Mapping the Perfect Pair at 17 and 50

Jeff Risdon and Russell Brown dialed in on the Detroit Lions draft plan at pick 17 and pick 50. The premise felt simple. If the Lions take an offensive tackle at 17, then edge likely waits until 50. Flip it, and the tackle comes later. The conversation asked which bucket looks stronger at each slot.

The hosts noted how the NFL rumor cycle muddies late information. Combine mock drafts have been more accurate than the final rush. They plan to lean on what they heard in Indy and on the pro day circuit. The goal is clarity, not noise, for the Detroit Lions at two pivotal picks.

Tackles at 17: Board Reality and Dream Combo

They walked through names they expect off the board by 17. Branch Mowenow, Allen Barnes, and David Bailey came up as likely gone. Monroe Freeling probably gone too. Brown called Freeling the dream at 17. Pair that with Malachi Lawrence at 50 and it is a quick-strike haul.

Realistic options at 17 look different. Spencer Fano should be there. Caleb Blomu should be there. Blake Miller should be there. Colon Proctor might be there, a true 50-50. Neither host sounded high on Proctor. They also kicked around I Niese and Heinecker as names the Lions could consider at tackle.

Brown leaned toward Blomu. He sees a ready-made left tackle who can play right away. A player who fits early, then grows. That matters if edge depth at 50 looks acceptable.

Edge at 50 vs Tackle at 50: The Tradeoff

This Detroit Lions Podcast framed the decision like a seesaw. Do you prefer the edge rushers available at 50 over the tackles at 50? If yes, take the tackle at 17. If no, grab the edge at 17 and wait on the line. The calculus turns on how the board falls in real time.

Malachi Lawrence at 50 headlined the edge wishlist if the dream scenario hits. Beyond that, the hosts kept the focus tight on structure. They want value aligned to slot. Trust the combine reads. Cross-check with pro day notes. Avoid chasing late buzz.

Where Risdon and Brown Land Today

Freeling at 17 and Lawrence at 50 is the clean finish. If Freeling is gone, Blomu became the practical pivot for Brown. Miller and Fano stand as viable options if the room agrees on fit. Proctor is a maybe. I Niese and Heinecker stay in the mix.

The Lions must win both pockets of the board. That is the perfect pair game. Two picks. One plan. The NFL clock is ticking, and Detroit holds leverage at 17 and 50 if they trust their stack.

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A record morning in the NFL wide receiver market

Jackson Smith Njigba just reset the board. Seattle handed the receiver a four-year, $168.6 million extension with more than $120 million guaranteed and an average of $42.15 million per year. That is the new top of the market. The Detroit Lions feel that ripple right away. Amon Ra Saint Brown signed a four-year deal worth about $120 million with $77 million guaranteed less than two years ago. That contract now sits ninth among receivers. Timing rules this league. The salary cap climbs. Revenues climb. Prices follow.

The Detroit Lions Podcast drilled into what this means in Detroit. The front office has made a habit of striking pre-market extensions with core players. That approach has saved money as the market spikes. It does not hit every time. Injuries complicate situations for players like Decker and Kirby Joseph. Still, the strategy pays off more often than not. Jameson Williams looks friendlier on the books now than it did at signing. The receiver market ran under value for years. Calvin Johnson’s mega deal once overshot by a wide margin and then held the crown for a long time. Today the market has finally caught up.

Sign early or pay more later. That was the theme. If you wait, the next contract at the same position sets a taller bar. That is why the Lions should move quickly on Jahmyr Gibbs. Get him done before Robinson signs and nudges the number higher. The first player to ink usually lands for a touch less. The second player copies it and adds a small bump. Wait too long and you also invite drama. Questions about value. Questions about commitment. That is noise the Lions do not need.

The broader NFL lesson is simple. The cap is not going down. Neither are elite position prices. Detroit has benefited by acting before the spike. Keep doing it with the right players, at the right time.

