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Come Fan with UsMonday, June 22, 2026

2016 NFL mock draft: Detroit Lions go with Jeremy Cash

With the run stopping Duke defensive back, we have our third safety in four picks coming off the board in the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft.

Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit is back making the SB Nation NFL writers mock draft pick for the Lions. In the first round took Ohio State offensive tackle Taylor Decker. Here’s how he follows that up in the second round: 46. Lions: Jeremy Cash, Duke

Reisman: Jeremy Cash is admittedly a risky pick. The kid didn’t play a true safety position in college, often lining up in more of a linebacker position. But with the Detroit Lions losing both Isa Abdul-Quddus and James Ihedigbo to free agency, Cash can slip into the strong safety position perfectly.

The Lions use their strong safety much like how Duke used Cash in college. Cash will be expected to do exactly what he does best: raise hell in the running game and bring extra heat as a pass rusher. Though his coverage skills are a bit of a liability, he will never be asked to play center field in Detroit, with Glover Quin manning the free safety position. Cash will instead add playmaking ability to an improving Detroit secondary.

Analysis: This is our third safety selected in the last four picks, which shows the lack of quality play at the position in the NFL. Cash is pretty much a little linebacker, and was often used near the line of scrimmage in Duke’s defense. As a prospect, he’s a known commodity as a run stopper and will get after the quarterback. But you really have to be comfortable in your system due to his average coverage skills.

Dan’s Top 5 players remaining

  • 40. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma
  • 41. Joshua Perry, OLB, Ohio State
  • 42. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA
  • 43. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
  • 46. Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech

Lions picks

  • 1-16: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
  • 2-46: Jeremy Cash, S, Duke

Our next pick is coming at noon ET from the Saints and Canal Street Chronicles.

Complete draft results:

First round

1. Tennessee Titans - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (Link)
2. Cleveland Browns - Jared Goff, QB, Cal (Link)
3. San Diego Chargers - Jalen Ramsey, DB, Florida State (Link)
4. Dallas Cowboys - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (Link)
5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (Link)
6. Baltimore Ravens - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (Link)
7. San Francisco 49ers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (Link)
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (Link)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (Link)
10. New York Giants - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (Link)
11. Chicago Bears - Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (Link)
12. New Orleans Saints - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (Link)
13. Miami Dolphins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (Link)
14. Oakland Raiders - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (Link)
15. Los Angeles Rams - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (Link)
16. Detroit Lions - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (Link)
17. Atlanta Falcons - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (Link)
18. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (Link)
19. Buffalo Bills - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama (Link)
20. New York Jets - Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (Link)
21. Washington - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (Link)
22. Houston Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (Link)
23. Minnesota Vikings - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (Link)
24. Cincinnati Bengals - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (Link)
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - William Jackson, CB, Houston (Link)
26. Seattle Seahawks - Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (Link)
27. Green Bay Packers - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (Link)
28. Kansas City Chiefs - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (Link)
29. Arizona Cardinals - Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (Link)
30. Carolina Panthers - Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (Link)
31. Denver Broncos - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (Link)

Second round

32. Cleveland Browns - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (Link)
33. Tennessee Titans - Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State (Link)
34. Dallas Cowboys - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (Link)
35. San Diego Chargers- Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (Link)
36. Baltimore Ravens - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (Link)
37. San Francisco 49ers - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana (Link)
38. Jacksonville Jaguars - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia (Link)
39. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (Link)
40. New York Giants - Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia (Link)
41. Chicago Bears - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (Link)
42. Miami Dolphins - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame (Link)
43. Los Angeles Rams - Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (Link)
44. Oakland Raiders - Darian Thompson, S, Boise State (Link)
45. Los Angeles Rams - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State (Link)

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