Lions draft needs

[RobBase]

From Rotoworld

For a breakdown on every team, check out the team-by-team draft preview schedule.


No. 1 Team Need: Defensive line


Silva's Analysis


Front-four play has been the nuts of Detroit's defense several years running, but Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairleyboth fled in free agency, and the Lions have shown surprisingly little urgency to re-sign key run-stopping role playerC.J. Mosley. They traded for Haloti Ngata, but he is 31 1/2 years old and not the interior disruptor he once was.Tyrunn Walker was a nice under-the-radar signing at three technique, but Walker is unproven as more than a lightly used wave defender. The Lions could also use an edge-pass rusher to complement RE Ziggy Ansah, and allowJason Jones to focus on rushing from the inside on passing downs.


No. 2 Team Need: Offensive line


Silva's Analysis


Although the Lions fielded adequate pass protection in 2014, the run blocking took a dramatic step back. Gone is stalwart C Dominic Raiola, and LG Rob Sims has yet to be re-signed. 2014 third-round pick Travis Swanson is penciled in at pivot, but left guard is a glaring hole. RT LaAdrian Waddle is coming off ACL surgery. From a depth standpoint, offensive line is the Lions' thinnest position across the board.


No. 3 Team Need: Running back


Silva's Analysis


Cornerback and wide receiver could also use injections of talent on the Lions' roster, but running back is a quietly-huge question mark as Joique Bell returns from Achilles' and knee surgeries, after undergoing an additional knee procedure last offseason. Bell is entering his age-29 season and has failed to hit 4.0 yards per carry in back-to-back years. Theo Riddick is a one-dimensional passing-down specialist. As coach Jim Caldwell is on record as wanting to improve Detroit's run-game volume and efficiency, an early-round draft choice seems likely.


Norris’ Mock Draft:


Round 1 (23): OL Cameron Erving, FSU - As Evan pointed out, the Lions moved on from veterans along the interior of their offensive line. I am a horrible person, or at least horrible Elon graduate. Rodney Austin is currently listed as the starting left guard. The Lions could be waiting on veterans, but Erving is likely viewed as the top interior line prospect in the draft. He has more experience at tackle and center, but the projection from center to guard might not be a drastic one.


Round 2 (54): DT Xavier Cooper, Washington State - Since the Lions only have six picks, a second rounder at defensive tackle might be a bit early. Cooper is best at disrupting, meaning he can get upfield and force the quarterback to move his spot or force running backs to change their initial lines. The team could opt for more of a 1 technique depending on their faith in Caraun Reid.


Round 3 (88): CB Josh Shaw, USC - From my understanding, the Lions use one press corner and another in a movement position. Shaw is best in press and is physical in the five yard grace window. Some teams could view Shaw as a safety, and we have seen numerous corners convert to a deeper defensive back role.


Round 6 (200): RB Josh Robinson, Miss State - We have been over this before: many NFL teams do not love unique prospects from a frame and play-style standpoint. Robinson also tested like a poor athlete at the Combine. Still, there are flashes of great vision and skills to beat first contact.


Round 7 (231): S Nick Perry, Alabama - When healthy, Perry was Landon Collins’ counterpart during the 2014 season. For the college level, Alabama’s coverages were complex. So he played in split sets, single high and near the line of scrimmage. Both James Ihedigbo and Isa Abdul-Quddus are in the final year of their deals.


Round 7 (240): G Chad Hamilton, Coastal Carolina - Hamilton has received interest from multiple teams in the form of workouts and visits. He will likely move inside to guard from his college tackle spot.


Lions Current Offensive Depth Chart


QB: Matthew Stafford

RB: Joique Bell

WR: Calvin Johnson

WR: Golden Tate

TE: Eric Ebron

TE: Brandon Pettigrew

LT: Riley Reiff

LG: Rodney Austin

C: Travis Swanson

RG: Larry Warford

RT: LaAdrian Waddle


Lions Current Defensive Depth Chart


LE: Jason Jones

RE: Ziggy Ansah

DT: Haloti Ngata

DT: Tyrunn Walker

MLB: Stephen Tulloch

WLB: DeAndre Levy

SLB: Tahir Whitehead

CB: Darius Slay

CB: Rashean Mathis

FS: Glover Quin

SS: James Ihedigbo

 

[Stomp]

Cameron Erving and Xavier Cooper are both draft crushes of mine this year i love that mock

 

[gandydancer]

I have soured a little on Cameron. I like Laken Tomlinson but he would be viewed as a reach at #23. Either one is a upgrade over Sims and Cameron does give you the C/G flexibility moreso than Laken.

