2024 NFL draft: 15 fits to watch for the Detroit Lions on Day 3

ALLEN PARK — Brad Holmes feels like the Detroit Lions finally found the future of their cornerback room. The Lions made two picks in the first two days of the 2024 NFL draft, and both players were cornerbacks: Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

The Lions are slated to pick from 164th (Round 5), 201st (Round 6), 205th (Round 6) and 249th (Round 7) on Day 3. For those counting from home, that’s a 103-selection gap between the Rakestraw pick and the team’s next draft slot.

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Boston College iOL Christian Mahogany

Christian Mahogany checks boxes around these parts as a pure guard who might have dropped boards due to his injury history. Mahogany missed the entire 2022 season with an ACL injury. But it’s hard to hold anything against him after being named a first-team All-ACC guard last season, allowing no sacks or quarterback hits across 862 offensive snaps. He has an old-school mauler in his game, and that should work well on the ground, with a year as a depth piece working in his favor in terms of development.

Florida State TE Jaheim Bell

Jaheim Bell is a fun thought for Ben Johnson’s offense. He could handle work out of the backfield as the team’s H-back, which could give the Lions even more flexibility. Bell was a do-it-all piece at South Carolina, then landed in a different role in his lone year in Tallahassee. While at South Carolina, he caught 55 balls for 728 yards and seven touchdowns, with 73 rushes for 261 yards and three scores on the ground. The Seminoles didn’t need Bell in the running game, using him more all over, hitting him for 39 grabs, 503 yards and two scores. He measured 6-foot-1, 244 pounds at the Senior Bowl, so he’s a tough projection in the NFL.

Pittsburgh WR Bub Means

Bub Means would be an intriguing depth piece for the vertical passing attack after losing Josh Reynolds via free agency. Means doesn’t have the gaudiest numbers. But a 17.6-yard per catch average with his sturdy frame? That’s the type of player that should be enticing on Day 3. Means caught 41 balls for 721 and six scores in 2023. He’s a big-play, contested-ball type, and that’s something the Lions need moving forward.

North Carolina WR Devontez Walker

Coming out of the combine, yours truly said Devontez Walker could turn out to be one of the steals of the draft. And, well, here we are, entering Day 3, and Walker is still there. His final season in Chapel Hill was interrupted by the NCAA being the NCAA. But when the wideout was cleared for action, he secured 41 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns in only eight games. He scored 18 touchdowns in his last 20 games between Kent State and UNC.

Charlotte EDGE Eyabi Okie-Anoma

Eyabi Okie-Anoma has been a personal favorite late-round pick for a minute. He’s a former blue-chip recruit who transferred from Alabama to Michigan to Charlotte, and while his career didn’t go as planned, he flashed enough as an explosive pass rusher to get a chance in the NFL. The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder would be a development pick. But this isn’t a blank slate.

Alabama RB Jase McClellan

Jase McClellan has been a vital part of the Crimson Tide’s offense over the last two years. He ran 180 times for 890 yards and eight scores, adding 15 catches for 137 yards last season. He was a four-year contributor at Alabama, a program the Lions have proven to love. McClellan is a solid athlete and comes battle-tested from one of the nation’s toughest situations to maintain a multi-year role, and that’s not nothing.

Northern Iowa DL Khristian Boyd

Khristian Boyd and the Lions have been linked since they hosted the Northern Iowa prospect on a pre-draft visit. He’s another experienced option, with six years in the college game. But Boyd wreaked a ton of havoc, posting 22.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks at Northern Iowa. He’s a powerful presence that will clog holes on the interior of a defensive line. It’s always hard to project players making the jump in competition like that. However, Boyd has some physical traits that should help him find a home on Day 3.

Washington S Dominique Hampton

Dominique Hampton played six seasons at the college level. But that kind of experience starts to be more of a positive than a negative when talking about the later rounds. He’ll turn 24 as a rookie. But Hampton forced seven incompletions, with a forced incompletion rate of 12.7% last season, showing a helpful level of aggressiveness to the ball. He’s played all over the field, with nearly 800 snaps in the slot over the last two seasons, with some work out wide, too. Hampton works in several ways in Detroit.

Air Force LB Bo Richter

Bo Richter might be without a home due to his size. But the way he disengages, whether from the edge of off-ball linebacker, lends one to think he’d be a natural on special teams. The Mountain West Conference standout posted 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 13 games last season. Some view him as a linebacker, others an edge, with his path to playing time coming on special teams, though.

He scored a glowing 9.92 Relative Athletic Score, with his only knock coming in the size department at 6-foot, 248 pounds. He ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and added a 40-inch vertical, suggesting there is more than enough to work with in Richter.

Michigan LB Michael Barrett

Another name to watch for a special teams role, at least at first, is former Michigan standout, Michael Barrett. He’s another throwback linebacker who could thrive with the new kickoff rules on special teams. Barrett is undersized for a full-time role as a linebacker, much like Richter. But Barrett hits like a superheavyweight and runs downhill like a runaway car without brakes.

Wake Forest S Malik Mustapha

Malik Mustapha plays like he already plays for Aaron Glenn and Deshea Townsend. Mustapha is a throwback safety who plays with a scary downhill ability. He was one of PFF’s top-graded run defenders at his position, and his chops in coverage weren’t too bad. Mustapha had a forced incompletion rate of 10.3% and got a taste of action all over the defense in 2023. The Lions are rolling with Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph as their top safeties. Joseph is recovering from hip surgery, and the Lions could use more depth there and on special teams.

Texas WR Jordan Whittington

Jordan Whittington is the type of versatile, straight playmaker that could and should entice the Lions. He was a five-year player at Texas, with two strong seasons to end his time in Austin. He caught 42 passes for 505 yards and one score in Texas’ loaded passing attack in 2023. Whittington could bring some enviable size to the slot, with his standing as a blocker and physical football player hard to ignore for the Lions. He’s played running back in the past and projects as a unique player who could add something after the catch. Whittington was a former top-100 recruit who dealt with injuries and a loaded room of pass catchers at Texas.

While his production or vertical ability on the outside won’t blow anyone away, Whittington has a rock-solid frame and plays like someone who would fit in well in Detroit.

Missouri K Harrison Mevis

Welcome to the kicker section. We are talking about potential Day 3 selections here, so let’s at least look at three of the top options. Harrison Mevis had a brutal showing at his pro day. But when looking at what he accomplished while at Missouri? It’s easy to see him getting a shot. Mevis made 147 of 148 extra-point attempts in four seasons, hitting 86 of 103 field goals with a long of 61 yards. He missed only one kick from inside of 40 yards. There are consistency issues he needs to correct if he wants to fight for a spot in an NFL training camp. But the boom potential is there.

Arkansas K Cam Little

Cam Little, though? It’s easy to fall in love with his consistent accuracy. Little made all 129 extra points at Arkansas, making 53 of 64 field goals with a long of 56 yards. His college coach claimed Little hit a 68-yarder in practice, so there is some leg talent worth evaluation if that’s the case. Little made four of his five tries from longer than 50 yards out in 2023.

Alabama K Will Reichard

Will Reichard leaves Alabama as the all-time scoring leader in the FBS history. Reichard made 295 of 297 extra points, with 84 made field goals on a clean 100 tries. He’s kicked in some supremely high-pressure situations, not to mention an improved showing from distance. Reichard made all five attempts from 50-plus yards in his final season for the Crimson Tide.