According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Detroit has to address its deficiency in the secondary, so he proposed that they should select Iowa State’s TJ Tampa this summer with the 29th overall pick.
The Detroit Lions are picking late in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft after coming off arguably their best campaign, but they can still manage to get a starting-caliber player before the second round.
“Here’s a corner who might be going a little under the radar. Tampa can start for a team from day one,” wrote Kiper in his latest mock draft. “He played nearly 900 coverage snaps for the Cyclones, and he saw every route. After giving up four touchdown passes as the nearest defender in coverage in 2021, he allowed only three in the next seasons.
“He made a massive improvement in 2023. Although Tampa had only three interceptions in college, I think he could be more productive in the NFL,” he added.
Why should the Detroit Lions consider taking TJ Tampa?
TJ Tampa’s college resume itself is hard to ignore if you’re the Detroit Lions. The 21-year-old made the AP and coaches All-Big 12 first team last season, and he was also a semifinalist both for the Thorpe award and Bednarik award, which are given annually to the best collegiate defensive back and overall defensive player, respectively.
In 37 games with the Cyclones, Tampa recorded 107 total tackles, 19 passes defended, and three interceptions. In 2023 alone, he had 44 total tackles, three of which were for a loss, seven passes defended, and two interceptions.
With the Detroit Lions ranking 30th in passing yards allowed to receivers (3,081) last year, the arrival of TJ Tampa to pair with someone like Ifeatu Melifonwu should reduce that number next season.
TJ Tampa could also go to an NFC North rival
While Mel Kiper has TJ Tampa picked by the Detroit Lions, other scouts believe that the former Cyclone will be selected in the second round. And just in case that happens, look for the Green Bay Packers to try and capitalize.
Green Bay needs depth at the cornerback position after they traded Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in October last season, who is actually TJ Tampa’s draft comp.