2019 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions 7-round mock draft
By Bryan Perez
Round 1, Pick 8: Montez Sweat | Edge | Mississippi State
The Lions added Trey Flowers to a five-year, $90 million deal in free agency but they still have a void at edge rusher, one that Montez Sweat can fill in the first round.
Sweat has been a big-time riser throughout the draft process and despite a heart condition that was revealed at the NFL combine, should still come off the board in the first 10 picks.
Sweat (6-6, 260 pounds) ran a record-setting 4.41 40-yard dash for his position group and wowed scouts with his 36-inch vertical jump and an all-around incredible workout. He’s not just an athlete, either. He finished 2018 with 12.5 sacks, his second consecutive double-digit sack season.
Still, Sweat isn’t without his warts. He’s a hot-and-cold player who many believe should be even more dominant than he is, considering his overwhelming physical traits. But at No. 8 overall, he’s a high-ceiling player with as much upside as any pass-rushing prospect in the class.