Braden Fiske Mocks First Round to Lions

Florida State University (FSU) defensive tackle Braden Fiske fits the Detroit Lions.

If there was ever a player that personified Campbell’s ‘We’re going to bite a kneecap off,‘ it’s Fiske.

This guy is all gas and no brakes, and he’s only getting better with each passing game.

Just watch the ACC Championship against Louisville (link below) if you don’t believe me. Fiske took over that game and sealed it twice on two big 4th down sacks to close it out. He looked like he was possessed in that game (nine tackles and three sacks).

Now I know that defensive tackle isn’t high on the ‘team needs‘ chart for Detroit, but I also know a little bit about the Lions after writing for SI Lions for two years and I was hired in pro scouting under Bill Parcells, who is Campbell’s mentor.

Fiske fits Campbell.

I also know the Lions went out and signed defensive tackle DJ Reader in free agency and have him penciled in on the depth chart next to Alim McNeill (who I liked and wrote about).

However, Detriot has next to nothing behind these two and that’s where Fiske factors into the rotation where he can rip it up next to all-world defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (another one I liked and wrote about).

It’s all about moving the meter and Fiske does that better than any other prospect that’s out there for the Lions.

It would be like a damn feeding frenzy putting those together on the D-Line.

Tasmanian Devil

That’s my affectionate nickname for Fiske, from the cartoons I watched growing up.

Fiske is like a hurricane and a tornado coming off the snap.

This defensive tackle gives offensive linemen everything they can handle ⎯and some. Here are a few words to describe him.

• TENACIOUS
• RELENTLESS
• HIGH MOTOR
• BLOODTHIRSTY
• PASSION
• ADRENALINE
• ENERGY
• FOCUSED
• WANT

This son of a gun brings it.

I’m not making this stuff up either ⎯per Pro Football Focus in 2023, Fiske was involved in 263 pass rush attempts and logged six sacks, three quarterback hits, and 19 hurries. He had a 14.4% win rate. As of 10 games into the season, he was averaging 36 snaps per game (half of what he averaged at Western Michigan before transferring to FSU).

Don’t even get me started

I get even more excited about Fiske defending the run than I do watching him attack the pocket on passing plays.

Fiske is practically unblockable playing the run.

He’s built like a stack of bricks to begin with, but this is where he exercises his awesome raw brute power and unleashes his inner beast to bulldoze his way into run lanes.

2023:

• 43 tackles
• 17 solo
• 26 assists

#55 Braden Fiske 6-foot-5, 297 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 8.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 11, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film reviewed: Duke, LSU, Clemson, Florida, and Louisville (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Player of the Week Award at the 2024 Reece’s Senior Bowl

Fiske Combine Results

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Thick three-down productive physical alpha male with equally distributed body mass and power. Brings presence. Hustles. Good straight-line playing speed. Not naturally explosive at the point when pass-rushing, but has dominant power. Demonstrated three pass rush methods (bull rush, quick swim move, and ‘X’ stunts). Vanilla pass rusher outside of that. Completely overpowered Duke OL twice. Quick close in the pocket. Decent body flexibility and ability to adjust in the pocket. Draws double teams. Street Fighter playing the run. Strong arms allow him to consistently get into position and disengage. Some inconsistency shedding blocks. Does everything he can to get in position. Will hunt and chase outside the box.

Final words

Fiske is one of my favorite players in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.