OL draft preview: Detroit Lions would be wise to find more help – Detroit Free Press
Take your position: Offensive line
Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett breaks down the Lions’ positional needs in advance of next week’s NFL draft. Today’s focus: Offensive line.
On the roster: OT-Riley Reiff, Michael Ola, Cornelius Lucas, Corey Robinson, Lamar Holmes, Tyrus Thompson; OG-Larry Warford, Laken Tomlinson, Geoff Schwartz; C-Travis Swanson, Gabe Ikard, Braxston Cave, Darren Keyton
Needs: The Lions entered the off-season with designs on fixing an offensive line that allowed 44 sacks last year, and instead added only a few depth pieces up front. All five starters are back, though it’s possible the Lions draft an offensive tackle high and play him on the right side this fall. Reiff, Ola and Warford are all entering the final year of their contracts, so the future makeup of the line is in question. The Lions have spent plenty of draft resources on the unit in recent years, with Reiff (in 2012) and Tomlinson (last year) first-round picks, and Warford (2013) and Swanson (2014) third-rounders. Of course, the offensive line coach that went to bat for some of those guys is no longer around, and injuries have hampered Warford and Swanson. None of the Lions’ three guards has center experience, so they’d be wise to find either a backup or someone to push for the starting job there.
Top 3 OT prospects: 1. Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss; 2. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame; 3. Jack Conklin, Michigan State
Top 3 OG prospects: 1. Josh Garnett, Stanford; 2. Cody Whitehair, Kansas State; 3. Christian Westerman, Arizona State
Top 3 C prospects: 1. Ryan Kelly, Alabama; 2. Max Tuerk, USC; 3. Nick Martin, Notre Dame
Other players with Michigan ties: OT – Donavon Clark, Michigan State; Willie Beavers, Western Michigan; C Graham Glasgow, Michigan; Jack Allen, Michigan State; Nick Beamish, Central Michigan
Late-round players who could interest the Lions: OT Lars Hanson, Sacramento State; OG Ted Karras, Illinois; C Jake Brendel, UCLA
Draft talk: Tunsil is one of the three or four best prospects in the draft, a top-notch athlete with the measurables and competitiveness teams like in their offensive linemen. He’ll go somewhere in the top 10, perhaps No. 3 to San Diego. Stanley is the second best offensive lineman available, despite recent reports that his draft stock is falling. Some knock his work ethic, but he’s a former basketball player who will get bigger and better in an NFL weight program. Conklin and Ohio State’s Taylor Decker are the next tier of tackles, comparable prospects who both should be first-round picks. Conklin took predraft visits to Tennessee and Buffalo, and worked out for the Lions, Falcons and Buccaneers. Texas A&M’s Germain Ifedi should be another first-round pick, though he’s a bit raw, while Jason Spriggs, Caleb Benenoch, and Jerald Hawkins all could be Day 2 picks. Ryan Kelly is far and away the best in a weak center class and could sneak into Round 1. Glasgow has unusual size at center, which could push him up the board, while Allen is undersized but a brawler. Some think Stanford’s Garnett can play center, too. More likely, Garnett has a long, solid career at guard. Westerman is a physical specimen, but he turned some teams off with his chalkboard work. It’s a solid class of tackles overall, but the depth drops off at the interior line positions.
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Contact Dave Birkett: [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
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