Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez grade each of the Detroit Lions’ 2018 NFL draft picks.
Free Press sports writers Dave Birkett and Carlos Monarrez grade the Detroit Lions’ 2018 NFL draft:
No more excuses.
If Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn accomplished one thing in this year’s NFL draft, it was to rid his team of every last excuse it had for not being able to run the ball.
The Lions spent a first-round pick on an offensive lineman for the second time in three years, traded up to draft a running back in the second round, and for good measure added another offensive lineman and a fullback — a fullback! — with its final two picks.
The goal? To give themselves a halfway respectable running game (or better) and finally diversify what should be a dangerous offense.
Quinn’s intentions in this draft were admirable, and his execution was good. Frank Ragnow was the top center on the Lions’ draft board, and Quinn took him at 20 rather than accept one of multiple trade-down offers and pick someone they considered a comparable but lesser player (Ohio State’s Billy Price?) later in the round.
In Round 2, after watching five running backs fly off the board in the first 38 picks, Quinn made a bold move to go up and get Kerryon Johnson, who was easily the best back left not named Derrius Guice.
(The Lions did not consider Guice a culture fit, for what it’s worth, and had no intentions of drafting him.)
In Round 5, the Lions grabbed a backup offensive tackle in Tyrell Crosby, who many predicted would go two rounds earlier. And they closed the draft with a fullback, who may or may not make the roster but who would have been tough to sign (given the fact the Lions removed the fullback from their offense 11 months ago) as an undrafted free agent.
This wasn’t a perfect draft for the Lions — no drafts are. They neglected what I considered a big need for an edge rusher — one on the same level as the running game — and had to use future capital (a 2019 third-round pick) to get help for the interior of the defensive line.
I would have taken a defensive front-seven player early, and let my luck play out with other positions later in the draft. But I at least see the merit in the Lions’ vision, which is why I gave them a B overall in my way-too-early-to-be-doing-this grade.
Ragnow fits with the vision the Lions have for building their team: Through the trenches, and with big, smart, versatile linemen up front. Scouts I talked to in the lead-up to the draft rated Ragnow behind Ohio State’s Billy Price at center, but the Lions had their pick of all interior linemen besides Quenton Nelson and got their guy. Ragnow missed the second half of last season with an ankle injury, but earns high marks for his blocking and off-field character. If I were making the pick, I would have gone a different direction, with a defender like Harold Landry, Taven Bryan or Rashaan Evans. But Ragnow checks off many of the boxes the Lions wanted to fill. B
Read more:
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Two running backs went in the first six picks of the second round, which left Johnson as the Lions’ most viable option to improve their league-worst running game. Rather than wait and risk losing him, Bob Quinn made the aggressive move to go up eight spots and take Johnson. A slasher as a runner, Johnson will play as part of the Lions’ backfield-by-committee this fall and perhaps take an even bigger role in 2019. He comes with a little bit of an injury history, but he was one of the more complete backs in this class and earned a similar grade from the Lions to Derrius Guice, who never was viewed as a culture fit in Detroit. A-minus
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The Lions were thrilled to get Walker, and that means something. They needed long-term help at the safety position and Walker can contribute on special teams now while he develops. I haven’t seen Walker play, so I can’t speak to his ability. But I thought the Lions’ bigger need was on the defensive line (and had they addressed it here, they might have saved themselves a pick next year). There’s no telling if Walker would have been there had the Lions flopped their third- and fourth-round selections, but players who went after Walker included Ronnie Harrison, Harrison Phillips and Maurice Hurst. C-plus
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The Lions gave up a third-round pick next year to get some help for the defensive line now. That’s the standard price to pay, and with an extra sixth-rounder already in pocket it’s a worthwhile gamble for a Lions team that needed to add some beef up front. Hand said at the Senior Bowl that he’d play primarily three-technique if he ended up with the Lions. He’s a solid player who fits the scheme, though far from a sure thing. B
Da’Shawn Hand: Five things to know about him
The interior of the offensive line wasn’t the only need the Lions had up front entering the draft. They didn’t have a viable backup tackle last season, and that came back to bite them when Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner went down with injuries. Crosby should back up both tackle spots this fall and has some flexibility to play inside at guard if needed. He missed most of the 2016 season with a foot injury, but started every game last season and at 6-feet-5 has great length with 35 ¼-inch arms. A-minus
Tyrell Crosby: ‘A bad-bodied assassin’
It wasn’t even 12 months ago that the Lions got rid of Michael Burton and eliminated the fullback from their offense. Now, apparently, they’ve had a change of heart. Bawden was considered one of the two or three best fullbacks in the draft. He’s got decent enough hands to catch the ball out of the backfield and has blocked for 2,000-yard rushers each of the last two seasons, but has a bit of an injury history. The Lions probably wouldn’t have been able to sign him as priority free agent given the composition of their backfield, so I have no problem taking him with their final pick. B
I started out hating the Lions’ draft, but slowly they redeemed themselves and ultimately earned an overall grade of C-plus.
They started off over-drafting two players early. But they were aggressive when they had to be and addressed their most glaring need, ultimately only giving up a third-rounder next year to move up eight spots and draft Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson in the second round.
The Lions have the legitimate chance to make the playoffs this year, and I liked that general manager Bob Quinn didn’t just kick the can down the road by trading back every chance he got and stockpiling picks for a future that isn’t promised to anyone.
The Lions’ time is now, and Quinn drafted like it, even though he began the draft with only six picks, where were tied for fewest among NFL teams.
More: How this NFL draft could propel Detroit Lions into playoffs
I still think they over-drafted Arkansas center Frank Ragnow with the 20th overall pick.
