Five players the Detroit Lions could draft at No. 16 overall – Detroit Free Press
With a new general manager and needs on both lines and in the secondary, the Detroit Lions are one of the draft’s biggest wildcards in this week’s draft. Here are five players who would fit the Lions if they’re available at pick No. 16
Sheldon Rankins
Position: DT
College: Louisville
Vitals: 6-1, 299 pounds
Scouting report: Rankins didn’t put up huge numbers at Louisville, but he’s considered the best interior pass rusher in the draft. He was unblockable at times at the Senior Bowl, and while he’s a bit undersized, his relentless motor makes him a tough matchup for offensive guards. He had 13 tackles for loss and six sacks last year and is one of the cleanest prospects in the draft. The Lions did not bring him in for a draft visit or work him out privately like they did most other top prospects, but don’t read anything into that. He’d play as a three technique in a 4-3 defense, but also has experience in an odd-man front.
He said it: “You look top to bottom (at the defensive tackle class), the names speak for themselves, their tapes speak for themselves. But I just feel like I bring so much to the table. I feel like I’m versatile enough to play in any scheme. I feel like I’m versatile enough to play all up and down the defensive line. I feel like I’m intelligent enough to grasp just about any defense and I feel like I’m dynamic enough to stay on the field all three downs.” – Rankins, at the NFL combine
Shaq Lawson
Position: DE
College: Clemson
Vitals: 6-3, 269
Scouting report: Lawson formed a dynamic 1-2 punch on Clemson’s defensive line last year with Kevin Dodd, and scouts are divided over which pass rusher is the better pro prospect. Both would fit the Lions, but the smaller, quicker Lawson is a better rusher off the edge. He had 12.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss last year, and was similarly productive in 2014. He impressed in a private workout with the Lions and is a good enough run player that he would settle into a rotational role as a rookie if he ended up in Detroit.
He said it: Shaq Lawson to me is an explosive kid, and that’s what I like most about him. He’s one of those tightly wound kids. You’re talking about 6-2 ½, about 270 pounds. He ran 4.7, but more importantly he can stack. He’s physical against the run, he can get upfield against the pass. He can handle long left tackles. That’s kind of the knock on him, is he long enough to be a high-level pass rusher in the NFL? And I think he’s one of those guys, kind of like a Brian Orakpo for instance. Potentially, best case scenario, a Tamba Hali.” – NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock
Taylor Decker
Position: OT
College: Ohio State
Vitals: 6-7, 310
Scouting report: Decker is widely considered one of the top four offensive tackles available, behind Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley and in the same class as Michigan State’s Jack Conklin. He isn’t quite as long as Conklin, and for that reason some believe he’ll end up at right tackle. But he’s a former basketball player who played four seasons for the Buckeyes (starting the last three years) and was voted the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2015. His work ethic, intangibles and leadership skills are well regarded. With the Lions, Decker, who worked out privately for the team, would push for time at right tackle or play as a swing backup as a rookie.
He said it: “I really believe he’s a good player, man. Now, I don’t have a lot of guys agreeing with me on that, but I thought he could play left tackle. I think he’s a little better than Conklin. He’s a lot more mature. He’s really smart, really competitive. Just gets it. And made himself a lot of money by staying at school and coming out when he did, I thought. And then did everything he could to increase his stock. I mean, he became a leader. He did everything, ‘Hey, tell me what to do,’ and he did it all, so to me he’s a ready-made guy.” – anonymous NFC scout
Laquon Treadwell
Position: WR
College: Ole Miss
Vitals: 6-2, 221
Scouting report: Treadwell lacks the elite athleticism of some of the top receivers in past years, but he was a highly productive player in the SEC from the minute he set foot on the Ole Miss campus as a freshman. Last year, Treadwell, who broke his leg as a sophomore, caught 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s a red zone threat with long arms and a sturdy frame who’s drawn comparisons to Anquan Boldin, but his 4.6-second 40-yard dash is concerning enough that it dropped him behind TCU’s Josh Doctson on some boards.
He said it: “It didn’t surprise me he ran that time. I was hopeful for him that it was going to be more in the mid-(4.)5s. But he’s a really good football player that you know what you’re getting. He’s, I think the best blocking wide receiver in this class for whatever that’s worth. I know it’s not one of the highest traits when you’re looking at wide receivers, but that’s the kind of physical, aggressive player you’re getting. He’s big, he does a nice job getting later separation, but he’s not going to run away from anyone.” – ESPN analyst Todd McShay
Darron Lee
Position: LB
College: Ohio State
Vitals: 6-1, 232
Scouting report: As offenses evolve in the NFL, Lee looks more and more like the prototype linebacker of the future. He’s not your typical thumper, but he flies around the field with good speed and the ability to cover tight ends and running backs. He ran a blistering 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the combine, fastest among linebackers, and as a converted quarterback who’s played just three seasons of defense is thought to have tremendous upside. He fits best as a weakside linebacker, a spot currently occupied in Detroit by DeAndre Levy. But if the Lions, who sent linebackers coach Bill Sheridan to Ohio State’s pro day, are truly drafting for the future of their franchise, Lee has to be in the mix.
He said it: “I have Darron Lee at No. 11 and (Reggie) Ragland No. 12 (among prospects), so I got them very close. It’s a different flavor what you’re looking for. Lee can give you more athleticism. Obviously, more speed. He is a dynamic blitzer. Somebody that can really, really run with the athletic tight ends and just the range that he has laterally is pretty much off the charts. Now, he doesn’t have the same take-on ability that Ragland does. You’ll see him flash it on occasion, but then he’ll get completely swallowed up, and you don’t see that happen to Reggie Ragland. So Lee, you don’t get quite that thump. You get a little more athleticism. And in today’s league the way it is, I end up putting him a little bit above Ragland just because of that athleticism and what he can give you in the passing game.” – NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah
Contact Dave Birkett: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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