Lions currently sowed up the 8th overall pick

[Gulf of Brazil]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address running back

Here are a few options the Lions could look at Day 3 of the draft. Bryce Love (Stanford) is a home run threat who breaks off 20-yard plus runs on 10.2-percent of his touches, good for second best in this class. The big issue is his durability, dealing with an ankle injury last year that limited his production. Bruce Anderson (North Dakota State) was highlighted by Erik Schlitt as a combine snub who bears a good resemblance of Kerryon. He doesn’t have the same vision, patience, and played at a smaller school, pushing him to Day 3. James Williams (Washington State) was great at receiving and short-yardage situations. He led this year’s class in targets (93), catches (83), yards (613), as well as having four touchdowns and 202 career catches. He was a monster at short-yardage situations, getting a first down on 70 percent of those attempts.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I like James Williams as replacement for Riddick. maybe he goes 5th rd but most likely wouldn't make it out of top half of the 6th round.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address running back

Verdict
The Lions will be looking for players who can rush, catch and pass block to complement Johnson. It would be irresponsible of the Lions to take another running back high in the draft and it can be hit or miss with a late-round pick. With the solid options in free agency, the Lions should look at that avenue to fill that role.

Davis might not have the flashy stats but has shown he can play all three downs in a complementary role. Ingram might get dinged for his PED suspension and age, but has shown he is still an efficient back while sharing the workload. Ajayi is coming off a lost season, but with his skill set as a rusher and if his health checks out, he could be a steal.

Holyfield has the tools to grind out the tough yards, but would the Lions want to take him with a Day 2 pick? Ozigo never had a productive season outside of this last one, making him a late-round option for the Lions to fill the power-back role.

All the Lions are looking for is someone to complement next to Johnson, where the offense won’t miss a beat when they give him a breather. That’ll be best with a proven veteran versus hoping they hit on a late round draft pick. This will give the Lions a stable set of backs with Johnson getting the majority of the carries, Riddick being the pass catching back, and whichever free agent they sign to balance out the group.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

^^^^

more than likely the last is what transpires in signing a FA. we don't have enough picks to draft a RB this year. imo. it could change though.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address slot receiver

Verdict
The free agent class offers intriguing options and surely Lions fan would love to have Tate back, but this draft class is deep at receiver and offers a ton of versatility; giving the Lions plenty of options.

With the way the NFL is heading, slot receiver is a coveted offensive position, and teams will be paying heavily for these players. With how deep this receiver class is, the Lions will be able to find a starter in any round this draft and not have to overpay for a free agent. Don’t be surprised if the Lions go heavy on offense in the draft and even double dip in the receiver pool.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address slot receiver

As much as I like players Isabella and Hardman, they wouldn't be high on my list.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Metcalf is way to risky.

agree.

He's a physical freak but he's also had only one full season playing. He had a broken leg back in 2016, I believe, and then this past year the injury to his neck.

Former Clemson WR also had a similar neck injury/surgery and became the Chargers 1st rd pick two years ago but Williams came back and played an entire year of CFB prior to entering the draft.

Metcalf is still very raw as a WR but some team is going to fall in love with the possibility of what he can become with experience in NFL.

D.K. Metcalf College Stats | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

one full season in 2017 but played only 2 games in 2016 and 7 games in 2018.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address slot receiver

Draft Prospects
A.J. Brown was considered the top wide receiver in the class at the start of the season, but fellow teammates D.K. Metcalf and DaMarkus Lodge took over the spotlight. Even though he fell through the ranks at Ole Miss, he has everything you are looking for in a slot receiver, separation, yards after catch, efficient route running, contested catch ability, strong hands and is a big red-zone target. Even though he plays physical, he needs work on his blocking and he’s not the fastest receiver in the group, but these setbacks shouldn’t play a factor in his draft stock, which is sitting around Day 2, and should put him in play as a Big Slot option for Detroit.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

^^^^

I would prefer possible 3rd day options for slot WR in tOSU Terry McLaurin, NC-St Jacobi Meyers or T-Tech Antoine Wesley.


Meyers and Wesley could possibly still be available in 5th/6th rd.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Would love Hakeem Butler in the 2nd great hands and unbelievable jump ball skills.

Would love Butler more if he fell to the 4th round and nothing against Hakeem Butler either.

I question the great hands comment and would state he has drops at the worst possible time that should be relatively easily catches. He reminds me sometimes of Julio when he was in CFB. He'd drop the easy ones with plenty of space and catch the most difficult ones with traffic all around him the majority of the time.

My draft crush for a WR this year is J.J. Arcega-Whiteside but I wouldn't like to see nor would I be happy if the Lions draft went

1st round TE (after a sizeable trade(s) down into the mid 20's)
2nd round WR
3rd round OG/C combo
4th round RB

then defense with the remaining

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address slot receiver

Don’t be surprised if the Lions go heavy on offense in the draft and even double dip in the receiver pool.

