Chalk this one up to morbid curiosity. Jonah Williams has popped up as an option for the Lions in the first round, most prominently from Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft 3.0 on NFL.com. The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative from most Lions fans, so I wanted to take this opportunity to see how a whole draft might play out if the Lions went this direction with their first pick.
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On the surface, this might not seem like a pick that makes a lot of sense but I do believe it is a realistic scenario when you go beyond the surface. For one, Bob Quinn has made a habit of investing in the offensive line through his three drafts as the Lions’ general manager. Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow were two of his first three picks and have become solid starters. Add in Frank Ragnow last year and Quinn has used two of his first three first-round picks on offensive linemen.
Williams also fits the profile of a high-floor prospect from a major program or conference that Quinn has often looked to in the early round of the drafts. It may not be exciting but there is a lot about Williams that just feels like a Bob Quinn pick.
The Lions don’t have an immediate need at tackle but they do have an open spot at guard. Williams has routinely been ranked as a top 10 player in this draft as a tackle but there is belief he could have a real impact at guard as well.
If the Lions believe Williams could step in as a better option than what they currently have at guard while giving them the option to replace either Decker or Wagner at tackle down the line, the Lions could draft Williams and get short-term and long-term benefit rather than taking him just to sit on the bench for the future.
This isn’t likely to satisfy the masses but I can understand the thinking. It wouldn’t be my preferred outcome for the Lions in the first round but I don’t think it is a scenario that can be ignored.