The episode also mapped out safeties across every round of the upcoming NFL draft. Safety is on the radar for the Detroit Lions at multiple points. Not a lock in the first round, but firmly in play if the board cooperates. Caleb Downs is the dream scenario at 17. If he somehow reaches that slot, he is the best player available case. The expectation, though, is that he will be gone well before the Lions are on the clock. Another first-round safety option discussed earlier makes sense too. If it is not round one, Detroit can find value later. The class offers answers on day two and day three. The board will decide, but the need and the plan are clear.

Why timing matters for Detroit’s core. Safety talk at pick 17 and beyond

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The Case for a Detroit Do-Not-Draft List

Jeff Risdon sets a different agenda on the Detroit Lions Podcast. Not the usual mock. Not a wish list. A do-not-draft list. The focus is fit, risk, and timing for the Detroit Lions in the NFL Draft. He wants to plant flags now on prospects who match Detroit’s general profile yet still should be avoided at certain prices.

His lens is simple. What have we learned from recent cycles about traits, health, and roster priorities. Where does a strong prospect still become a poor bet for Detroit’s current build.

Drawing Lines From Past Drafts

Risdon rewinds to the tight end class that produced LaPorta. He recalls being on the field with Russell Brown and Chris at the Senior Bowl and watching Luke Musgrave struggle. Couldn’t beat a jam. Didn’t win contested balls. Red zone reps went nowhere. He was fine as a prospect. He just was not the right Lions pick. Detroit chose differently, and he was glad they did.

Last spring brought another caution. Landon Jackson, the defensive end from Arkansas, looked the part but lacked twitch. The concern was real enough that he hoped Detroit would pass. Again, a solid player. Just not the best choice for what the Lions needed then.

Why Jermott McCoy Gives Detroit Pause

The headline name is cornerback Jermott McCoy from Tennessee. He sits at No. 20 on the Detroit Lions Podcast consensus big board that Chris updates daily. The tape from 2024 at Tennessee is outstanding. First round caliber traits show up. Speed. Instincts. Power. Route adjustment. That is not the problem.

The issues are availability and experience. McCoy missed the 2025 season after a January 2025 injury. He was allegedly cleared but chose not to return. He did not work out at the combine because he still was not right. A pro day looms on March 31, but there is worry he might not go there either. He has 17 college starts across two programs. That combination of recent injury and limited mileage is a pass for Detroit at premium cost.

Roster context matters. Detroit likely has its top five cornerbacks on the roster already. The room feels competitive and deep enough that a first round corner is not a need. If they add, it should be someone they trust to play right away without medical questions. Risdon admits he is more cautious on injuries than many. That tension sits against a front office that has embraced risk before.

Wide Receiver Risk: Jordan Tyson

Jordan Tyson from Arizona State is a different kind of red flag. On skill, he might be the best wide receiver in this class. The problem is a lengthy injury history and a style that refuses self-preservation. He is still not working out post-injury. Detroit is loaded at wide receiver. That likely keeps the position off the board until the middle of Day 3, if not later. Talent is real. The fit and timing are not.

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Center solved: Cade Mays and the pocket math

The Detroit Lions moved decisively at the spot that mattered most. Center was a top need. Cade Mays arrives as the prize of this free agency window and fits what this offense asks. He is better in pass pro than as a straight mauler. That matters for Jared Goff. Immediate interior pressure is what stresses this passing game. Mays lowers that risk and stabilizes the middle.

His background adds value. In four years in Carolina, he worked under three different offensive coordinators with different blocking schemes. He played guard early, shifted responsibilities, and handled more read and react asks. He has not been asked to be aggressive while at center. Detroit can shape that. The contract tells the story too. Mays is the only multiyear signing so far. That signals starting center now and a long-term plan inside.

Short-term bets and a long-term tell

Elsewhere, the approach stayed disciplined. One-year deals fill immediate needs without anchoring the cap to older veterans. Avoidance of bad contracts is the point. Younger players with short-term upside get the nod over aging names signed for comfort. Expectations of a giant splash never made sense beyond center.

Nothing they did, with the exception of Mays, should tilt the draft board. The front office cleared the road for April. Flexibility matters in the NFL. Detroit can target value and avoid reaching. The Detroit Lions Podcast framed it simply: stock the depth chart now, let the draft finish the job.

