The Detroit Lions sent shock waves throughout the NFL when they opted to use their first-round selection, the eighth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, on a tight end. It’s the third time in the past decade that the Lions opted to take a first-round flier on a tight end. The first two had underwhelming results. Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson hopes to break the mold.
But the Lions’ second-round selection likely garnered even more confusion. Detroit chose Hawaii linebacker Jahlani Tavai as the 43rd overall pick on Day Two. NFL.com draft expert Lance Zierlein projected Tavai to be a Day Three selection with a fourth-to-fifth round grade.