2011 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft: Round 2, Pick 44

Our annual 2011 NFL Mock Draft, with picks made by each of SB Nation’s NFL team bloggers, is in full swing. The latest pick in to the podium: the Detroit Lions, at No. 44 overall.

Sean Yuille of PrideOfDetroit.com explains the choice, and our own Dan Kadar reacts to it, after the jump. Make sure you’re grading this pick for the Lions, and checking out Pride of Detroit for all of your Lions needs.

Sean Yuille explains: After going defense in the first round with DE Da’Quan Bowers, I opted to continue to upgrade that side of the ball for the Detroit Lions in the second round with CB Brandon Harris. Cornerback is perhaps the position of biggest need for the Lions. Depth isn’t great, and with the CBA in limbo it’s unclear if free agent Chris Houston, the Lions’ top CB last season, will be restricted or unrestricted. That means it’s unclear if the Lions will be able to re-sign him, so I felt it was important to add talent to this position both as an insurance plan for Houston and to make the position better in general.

Why Harris? He seems like a player that could come in and crack the starting lineup early on in the season. While the draft is all about building for the long-term future, Harris could provide help in the short-term as well. If Houston is back with the Lions next season then they wouldn’t have to rely on Harris as their top guy by any means, but he could still become a starter over someone like Alphonso Smith. Between Smith, Harris and potentially Houston as well, the Lions would have a solid group of young, talented corners. It has been a while since the cornerback position hasn’t been viewed as a liability for the Lions, but these three guys could go a long way toward changing that negative perception.

Dan Kadar reacts: This is a stellar pick for the exact reasons Sean mentions. Over the next couple of seasons, the Lions have a good chance to become a top team. To do that, they need to target players who can contribute early. Harris can do that. He’s not a physical corner, and may be best covering the slot. But he’s very good in that role. [Brandon Harris Scouting Report]