Tackle depth, placeholders, and the next move

Larry Borom arrived to be the swing tackle and a placeholder at left tackle while Decker is still out there. The number is modest, roughly in that $5 million range, and not a commitment. He is an upgrade over Giovanni Manu and over what Dan Skipper offered last year. Skipper is coaching now, which closes that loop.

There is more depth in the pipeline. Horton has upside and is from Detroit. Juice Scruggs came in via the demo trade and profiles as another interior option. These are the kinds of layers that keep an NFL roster functional through camp and into October. One question remains open by design: is Borom better on the right or left? The Lions can let that play out while the draft provides another swing at tackle or interior help. The plan stays intact, and the board stays clean.

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Darius Slay’s sendoff and legacy

The Detroit Lions Podcast opened with a moment for Darius Slay. The longtime cornerback announced his retirement. He was a fantastic player and an easy person to like. He represented Detroit well. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles. He wants to spend time with his teenage kids and be a sports dad. Hall of Fame talk will follow him. That debate is fair. At minimum, he belongs in the hall of very good. Someday his No. 23 could spark a banner discussion at Ford Field.

Quiet depth move up front

Detroit did not add a headline name on Thursday. The Lions brought back a familiar defensive lineman on a low cost deal. He knows the defense. He can play inside and as a five tech. He showed backfield disruption in the injury ravaged 2024 season. He did not get many snaps last year. This is continuity. It is a depth signing that should stick.

Free agency slows, draft needs sharpen

The calendar now favors patience. Veterans are waiting for the NFL Draft to pass. They do not want to sign and watch a team spend a first round pick on their spot. Expect little action in free agency around Allen Park until after the draft. Several pass rushers are still out there with clear warts. DJ Reader is cited as No. 2 among available free agents. Taylor Decker shows up at No. 5 on that board.

Mock focus at 17: tackles on the board

Detroit opted for DJ Wonnum over AJ Epenesa in that tier. Wonnum gets into the backfield, even if the finish rate is uneven. He fits the Lions profile as the No. 3 edge. The plan still points to drafting another pass rusher in the first or second round. Maybe they double up. Mock drafts stacked up this week. One projection sent Blake Miller, offensive tackle from Clemson, to Detroit at 17. That buzz is growing. Another popular option in the mocks is Caleb Lomu, the offensive tackle from Utah. Tackle sits firmly in play at No. 17.

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The Detroit Lions kept stacking useful pieces. On this Detroit Lions Podcast, Jeff Risdon, Chris, and Michael Grey broke down three new additions, all on one-year deals. Edge DJ Wonnum, wide receiver Greg Dortch, and linebacker Raymond Clark arrived as targeted fits. Another signing could be coming soon.

New arrivals and a one-year plan

The front office is leaning into short-term, role-specific help. Each deal is a fill-in. The message is clear. Add competitive depth without blocking long-term answers. The hosts also noted movement on another potential addition, with word that another Jones could be in play. The expectation is more action today.

Edge plan: DJ Wonnum and the Paschal template

Wonnum checks the Lions’ NFL edge profile. Physical style. Power to speed. Edge setter. He plays the run on the way to the quarterback better than he rushes the passer. That should sound familiar. Think the role carved out for Josh Paschal. Early in his career, this type has handled c gap and b gap snaps and bumped outside as needed. The vision is obvious. Wonnum can work five tech, set sturdy edges, and finish when opportunities come. He has starting experience and some sack production. He fits as a part-time player, likely edge three or edge four, depending on how the rest of the room shakes out. The depth chart mentions tied to this move matter too. Makai Wingo’s best spot is still in question. Ahmed Hassanein’s development is a variable. Levi Anserrique Reed has played outside and can handle five tech. The piece today is about defined jobs. Wonnum gives them one.

