Much is always made about the first round of the NFL draft. Speculation has been ongoing for months and months about the draft that starts on Thursday.

Still it’s the second through seventh rounds that can make or break a draft.

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew does seen excited about this draft in which the Lions have seven picks in rounds 2-7.

“There is a lot of depth in this draft, not just in that (middle round) area, but going back in round two, round three,’’ Mayhew said at his pre-draft press conference. 

“There are going to be some really good football players there to be taken, so we’re excited about this process. It’s going to make our football team a lot better. 

“I mean, we’re always excited about the draft, but this is going to make our football team a lot better, I think,’’ Mayhew said.

He didn’t want to comment on whether the 98 juniors in the draft have an impact.

“That’s not really a topic I should be commenting on, but the depth is there,’’ Mayhew said. “There are a lot of really good players there. I would agree with you. The grades are higher longer into the process this year.”

The Lions have eight picks — one in each round except the fifth round (that was gone in the trade for wide receiver Michael Thomas in 2012). The Lions have two additional fourth-round compensatory picks which means three picks in the fourth round.

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