In the first round of our Community Mock draft, the Detroit Lions chose to address their pass rush and run defense by taking the lengthiest, fastest, and most explosive edge in the class in Montez Sweat. Sweat doesn’t come without risk, but he immediately improves this defense across from Trey Flowers.

In the second round, the team had the option to address the tight end position, interior rush, linebacker, and interior line with plenty of strong candidates still on the board. When it came down to it, it was between only a new starting tight end in Dawson Knox or Boston College’s Chris Lindstrom. With Lindstrom falling out of the first round, it was the easiest choice I’ve made in ages.

Athleticism

Lindstrom was one of the most athletic players at the 2019 NFL Combine, so as you can imagine this is an area of strength. It’s very much apparent on tape, where his explosiveness is obvious from the very first snap. Though he measured out amazingly in agility drills, that doesn’t pop as much on tape, though that could just be Lindstrom playing to his strengths, knowing that he can blow up defenders at the snap. If a team is looking to find a player to out-athlete defenders, Lindstrom is a good one to start with.

Technique

Lindstrom has a violent first punch that perfectly complements his aforementioned explosive athletic ability. While his athletic profile is going to be a big draw, Lindstrom is good enough at actually playing the game of football as a lineman that he’d still be talked of as a top prospect if he had bombed every metric instead of crushed them. He uses his hands well, he uses his leverage well, he sets up defenders well, and he has the ability to anticipate and respond to countermoves once he has a defender blocked, allowing him to finish blocks even against good defenders.

Impact

The Lions have a pretty glaring hole at right guard right now with only Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi battling with Joe Dahl for reps there. Chris Lindstrom would slide into that position immediately and improve the Lions offensive line in every facet of the offense. The run game was a focus last season, and a player like Lindstrom can improve that without being a liability as a pass blocker. The offense immediately improves and a position of weakness may have improved enough to be a strength.

Tape

Virginia Tech 2018

Notre Dame 2017

Miami 2018

Catch up on all of the picks with our Community Mock Draft Tracker