Analysis: The first two picks weren’t too sexy – Ohio State OT Taylor Decker in the first, and Alabama DT A’Shawn Robinson in the second – but the Lions definitely needed help in the trenches.
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It’s a seven-round affair these days, but the Lions were able to match that figure because General Manager Bob Quinn made improving the group in the trenches a priority. We drafted him as a versatile offensive lineman that’s going to come in and compete at both spots.
The Detroit Lions had Miles Killebrew faked out.
With the lack of young talent the Lions have at defensive tackle, Mississippi State’s Chris Jones, would be a welcomed addition to their defensive line.
During Decker’s career, the Buckeyes put up a record of 50-4 and the big offensive lineman was named a consensus All-American as a senior and was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten performer.
The Lions will now have the option of making him a space-eating defensive tackle who makes his ends and linebackers excel, or they can try and turn him into a productive pass rusher who splits the interior of the line with regularity.
Quinn also said that one of the last things he and his team do before the draft is look for potential “red flags” or “pink flags” that may come up when considering drafting players. I just kind of see it as the same situation, regardless of who’s there.
Most contracts for scouts expire in May, which is why there was an expectation that Quinn would make more changes to the personnel department after the draft.
“I tell you what, I’d much rather be the hammer than the nail”, he said.
He had a red flag early in the process due to his two drunk-driving arrests, one on the road and one for violating his probation, and those were common questions, but Glasgow said he was always honest about them and teams then moved on to talk about football. “I’m just excited to be a Lion”.
When Rudock chose MI last offseason, there wasn’t a consensus on if he would even be the Wolverines’ starter. “The 6’1”, 240 lbs long snapper could have been signed after the draft. Decker may be the only one to start in 2016, but if you get that many starters out of one draft class it’s a success.
The Lions need a north-south running back to work in with Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. “I’m talking to the coach today and he said, ‘Oh, we just wanted to see how you would react to it'”.
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“It’s very exciting”, Warren said. “I was expecting a free agency, just because I know how long snappers rarely get drafted”. These guys bring the wood and watching them in Honolulu Blue next year will be a treat. “I mean, you never know what could have happened or would have happened [had he stayed at Iowa]”.
