Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft after the first month of the season, Lions add the thing you know you want and the thing you didn't realize you wanted

I have a sickness. I was infected a couple of years ago, and now I just can't stop caring about NFL Draft stuff and doing mock drafts and whatnot. Yes, the Lions are 3-1 right now and things appear to be going smoothly, so what's the point? The point is that if I don't do one mock draft per month, I will die. So here's my seven-round mock draft after the first month of the season:

29th pick: Matayo Uiagalelei, Edge, Oregon

Matayo Uiagalelei Facts for the Detroit Lions

• 18 pressures and four sacks in five games this season
• 31 pressures and nine sacks in 2024
• The Lions had scouts watching Uiagalelei and Oregon earlier this season

Yes, we've done this before, but it's hard to see the Lions not going for an edge rusher in next April's draft just based on some of the college visits they've been doing so far this season. They've been watching some of the top edges in the class so far. Uiagalelei is in the Lions' range right now, but it would not be a shock if he climbed up the board in the time between now and the draft.

61st pick: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State

Sam Leavitt Facts for the Detroit Lions

• 1,039 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions this season
• Not the most mobile quarterback in the class, but he can move
• Started his college career at Michigan State

This is Jared Goff's football team for the foreseeable future, but thinking that the Lions won't go back to the well just because Hendon Hooker didn't work out is crazy. Leavitt is just 20 years old. That gives the Lions ample time to spend getting him ready to take over in, say, five years if Goff begins to trend downwards. It's all about preparing for the future, and in a draft class this stacked at quarterback, this is the time to take a swing.

129th pick: Trey Zuhn, OT, Texas A&M

Trey Zuhn Facts for the Detroit Lions

• Zuhn has allowed three pressures and a sack in five games this year
• Four-year starter at left tackle for the Aggies
• 89.1 pass blocking grade is the third-highest among tackles in the country
• The Lions have had scouts watching Zuhn and Texas A&M this season

Giovanni Manu might be the guy at left tackle when Taylor Decker retires, but Zuhn feels a little safer. This is a guy who could start Week 1 of next season if he had to. I still think the Lions should consider Manu at right guard next to Penei Sewell. What a duo that would be. You slide Tate Ratledge over to center as planned.

Trade with Cleveland Browns

The Lions had a lot of late-round picks, so this seemed like a good opportunity to move up a bit. So Detroit sent Cleveland the 189th, 207th, and 242nd picks to move up the 140th pick in the fourth round.

14oth pick: Michael Taafe, S, Texas

Michael Taafe Facts for the Detroit Lions

• Taafe's 90.7 tackling grade is the second highest in the country among safeties
• 87.4 run defense grade is 12th in the nation among safeties

The Lions did draft Dan Jackson in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he wasn't a lock to make the 53-man roster ahead of his injury. This team has Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. The best safety duo in the NFL, but Taafe gives them a tremendous third guy who can get after the run like this team likes from their secondary.

168th pick: Lawson Luckie, TE, Georgia

Lawson Luckie Facts for the Detroit Lions

• Luckie has a 73.4 Pass Blocking grade via PFF
• Luckie has a 78.9 Run Blocking grade via PFF

The Lions spent a lot of time trying to find a tight end in the offseason and never really found their guy. I think they go back and look again this coming offseason. Luckie is not much of a receiving threat, but man, can he block with the best of them.

255th pick: Keeshawn Silver, DL, USC

Keeshawn Silver Facts for the Detroit Lions

• Struggling at USC so far, but showed a lot of promise at Kentucky
• Had 10 pressures and a sack off the bench in the SEC

Look, it's the 255th pick, and I'll be honest, I didn't know what to do here. So why not take a shot at a 6-foot-4 33o 330-pound project in the middle of the defensive line?