Slot and return game: Greg Dortch’s fit with Petzing

Dortch brings juice to the slot and special teams. He is five-foot-seven-ish, around a buck eighty, and a proven return specialist from the Arizona Cardinals. He worked with Drew Petzing and spoke at length about that trust in his introductory Zoom. He talked about love of football again and again, and his energy jumped off the screen. Dortch has bounced around, was advised at one point to consider the CFL, then the Cardinals gave him a shot. He ran with it. He is very sure handed, with a high catch rate over recent years. In Detroit, he profiles as a quick separator and secure outlet who can flip field position in the return game.

Linebacker depth and what comes next

Raymond Clark adds competition at linebacker. Another one-year, role-focused piece. Special teams and sub-package snaps are in play. The Lions are not done. The hosts repeated that. Expect another signing, with indications that talks on another Jones are moving. This roster building approach matches the recent surge of part-time, short-term additions. It fits the moment. Add the right tools. Keep flexibility. Let camp sort the rest.

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A backfield pivot reshapes Detroit’s plan

Scott Bischoff and Russell Brown returned to the Detroit Lions Podcast after a chaotic week of 80 mile per hour winds and the first surge of NFL free agency. Their focus was Detroit’s backfield. The Lions signed Isaiah Pacheco on a one year deal after agreeing to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. Early last week, outside of Cade Mays and Pacheco, the board felt quiet. That pause raised the question of a defense heavy draft with nine or ten picks. By midweek, the tone changed. Detroit looked younger, healthier, and more intentional on both sides of the ball.

How Isaiah Pacheco fits Detroit’s run game

Pacheco’s usage in Kansas City lived inside a unique ecosystem. The offense followed Patrick Mahomes, often playing out of shotgun with inside zone and outside zone as staples. Timing was quick. Reads could get muddy. The result was a frenetic style. At times he pressed so hard he ran into his own linemen. Vision looked limited on that tape.

Detroit projects something different. With Jared Goff under center, the back has clearer landmarks and defined intent. The hosts expect better angles, more counter, and the pin and pull concepts that Drew Petzing loves. That structure could slow Pacheco’s clock and clean up his decisions. He still brings size and a physical edge. The price is light, roughly one to one and a half million dollars, all guaranteed for one season. It is a classic change of pace add that does not block a draft pick in April.

Montgomery’s exit and the draft signal

Moving Montgomery and renting Pacheco for a year points to a draft add. The board from round four through round six makes sense, and the Lions hold multiple picks in that range. Names surfaced as possibilities, including Nicholas Singleton, Cochran Allen, and Jahmari Taylor. Internal options exist too. Jacob Sailors is in the room. Vaki profiles as a special teams piece more than a true back. None of that keeps Detroit from targeting a runner who complements Pacheco now and carries a larger load later.

Clock to the 2026 NFL Draft

As of this Wednesday, the 2026 NFL Draft sits 36 days away. Early inactivity on defense sparked talk of spending most of the capital on that side of the ball. The recent moves eased some of that urgency. The Detroit Lions can pair a tough runner with under center structure, add a mid round back, and let the board dictate the rest. In a week that started slow, the plan sharpened. The NFL hinges on fit and timing. Detroit just gave itself both in the backfield.

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Saint Patrick's Day. Mock Draft 2.0. The Detroit Lions Podcast goes straight to the needs. Offensive tackle and edge sit at the top. The board cooperates, and the plan stays firm.

Why OT at 17: the Blake Miller case

Round 1 lands on Blake Miller, the Clemson right tackle. Four-year starter. Seasoned. His hand usage improved. His footwork improved. He fits the grit. The knock is positional. He is a right tackle only. That places the left-side question on Penei Sewell. The preference is keeping Penei at right tackle. Moving him is not off the table. The goal is the best five in front of Goff and Jamir Gibbs. Protect the high octane passing game. With Miller, that feels attainable right away.

The usual suspects at tackle were gone early. Monroe Freeling went sixth. Kendrick Small went tenth. Francis Mawanawa went twelfth. Dylan Spielman was still there, but safety is not the priority at 17. The trenches are. The front office knows it. Nobody wants to roll into the NFL season with Larry Corrao as the unquestioned starter at left tackle. Miller at 17 makes sense.

