Late NFL Draft Movement Points To Detroit Lions Trade, Quarterbacks Going Early

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As the countdown to the 2020 NFL Draft begins for the Cincinnati Bengals, speculations are swirling in mock drafts and betting markets are experiencing a frenzy of changes.

The outcome of the all-virtual event will be revealed at 8 p.m. on Thursday. However, there is speculation that there may be significant changes leading up to the Detroit Lions’ turn.

There has been a strong association between the Lions and Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah at the third pick, although the potential for trading down has always been subtly present.

Those trade scenarios seem to be gaining momentum.

Will teams trade up with Lions for a quarterback?

Perhaps you are aware of this: The quarterback position holds immense significance when it comes to achieving success in the National Football League.

Therefore, when teams secure a top-10 pick, they frequently require a significant impact at the position to ensure the acquisition of the highly crucial “Quarterback of the Future.”

With Matthew Stafford leading the way, the Lions appear to have a solid foundation in the short-term and potentially even in the medium-term. The 32-year-old former No. 1 pick brings stability to the team.

Nevertheless, the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers, ranked 5th and 6th respectively, are confronting their own lingering uncertainties regarding the quarterback position.

Furthermore, Detroit general manager Bob Quinn has a well-known connection to his former employer in New England, who currently holds the 23rd pick in the draft. This could potentially lead to a trade opportunity, especially considering that the Patriots’ only options at starting quarterback are Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer.

Teams not shy about drafting quarterbacks early

Although it often leads to disappointment, teams have shown no hesitation in selecting quarterbacks early in the NFL Draft.

Since 2010, a total of 20 quarterbacks have been selected in the top 10 picks across 10 drafts, averaging two quarterbacks per season. Out of those 20, 13 quarterbacks were chosen within the top three picks. Over the course of six years, whenever a quarterback was chosen as the No. 1 pick, there were four instances where another quarterback was selected as the second or third pick.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is almost certain to secure the top spot on Thursday night’s draft. However, there is a possibility that either Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert from Oregon could make significant strides and reach the upper echelons of the draft board.

Oddsmakers bullish on quarterbacks moving up in NFL Draft

This draft season has placed significant emphasis on Tagovailoa, especially.

According to a report by Chris Sheridan from The Lines, the team that drafted Tagovailoa was the top choice among bettors on FanDuel Sportsbook, with 53% of the wagers being placed on Miami.

FanDuel has adjusted the odds for Tagovailoa’s placement from +450 to +240, following their initial listing on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Tagovailoa at odds of +400 to go third. However, by Thursday afternoon, his odds had improved to +300.

Herbert’s market value for third overall pick decreased from +450 to +500 on FanDuel, while on DraftKings, it increased from +500 to +400.

Rumors abound surrounding Lions at No. 3

Armando Salguero, a journalist at the Miami Herald, has expressed optimism regarding the likelihood of trades occurring on Thursday night.

On the morning of Thursday, he penned that the Lions have solidified their intentions to draft at either the No. 4 or No. 5 spot in the overall order. Moreover, they possess a certain level of assurance that they will successfully negotiate a trade with either the New York Giants or Miami Dolphins, either prior to the draft or during their turn to make a selection.

According to the local experts, the consensus remains that the Lions will ultimately secure Okudah.

However, there are some individuals, like Justin Rogers from The Detroit News, who are becoming more confident in their predictions that the Lions will make a move.

According to Rogers’ mock draft, the Detroit Lions are making a trade with the Miami Dolphins to secure the No. 5 spot and select Okudah. As part of the deal, the Lions will also receive pick No. 39. In the same draft scenario, Rogers predicts that the Dolphins will take a gamble by choosing Tagovailoa.

According to NFL.com’s Peter Schrager, he predicts that the trade will indeed occur, but with the Miami Dolphins selecting Herbert instead.

Mel Kiper switches to Derrick Brown for Lions pick

Mel Kiper, the renowned ESPN draft analyst, has consistently projected the Lions to select Okudah in the majority of his mock drafts, including his latest version on April 14th.

However, in his final 5.0 version, the stylish individual surprised everyone by predicting that Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown would be chosen by the Lions on Thursday morning.

However, Kiper continues to assert that Lions’ fans should keep an eye out for potential trades.

In this situation, it would be wise for Detroit to prioritize defense, potentially by considering cornerback Jeff Okudah. Furthermore, Brown would be an excellent addition to address the significant gap in the middle of their front seven. It’s worth noting that Brown brings more to the table than just run-stopping ability. It is also worth keeping an eye on this spot as a potential trade opportunity.

In the end, there is a strong belief that the Lions prioritize strengthening their defense on Thursday, and acquiring additional picks is always advantageous. It is highly probable that the Lions will secure Okudah, Brown, or Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons in some manner or another.

Clock ticking toward 2020 NFL Draft

Regardless of the outcome on Thursday night, it is guaranteed that the rating will be enormous.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are longing for live sports, and the NFL Draft provides the much-needed sense of normalcy that fans yearn for.

Casinos are also joining the trend. Detroit’s Greektown Casino-Hotel recently conducted a Twitter poll regarding the Lions draft on Thursday afternoon.

As of early Thursday afternoon, 57 Twitter users had expressed their opinions, with 47.4% of them predicting that the Lions would select Okudah.

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