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Detroit Lions: 7-Round 2019 NFL mock draft, version 3.0

By Zac Snyder

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 31: Detroit Lions president Rod Wood and General Manager Bob Quinn watch the warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers on December 31, 2017 at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 31: Detroit Lions president Rod Wood and General Manager Bob Quinn watch the warm ups prior to the start of the game against the Green Bay Packers on December 31, 2017 at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Lions draft prospect Devin Bush
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 01: Devin Bush #10 of the Michigan Wolverines tackles Jafar Armstrong #8 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Devin Bush needs no introduction for Lions fans after playing his college ball at the University of Michigan. As an off-ball linebacker, a top 10 pick may be too high to justify, but the Lions have put in some work on Bush during the pre-draft process and he is widely considered a sure first round pick. He will be one of the prospects in attendance at the draft in Nashville.

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Despite the questionable value at this spot, the linebacker position hasn’t been totally foreign for the Lions in mock drafts. Those mostly have featured LSU’s Devin White, but Bush is the correct Devin off the ball linebacker to take here if that position really is the pick. White’s game may have too much overlap with what the Lions already have in Jarrad Davis and Bob Quinn has shown more preference for low floor prospects with his first round picks. Bush better fits that description than White.

Bush will get knocked for his size but it’s really only his height that is a major concern. He comes out closer to average for his weight and still tested out as an elite athlete while carrying that on his frame. His athleticism is evident on the field and he plays a physical style of ball.

His lack of size was something that was noted even as Bush was coming out of high school. Still, he was a four-star recruit, went on to play at an elite level at a high-major program and leaves school as a sure first round pick. Knock his size if you want, but Bush has risen above it at every level.

Is an off-ball linebacker really in the mix if the Lions stay put with the eighth overall pick? That remains to be seen but it is somewhat interesting that the Lions have added to all other parts of their defense in free agency while the status quo has been maintained at linebacker.

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