The Detroit Lions have the 20th pick of the first round in tonight’s NFL draft. Here’s a quick look at why they would go with one of these 9 players.
By now you know the names of the prospects who could be in the mix for the Detroit Lions with the 20th pick of tonight’s NFL draft. Here’s why they make sense for the Lions, and why they don’t.
Why he makes sense at 20: The Lions didn’t have much pass rush last season, they don’t have anyone ready to take over for Ziggy Ansah next year, and Landry can do a variety of things.
Why he doesn’t: Not many reasons really, other than he didn’t have a great 2017 and he’s smaller than most of the defensive ends Matt Patricia’s old team the New England Patriots liked.
Why he makes sense at 20: Patricia wants to build up the middle of his defense, and Payne is one of the best run-stuffers in this class.
Why he doesn’t: He doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, and there should be nose tackles available in the second and third rounds.
DT Taven Bryan, Florida
Why he makes sense at 20: There aren’t many athletes on the defensive line like Bryan, who’s just scratching the surface of his potential as a one-year starter.
Why he doesn’t: With no track record of production, Bryan might not be the same type of immediate contributor the Lions have tended to draft under Bob Quinn.
Why he makes sense at 20: Have you seen him? At 6 feet 6 and 264 pounds, Davenport is the prototype NFL pass rusher with the length and quickness teams desire.
Why he doesn’t: Still very much a work in progress as a pass rusher, which won’t help when being asked to learn a complicated defense.
Why he makes sense at 20: There isn’t a better interior pass rusher in the draft. Would start Day 1.
Why he doesn’t: Heart condition might scare the Lions away, as might his smaller lower half.
Why he makes sense at 20: Intelligent, productive, versatile linebacker would play Day 1 on the weak side.
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Why he doesn’t: The Lions have already overhauled their linebacking corps, and have bigger needs to fill early.
Why he makes sense at 20: The Lions haven’t been able to run the ball consistently since Barry Sanders was in town, and Guice is the type of angry runner who would diversify the offense.
Why he doesn’t: It’s a deep running back draft, with potential starters available into the third round, and Guice’s stock is slipping to the point some think he could be had in Round 2.
Why he makes sense at 20: The second-best guard in the draft, after Quenton Nelson, and a Day 1 starter who would solidify the Lions’ offensive line.
Why he doesn’t: There are better ways to spend a first-round pick than on a guard with little position flexibility.
Why he makes sense at 20: The best center in the draft would also be a Day 1 starter, with Graham Glasgow, in this case, likely staying at guard.
Why he doesn’t: The Lions drafted Glasgow to be a center two years ago, and Price is coming off a torn pectoral muscle that could keep him out until the regular season.
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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