BQ/MP would have to have one ridiculous FA signing on the Defense side (Like signing DE Flowers, CB Jackson or Nelson, S Boston or Phillips or Collins, LB Mosley, Okwara, RJF or players extremely similar to those, choose a players name in those positions and insert).

 

[Old Lion]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address running back

Devine Ozigbo (Nebraska) caught the eye of Lions Wire’s own Jeff Risdon, who recently profiled him as a prospect of the day with 1,082 rushing yards, 203 receiving yards, with 12 touchdowns. Ozigbo runs with a north-south style showing patience for yards to open up and maximizes every yard that is presented to him. He is somewhat of a one-year wonder, never hitting more than 500 yards before last season. Risdon goes on to say “As a middle-round prospect (4th-6th), Ozigbo presents a viable replacement for LeGarrette Blount as a power back complement to Kerryon Johnson. He’s a little niftier and has better vision and pass protection skills than Zach Zenner.”

Nice backup plan if the draft and FA does not fall right for us.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Would love Hakeem Butler in the 2nd great hands and unbelievable jump ball skills.

I should add in that many of these kids have issues with the drops so I had no intention of signaling out Butler solely. Arcega-Whiteside has had the same issues at times.

 

[Old Lion]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address running back

Verdict
The Lions will be looking for players who can rush, catch and pass block to complement Johnson. It would be irresponsible of the Lions to take another running back high in the draft and it can be hit or miss with a late-round pick. With the solid options in free agency, the Lions should look at that avenue to fill that role.

Davis might not have the flashy stats but has shown he can play all three downs in a complementary role. Ingram might get dinged for his PED suspension and age, but has shown he is still an efficient back while sharing the workload. Ajayi is coming off a lost season, but with his skill set as a rusher and if his health checks out, he could be a steal.

Holyfield has the tools to grind out the tough yards, but would the Lions want to take him with a Day 2 pick? Ozigo never had a productive season outside of this last one, making him a late-round option for the Lions to fill the power-back role.

All the Lions are looking for is someone to complement next to Johnson, where the offense won’t miss a beat when they give him a breather. That’ll be best with a proven veteran versus hoping they hit on a late round draft pick. This will give the Lions a stable set of backs with Johnson getting the majority of the carries, Riddick being the pass catching back, and whichever free agent they sign to balance out the group.

I would do both and move Riddick to the slot.

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Nice backup plan if the draft and FA does not fall right for us.

He was pretty damn solid during East-West Shrine game practices. not much in the game. I'd question also just like they had in why wasn't he productive in prior years before new HC Scott Frost showed up.

"Practice, Practice, we talking about Practice".

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

I would do both and move Riddick to the slot.

I'd get on the ringy dingy to Hoodie and see what he'd be willing to give up for Riddick and it starts with a minimum 5th round pick. which they don't have.

here's the updated draft trade chart inclusive of 2019 comp picks. so I guess Hoodie would have to cough up his 4th round pick for Riddick because he owes us.

2019 NFL Draft Trade Value Chart

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

2019 NFL Scouting Combine: Ten receivers I'm excited to watch

Former Panther's WR Steve Smith Sr. weighs in on his thoughts

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft 2.0

just released on 02-25-2019...………….. 2:22 p.m.

@Stomp Hockenson up 9 spots to #5

@Old Lion JoeJuan Williams up 10 spots to #37

 

[Gulf of Brazil]

Watch: Calvin Johnson coaching up WR prospect Hakeem Butler

all the while telling Butler he hopes he doesn't get drafted by the Lions

 

[Rollingthndr]

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address running back

Here are a few options the Lions could look at Day 3 of the draft. Bryce Love (Stanford) is a home run threat who breaks off 20-yard plus runs on 10.2-percent of his touches, good for second best in this class. The big issue is his durability, dealing with an ankle injury last year that limited his production. Bruce Anderson (North Dakota State) was highlighted by Erik Schlitt as a combine snub who bears a good resemblance of Kerryon. He doesn’t have the same vision, patience, and played at a smaller school, pushing him to Day 3. James Williams (Washington State) was great at receiving and short-yardage situations. He led this year’s class in targets (93), catches (83), yards (613), as well as having four touchdowns and 202 career catches. He was a monster at short-yardage situations, getting a first down on 70 percent of those attempts.

How the mighty have fallen. I remember some on this board, wanting to use our 1st rounder on Love just last year. Now he's really a day 3 option? Amazing.

 

[Rollingthndr]

Watch: Calvin Johnson coaching up WR prospect Hakeem Butler

all the while telling Butler he hopes he doesn't get drafted by the Lions

Can't blame him really. After seeing Calvin waste a hall of fame career here.