be honest. pic.twitter.com/hIxh1nGcc0 — Anthony Treash (@PFF_Anthony) January 7, 2020

5. Detroit Lions -- Clemson LB/S Isaiah Simmons

The Detroit Lions were bad all over the board last season, coming 64 yards within the franchise mark for defensive futility. Detroit’s defense allowed the most passing yards, intercepted the least amount of passes and produced a league-worst 28 sacks.

Simmons might not have a defined position, but he’s performed at a high level while being asked to do a little bit of everything. He logged more than 100 snaps at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, slot corner, and both safety positions for Clemson last season. He might be the perfect hybrid linebacker for where the NFL is going. Pro Football Focus handed him coverage grades of 76.1, 90.0 and 88.2 in three seasons, respectively. Those marks paired with the number of different positions he was regularly playing is mind-boggling.

A defensive coach like Matt Patricia getting his hands on a player with this level of versatility? That sounds too good to pass on for someone who asks a lot from his linebackers. Jarrad Davis and Christian Jones struggled, and there’s room for Simmons to immediately enter the linebacker rotation to limit the added tasks for those two. Also, veteran Tavon Wilson is a pending free agent and Will Harris needs to take some steps forward to earn a regular role at safety. Simmons might need a little more time to find what works best, but the all-around talent is worth the risk.

Tremendo atleta que es Isaiah Simmons, según @PFF_College jugó 100 o más snaps en 5 posiciones diferentes (OLB, ILB, Slot CB, FS y SS). 🏈



Además lideró a Clemson en tackleadas y en capturas. Tiene todo para triunfar en la NFL. 🔝



🎥: @AlexWilsonESMpic.twitter.com/JsfoVefdzo — Football (@LaloFootball) February 14, 2020

6. Los Angeles Chargers -- Oregon QB Justin Herbert

With Philip Rivers out, the Chargers have an opportunity to bridge the gap quickly. The team has quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and Herbert could compete for the job or take a year behind the veteran. Keep an eye on the Chargers as a potential trade-up candidate for Tagovailoa, but Herbert could be waiting for them without selling off any assets.

7. Carolina Panthers -- Alabama OT Jedrick Wills

Whether or not Cam Newton is back, Carolina needs to shore up its offensive line. The Panthers come out winners thanks to the disarray at the top of the draft in landing a proven option like Wills. Carolina’s quarterbacks were sacked 58 times last year, and it never hurts to give a player like Christian McCaffrey a potentially foundational tackle.

8. Arizona Cardinals -- Houston OT Josh Jones

Louisville’s Mekhi Becton, Georgia’s Andrew Thomas and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs are all viable picks here. Still, Jones is a fast riser and seems like the perfect fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. The 6-foot-7 lineman was a four-year starter in a pass-heavy offense in college, and PFF gave him the highest grade (93.2) ever to a non-major conference tackle.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Auburn DT Derrick Brown

Derrick Brown isn’t getting out of the top 10. When we come back to this mock three months from now, I won't be shocked if he goes higher, to be honest. Marcel Dareus’ cap hit grows to more than $20 million next season, and Brown would serve as an ideal replacement in Jacksonville.

10. Cleveland Browns -- Georgia OT Andrew Thomas

Much like Brown, Thomas could be a name to watch higher in the order. The three-year starter in the SEC flashed elite all-around ability with PFF grades of 92.4 overall, 89.0 in pass protection and 91.3 on the ground.

11. New York Jets -- Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs

Another team with a young quarterback in desperate need of some protection. Sam Darnold and the Jets should be thrilled to see Wirfs sitting there at No. 11.

Highest-graded draft-eligible OT's in 2018 & 2019:



1. Andrew Thomas

2. Tristan Wirfs pic.twitter.com/QoaWFaaV0N — PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 13, 2020

12. Las Vegas Raiders -- Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb

From trading Amari Cooper to the Antonio Brown saga, the Raiders have had a rough-go at wide receiver.

PFF cites Lamb with forcing 26 missed tackles while averaging 13.2 yards per target for the Sooners. Derek Carr completed a career-high 70.4% of his passes last year and Lamb looks the part of a bonafide No. 1 threat to bring to Las Vegas.

13. Indianapolis Colts -- Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy

Spoiler alert, here come those wide receivers. The Colts like quarterback Jacoby Brissett but he didn’t wow anyone after Andrew Luck’s retirement. He remains a safer bet than Jordan Love or Jacob Eason, and Jeudy can only add to his ceiling as a starter. ESPN’s Mel Kiper even compared Jeudy to Colts legend Marvin Harrison.

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Louisville OT Mekhi Becton

The Jameis Winston situation makes this pick one of the more difficult ones to project. Tampa Bay’s defense could lose a lot from this past season, but Becton feels like a safe pick that fills a need for a team that appears a little lost. He’s 6-foot-7, 370 pounds and could step into the spot left behind by likely free-agent tackle Demar Dotson.

15. Denver Broncos -- South Carolina DL Javon Kinlaw

Somewhere John Elway just did a celebratory cartwheel. Kinlaw is a trendy player for some higher in the draft but falls to a Denver defense already featuring Von Miller and the returning Bradley Chubb.

16. Atlanta Falcons -- LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson

Vic Beasley is out, so enter LSU’s Chaisson for the Falcons. He’s an explosive option off the edge and could have room to grow at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds.

17. Dallas Cowboys -- Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III

Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper are about to get paid, so why not go all-in with the offense. Dallas has a ton of upcoming pending free agents and could go several directions here from corner to safety to an edge rusher.