Edge in Round 2: burst over bulk with Gabe Thomas

Round 2 turns to edge. Gabe Thomas from Illinois headlines the card. He looks like a defensive tackle at 260, but his first step pops. Inside to outside. Power to speed. The style echoes Josh Paschal. The burst off the snap is the sell. Quick pressure has been an admitted need. Thomas supplies it. The concern is run defense. It improved, but it is not a strength. That might nudge some teams elsewhere. Here, the pass rush juice carries the day. Several names were in play, yet the choice settles on that explosive profile.

Day 3 swing at safety: Bud Clark profile

No third-round pick, so the board skips to Round 4. Bud Clark, safety from Strickland, becomes the target. His scouting read mirrors Kirby Joseph out of Illinois. Rangy. Heady. Ball hawk. Tackling is streaky. Angles can wander. The ball skills are real. The range shows up. In this slot, that blend plays. He can push for snaps if the room is healthy. He can live as a takeaway threat if it is not.

Board math and alternate paths

There were alternate paths. Max Decker from Arizona State has a higher ceiling, but he is more developmental. TJ Harper, the edge from Thompson, drew a long look. The decision to go tackle first reflects a sharper drop-off from Round 1 to Round 2 at that spot. Edge offered more value later. The strategy holds together. Fix the trenches. Get faster to the quarterback. Add range on Day 3. Simple. Targeted. Detroit Lions football.

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Montgomery’s payday and the Lions backfield reality

The Detroit Lions entered a quiet weekend, but one move from a former starter framed where the backfield stands. David Montgomery reached a two-year, $16.5 million deal with Houston, with $10 million guaranteed. His remaining guarantees in Detroit were under $5 million. He wanted more security and a bigger role. He found both. The calculus in Detroit changed because Jamir Gibbs is a superstar. Montgomery is 28. This is likely his last big contract. The money places him among the top running back salaries until a Gibbs extension, which is expected this offseason. He praised his time in Detroit and also celebrated the opportunity in Houston. The takeaway: the market confirmed why his role in Detroit was narrowing.

Trenches in focus: tackle urgency and draft plan

After Friday’s additions of Tyler Conklin and Roger McCreery, the Lions stood pat. The line conversation did not. There is hope that Juice Scruggs can emerge as the top reserve interior offensive lineman. That remains a competition. At tackle, a recent signing in the $5 million range sits between backup and starter money. If the season kicked today, he would be the starting left tackle. That is a concern. Coaching and scheme could help, especially after a rough Miami stint, but the need remains. Expect an offensive tackle with one of the first two draft picks. The other early target profiles as an edge rusher. Safety is possible as well. That board reflects both value and how the depth chart looks today.

Slot, safety, and Rakestraw’s health update

McCreery projects in the slot. Another newcomer, "Izzy," fits the super sub role across the defensive backfield that the staff values. Those pieces ease the urgency at outside corner. The belief here is that corner is not the priority early, with the top group for 2025 and 2026 effectively on the roster. Safety stays in play because of usage versatility. Over the weekend, Rakestraw addressed his status directly on Instagram: fully healthy, and healthy since December. That clarity matters for how the secondary snaps could stack when camp opens.

Around the NFL and what’s next

The NFL stayed mostly quiet, but one headline popped: the Chiefs acquired Justin Fields for a sixth-round pick. The Lions were not involved. Detroit’s focus shifts to the pro day circuit over the next couple weeks. The staff will be out in force. Eyes on offensive tackle and edge align with needs and draft positioning. If a Lions player or coach steps in front of a camera during the tour, you will hear it here. For now, Friday’s roster adds stand, Montgomery has his guaranteed money in Houston, and the draft board points straight at the trenches.

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Detroit adds experience at tight end and in the slot

The Detroit Lions moved quickly in NFL free agency, signing tight end Conklin and slot corner Roger McCreery. The Detroit Lions Podcast digs into why both add immediate, specific value. Contract terms were not disclosed. The expectation is short deals, likely one year.