DT for me if in the second is Micheal Bennett or Grady Jarrett. Bad thing Stomp... These two and Xavier are not upgrades over Suh.

 

[LPinSLC]

I have soured a little on Cameron. I like Laken Tomlinson but he would be viewed as a reach at #23. Either one is a upgrade over Sims and Cameron does give you the C/G flexibility moreso than Laken.

DT for me if in the second is Micheal Bennett or Grady Jarrett. Bad thing Stomp... These two and Xavier are not upgrades over Suh.

You're not going to get an upgrade over Suh. He's the best at his position. The idea is to try and fill the hole Suh left with talent and hope that Austin can utilize that talent.

 

[gandydancer]

You're not going to get an upgrade over Suh. He's the best at his position. The idea is to try and fill the hole Suh left with talent and hope that Austin can utilize that talent.

More a statement that Sims can be upgraded and Suh could not. Afterall how could you replace a guy who leads all DTs in stats since 2010?

That hole will hard to fill. Feel it will be small void, but I don't think it will be as huge as some make it to be, because of the man you mention. He showed me he can utilize and maximize all his players.

 

[LPinSLC]

I hope you're right.

 

[broncosmitty]

I have soured a little on Cameron. I like Laken Tomlinson but he would be viewed as a reach at #23. Either one is a upgrade over Sims and Cameron does give you the C/G flexibility moreso than Laken.

DT for me if in the second is Micheal Bennett or Grady Jarrett. Bad thing Stomp... These two and Xavier are not upgrades over Suh.

Nabbed Tomlinson in the second, and Jarrett in the third of The Hoop Mock.

Yer boy Nick Marshall is on my short list for the sixth. (Along with a white RB, a Chip wideout and a Sparty WR/CB, among others.) Been waiting to pick for awhile, since ya know, we don't have any picks.

 

[Stomp]

I'd rather skip Tomlinson he's very unathletic and some times gives up on plays, i think he'll end up as an okay pass blocker in a zone sheme but nothing special. Grady Jarrett in the 3rd would be great he'll be a good replacement when Ngata asks for 12-13 million per this next off season.

 

[lionstop1]

I still think the Lions need to spend those early picks on fixing the run game if they want the offense to improve. I don't like waiting until late to grab a RB UNLESS they had a stellar O-line. I think since they have a average O-line, you take a top RB and another O-lineman to balance it out a bit- they get better in both areas.

I also like the idea of drafting a CB in the first round also but only if Gordon and Gurley are gone. I don't think the defense needs much at this point outside of that #2 CB. If they did go offense in the first two rounds, they should finish off the draft with defense.

I would also like to remind fans to still beware of the WR pick in the first round. There's a few guys in there that I could see being available, including Perriman.

 

[Rollingthndr]

We should get a RB in the 4th. Waaaaait a minute

 

[Old Lion]

I'd rather skip Tomlinson he's very unathletic and some times gives up on plays, i think he'll end up as an okay pass blocker in a zone sheme but nothing special. Grady Jarrett in the 3rd would be great he'll be a good replacement when Ngata asks for 12-13 million per this next off season.

Grady is my boy, hopefully no later than the third. I dont think he will last longer than that. I would not complain if we took Cooper in the second though. I think whatever falls to us in the first will determine where we go after that.

 

[jdwills126]

I will be curious to see if Peat or Flowers slide to 23. If either do then for me it's a no brainer. If not then someone from this group: DT Brown, CB Peters, RB Gurley, RB Gordon,

Carl Davis in the second would be a good pick.

I would like to see Langford slide just a little to Detroit in the third.

Damien Swan in the 6th would be a good guy to develop at CB.

Then any guy that has slid in the 7th.

 

[Old Lion]

Flowers will fall most likely. He has balance issues and will not even be a RT in the NFL. He is a Guard at the next level most likely.