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Roundup of NFL mock drafts: Lions’ defense and offensive line are still in the lead

Kool-Aid McKinstry, cornerback for Alabama. On Saturday, September 2, 2023, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team will host the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. (Al.com/Ben Flanagan)

ALLEN PARK — Let’s head to the mocks for another temperature check on Lions options as the NFL draft gets underway in Detroit in less than three weeks.

The fact that pass rushers Darius Robinson and Chop Robinson, defensive safety Cooper DeJean, edge defender Laiatu Latu, and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry are leading the way shouldn’t come as a surprise. According to the Detroit Free Press, McKinstry was hosted by the Lions during a top-30 visit. We’ll talk about McKinstry’s fit in more detail later, but it makes perfect sense.

I mean, what more can be said about Kool-Aid McKinstry? If the Lions or any other NFL team is comfortable with his foot injury and his future trajectory, then go ahead and take a chance on McKinstry, who if he falls to 29th in the draft might be one of the steals of the year.

Last year, McKinstry gave up 19 catches on 39 targets for 205 yards and just one touchdown. As the starting defender against 80 targets the year before, he was much more effective in coverage, giving up 37 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown with a quarterback rating of 57.9. It’s difficult to get out to a strong start in the SEC as a true freshman, but for Nick Saban, McKinstry accomplished it admirably and looked like a pro in the process.

Jones suffered a foot fracture as a result.