With free agency fully slowed down, the draft will start to gain even more attention this week. Locally in Michigan, both Michigan State and the University of Michigan have their Pro Days this week -- as do many other schools around the country.
With the Detroit Lions holding the No. 21 pick in the draft, they are going to start to look heavily at what prospects might fit them best for the end of April. With that in mind, we take today’s Lions Mailbag question.
To ask a future Mailbag question, use the hashtag #LionsMailbag on Twitter, email me at michael.rothstein@espn.com or follow along on Facebook and ask there.
Now, on to today’s question.
@mikerothstein if your bob Quinn who and what position do you address first in the Draft #Lionsmailbag
— 〽ichigan vs Nation (@AndrewBuris) March 20, 2017
Andrew,
The easiest answer here is the best player available at a position of need -- so basically anywhere other than quarterback or offensive line. That said, there are spots on the Lions' roster that are needier than others.
The good thing for the Lions is the draft is deep on the defensive line, at linebacker and at cornerback, so if a high-level player at another position happens to slip in the draft and is sitting there at No. 21, Detroit could make that move and still pick up quality players at key positions in later rounds. For instance, it would be highly surprising if a receiver like Mike Williams or a running back like Leonard Fournette fell to No. 21. If they did, the Lions might consider them -- same with Alabama tight end O.J. Howard if he’s around at No. 21.
Provided those things don’t happen, figure the Lions are going to look at a player who can be an upgrade on defense -- either as a pass-rusher or a do-it-all linebacker. This, though, is where names will differ. Among the defensive linemen, Tennessee’s Derek Barnett, Missouri’s Charles Harris and Michigan's Taco Charlton would be good fits as pass-rushing defensive ends. The Lions will likely also do their research on Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell.
At linebacker, Temple’s Haason Reddick is a popular choice at No. 21 as a three-down linebacker who can be a playmaker on the weak side -- the position vacated by the release of DeAndre Levy. He would probably compete with free agent Paul Worrilow for that role -- or maybe another former Temple linebacker, Tahir Whitehead.
UCLA’s Takkarist McKinley, Alabama’s Tim Williams, Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, Florida’s Jarrad Davis, Ohio State’s Raekwon McMillan and Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunninham all could be in play as well, either in the first round or the second for Detroit. That’s how deep the linebacker group is this year.
There’s also the chance Detroit could make a move in its secondary since cornerback Nevin Lawson and safeties Glover Quin and Tavon Wilson are all in contract years. Ohio State’s Gareon Conley and Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey could be intriguing cornerback options at No. 21, particularly if the Lions think there’s more depth in the front seven to be had later on. Adoree Jackson, a cornerback/returner from USC, is a name to watch -- not necessarily at No. 21 but he could be a good fit in the second round.
Then there’s one of the most versatile players in the draft, Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers. If he’s available at No. 21, the Lions almost have to at least take a look at him. Peppers can provide an immediate boost to the return game and would be an interesting piece for defensive coordinator Teryl Austin to use. The issue there would be that he fits a similar role, defensively, to how the Lions use Miles Killebrew. But with their own safeties heading toward a potential season of flux in 2018 and Peppers able to play multiple positions, as he did at Michigan, he might warrant consideration.