2020 NFL Mock Draft: Panthers start anew with Jalen Hurts, Cowboys luck into Delpit

The No. 3 pick is honestly a tough spot for the Detroit Lions to be selecting. It’s also hard to know what to make of this team in their current state. Though Matt Patricia is only in his second year as head coach, the defense is not taking shape in any manner and Matthew Stafford missing time due to injury isn’t helping the cause either. Regardless, the Lions look to improve that lackluster defense with this pick.

Some might quibble that Jeffrey Okudah is a little rich for the third overall pick but I’m not in that group. Ohio State’s star cornerback is a shutdown player on the outside and a driving force for a defense that has been one of the best units in college football this season. Slotting Okudah opposite of Darius Slay in the Detroit secondary would go a long way in helping this defense, whether coached by Patricia moving forward or not, get on track.

Could the Arizona Cardinals use help on defense? There is no question. Kliff Kingsbury’s team has been a saloon door on that side of the ball in the 2019 season and, no matter how impressive this offense could be if the head coach’s vision should eventually take shape with Kyler Murray at the helm, it’s hard for a team to win football games at this level if they can’t get stops.

While that all may be true, this organization invested the No. 1 overall pick last year in Murray and they have one of the worst offensive lines in the league protecting him right now. That has to change to help protect their hefty investment in Murray and Kingsbury, which is where Andrew Thomas comes into the fold. The Georgia offensive tackle came into the year a stalwart and has remained just that as a surefire Day 1 starter that can help keep Murray from getting crushed.