ESPN, SI 2018 mocks: DE Bradley Chubb to Lions

Allen Park — After months and months of speculation, rumors and reports, the NFL draft came and went last week. What are we going to do with our time now as we wait for training camp? Well, there’s always the 2018 draft.

In perhaps one of the silliest exercises of an NFL writer, there are already multiple 2018 mock drafts out there for your consumption. Interestingly enough, two of the more popular draft analysts — ESPN’s Todd McShay and Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke — both slotted the same player to the Lions.

Can we get a drum roll, please?

While Burke had the Lions picking No. 9 overall and McShay sees the team drafting 19th, both had them taking North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb.

Unless you’re a college football diehard, you probably shouldn’t feel too bad about not knowing the name, but Chubb is part of a football family. His father played defensive end at Georgia. His cousin, Nick, is one of college football’s top running backs for the Bulldogs. And brother Brandon is a linebacker who spent a good portion of the 2016 season on the Lions practice squad.

Early mocks: Kirk, Guice are 2018 Lions possibilities

Chubb, the defensive end the Lions could conceivable draft, is listed at 6-foot-4, 275 pounds. He recorded 21 tackles, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior last season.

“Chubb had a very strong game against (Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike) McGlinchey, and he too was on the fence about the 2017 draft,” Burke writes. “Count on him to be consistently mentioned among the first-rounders for next year. He’s scheme-versatile off the edge with a well-rounded game.”

You can never have enough edge defenders, and after not taking one until the seventh round of draft this year, the Lions are likely to be in the market next offseason.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

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