Ruggs is a potential game-changer to fill the hole left by Randall Cobb. He fills in with Cooper and Michael Gallup while maximizing the likely mammoth investment into Prescott. Ruggs is a game-breaking type of threat averaging 9 yards after the catch with some speculating he could run in the 4.2s in the 40-yard dash.

18. Detroit Lions (via trade with Dolphins) -- Florida CB C.J. Henderson

Detroit trades back and misses out on Okudah but finds Henderson waiting for them at No. 18. Henderson comes in at 6-foot-1 and with desirable experience playing man coverage in the SEC. He was credited with allowing only 28 first-down catches on 637 coverage plays in the last two seasons per PFF. Considering the level of talent he was facing, and you better believe he’s popped up on Lions general manager Bob Quinn’s radar.

Adding Simmons and Henderson to the defense both fills the need for versatility at the linebacker position while beefing up the secondary. If this happens in April, expect an A+ grade right here. Henderson is both a fit and would represent one of the best-case scenarios if the team trades back and misses on Okudah.

19. Las Vegas Raiders -- Alabama CB Trevon Diggs

A senior coming in at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds could be just what the doctor ordered for Las Vegas’ defense to take the next step. Jon Gruden’s team continues its rebuild in adding one of the most well-regarded corners in college football with a PFF coverage grade of 90.1.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars -- LSU CB Kristian Fulton

The Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Rams for the rights to this pick, and it only makes sense to grab Fulton here. A.J. Bouye remains on the roster and could use some help in the form of Fulton’s elite skills in man coverage. He logged 306 press coverage snaps and registered a 29.1% forced incompletion rate last season.

21. Philadelphia Eagles -- Clemson WR Tee Higgins

Stop me if you’ve heard this one in the last two months, but the Eagles need some help at receiver. No receiver topped 500 yards in Philly, and Nelson Agholor is a pending free agent. Higgins was PFF’s highest-graded wideout in college football while averaging an eye-popping 19.8 yards per catch.

22. Buffalo Bills -- LSU WR Justin Jefferson

Josh Allen needs some more support, and that’s not to take away from the seasons he got out of John Brown and Cole Beasley. Add LSU’s Jefferson to Brown and Beasley, and Buffalo is moving forward with an improved offense after a playoff berth. Jefferson caught 111 balls for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Tigers.

23. New England Patriots -- Utah State QB Jordan Love

While the Patriots need help at receiver, the team is gift-wrapped Love at the No. 23 pick. Whether he’s pegged as yet another Tom Brady replacement or trade piece for New England, this is excellent value at this stage. He’s got a big-time arm and needs time to grow before being thrust into action.

24. New Orleans Saints -- Colorado WR Laviska Shenault Jr.

Not only do the Saints need another weapon at receiver, but Shenault could be a new dangerous gadget for coach Sean Payton. He forced 46 missed tackles while battling through injuries across his sophomore and junior seasons.

Laviska Shenault just out there to run guys over! The Buffs lead early against Arizona State.



(Via @Pac12Network)pic.twitter.com/31Zs5feT6r — PFF Draft (@PFF_College) September 22, 2019

25. Minnesota Vikings -- Iowa EDGE A.J. Epenesa

Minnesota needs more of an interior presence, but Epenesa is possibly the best player left on the board at this point. He played against the run more his junior season at Iowa, which will only help him when the draft comes. PFF reports Epenesa lined up on the interior on 98 snaps this past year.

AJ Epenesa (94) has sledgehammers for hands, and his arms are very long. He uses them in tandem like Thor uses his hammer. pic.twitter.com/IYHnpVL4XS — Dalton Miller (@DaltonBMiller) February 15, 2020

26. Miami Dolphins -- USC OT Austin Jackson

Miami traded recent first-round tackle Laremy Tunsil to Houston, leaving a glaring hole upfront. He’s a raw prospect but the team needs to start building that offensive line for Tagovailoa.

27. Seattle Seahawks -- Wisconsin LB Zack Baun

Seattle needs pass rushers, and Baun looked like one of the best blitzing linebackers in all of college football. He put up 12.5 sacks and received a pass-rush grade of 91.0 from PFF.

28. Baltimore Ravens -- Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray

Baltimore loves to blitz, and just misses out on Baun. Murray feels like a do-it-all linebacker destined to succeed at the next level quietly. The Ravens could go looking for a change of pace behind Mark Ingram, but this Raven thinks Murray is the pick here.

29. Tennessee Titans -- Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins

Whether or not Derrick Henry is back, the Titans need depth out of the backfield. Dion Lewis regressed, and Dobbins would be either a perfect complement with Henry or as a desirable fresh starting spot.

30. Green Bay Packers -- Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet

You can’t convince me the Packers are all of a sudden going to take a wide receiver in the first round. Kmet is 6-foot-5 and fits perfectly behind veteran tight end Jimmy Graham to give Aaron Rodgers some options in the red zone.

Cole Kmet isn't a good blocker at this stage but he's a NFL-ready receiver with the frame to develop as a blocker if technique improves.



Good initial burst making him a natural seam runner. Nice job here of holding the route inside & adjusting to the back shoulder. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/wFJTUVWJvO — Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) February 11, 2020

31. San Francisco 49ers -- Penn State DE Yetur Gross-Matos

The rich get richer. Solomon Thomas does not appear to be the answer San Francisco thought, which could open the door for a newcomer through the draft. Gross-Matos picked up 9.5 sacks for the Nittany Lions.

32. Kansas City Chiefs -- Georgia RB D’Andre Swift

Speaking of the rich getting richer. Swift is an all-around running back that proves an immediate upgrade in life without Kareem Hunt. Damien Williams and Swift make for a good one-two punch for the reigning Super Bowl champions.