Conklin arrives as a known quantity. He entered the league in the 2017 draft out of Central Michigan. He started with the Vikings, then found a bigger receiving role with the Jets, and most recently had a brief, bumpy stop with the Chargers. McCreery comes from the 2022 draft class and profiles cleanly as a starting-caliber slot defender.

Conklin’s resume, role, and Petzing connection

Conklin earned his way onto the field in Minnesota because he blocked well. That came even as his targets and catches climbed later. From 2021 through 2023 he recorded 87 targets each season and caught at least 58 passes annually. He averaged around 10 yards per catch. He was not a consistent red zone threat, outside of his final season in New York. He started regularly for the Jets on some uneven teams.

The Chargers stint did not click. Drops and unreliable blocking put him in Jim Harbaugh’s doghouse. That is a hard place to escape. Still, the overall profile is stable. He is an eight-year veteran with close to 300 career receptions and functional in-line work.

Drew Petzing, the Lions’ new offensive coordinator, overlapped with Conklin early in Minnesota. The years have passed, but that familiarity matters for role clarity. The early view: Conklin slots as tight end three. He can push Brock Wright for tight end two. If injuries hit Brock Wright or Sam LaPorta, Conklin can elevate. Proven depth beats a late flier or an untested option.

McCreery’s slot chops and production

McCreery brings a steady slot presence. He plays the ball well. He understands route concepts. He has quickness and can attack the catch point when needed. Power is not his calling card, but the instincts and movement skills are there.

The production backs it up. He started right away and posted 84 tackles as a rookie, then 86 the next season. In 2024 he started most of the time, appearing in 15 games with 50 tackles. Ball production dipped last season, but the reliability in the slot remained his anchor trait.

Depth, fit, and next steps

These moves raise the floor. Conklin gives the Detroit Lions a trustworthy safety net behind Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright. McCreery tightens the middle of the defense with a proven slot corner. Both signings fit defined roles and reduce risk across a long NFL season. That is smart roster building for a team with big plans.

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Quiet Detroit Day, Isian Finalized

Detroit Day arrived with a hush. On March 13, the Detroit Lions made Christian Isian’s signing official and left everything else on hold. He is scheduled to speak with the media today, time unspecified. The rest of the NFL news cycle stayed still around Allen Park. That silence is wearing on fans. It showed up in the Detroit Lions Podcast inbox and chat. So today’s focus shifted to what remains on the market at positions of need, starting with edge.

Edge Options: Veterans With Caveats

The top of the remaining edge group carries risk. Joey Bosa headlines it on name value, but injuries have changed his game. At 31, he is no longer the same pass rusher. The question becomes price and reliability. That same worry hangs over Marcus Davenport. The plea was clear: do not run that experiment back. If the Lions wanted an older, banged-up rotational piece, they could have kept Al-Quadin Muhammad. They did not. He’s in Tampa, with an introduction there today.

Other names bring clearer roles. Calais Campbell is 39, durable, and still a quality fit for a one-year stopgap. That makes sense at the right number. Jadeveon Clowney brings steadiness but not quick pressure. The Lions need faster wins off the edge. That has never been Clowney’s calling card. Von Miller sits at the very end of a great career. Cam Jordan keeps surfacing in the top tier of lists, and a single season of his savvy feels attractive if the price cooperates. None of these require a rush. Veterans like this can wait out the market.

Draft Signals and Stopgap Talk

There is still a glaring need opposite Aidan Hutchinson. The current pile of available edges looks more like placeholders than needle-movers. That points the Detroit Lions toward the draft. One of the first two picks at edge makes sense. It does not mean free agency is over at the position. It means the team can pair a rookie with a one-year veteran who understands multiple systems and can play a role on day one.

Recent depth stories reinforce the urgency. The Josh Paschal experiment never truly took off because of injuries. John Kaminski flashed during a healthy stretch, then faded when he got hurt. Levi is a question until proven otherwise. Hope is not a plan. Quick pressure is. The Detroit Lions Podcast kept circling that need. If the front office is slow-playing the board, waiting for veteran prices to soften, the logic tracks. Finalizing Christian Isian closed one file. The edge file stays open, with the draft looming as the real solution and a short-term stopgap still in play.

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