Josh Doctson (pictured) could help replace Calvin Johnson if he decides to retire
It was a tale of two seasons for the Detroit Lions in 2015. They lost their first five games of the year and limped into their Week 9 bye with a 1-7 record following a blowout loss to the Chiefs in London at which time they fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and installed Jim Bob Cooter to direct the offense. Over the last eight games, the Lions went 6-2, which could have been 7-1, if not for the Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary, to finish the season with a 7-9 record and bring some hope for next season.
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2015 Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 28 – Laken Tomlinson (G – Duke)
- Round 2, Pick 54 – Ameer Abdullah (RB – Nebraska)
- Round 3, Pick 80 – Alex Carter (CB – Stanford)
- Round 4, Pick 113 – Gabe Wright (DT – Auburn)
- Round 5, Pick 168 – Michael Burton (FB – Rutgers)
- Round 6, Pick 200 – Quandre Diggs (CB – Texas)
- Round 7, Pick 240 – Corey Robinson (T – South Carolina)
Detroit’s first round pick, Tomlinson, was solid starting 14 games at guard as a rookie as he improved his play as the season progressed. Abdullah, the second round pick out of Nebraska, put together a decent season but did not have the big play impact that they hoped for. He finished the season with 597 rushing yards (4.2 YPC) and caught 25 passes for 183 yards.
Fifth round fullback, Burton, also started seven games as a rookie. All three players will continue to factor into the Lions’ running game next season. Sixth round pick, Diggs, also played as a rookie, receiving four starts and totaling 28 tackles.
2016 Draft Picks
- Round 1, Pick 16
- Round 2, Pick 46
- Round 3 (pick traded to Philadelphia)
- Round 4
- Round 5
- Round 5 (from Denver)
- Round 6
- Round 6 (from Seattle)
- Round 7
Compensatory picks will be awarded in March at which time all picks will be set. Detroit will likely gain a couple of compensatory picks for the losses of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley last offseason.
Top Draft Needs
Offensive Line
The Lions running game struggled to consistently produce yardage and take the pressure off of the passing game to give them the offensive balance that they need. The Lions averaged only 3.8 yards per carry last season, which was 27th in the NFL.
Potential Fits:
- Jack Conklin (Michigan State)
- Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)
- Jason Spriggs (Indiana)
Wide Receiver
With the possibility that Calvin Johnson decides to retire this offseason or at least in the near future, the Lions will need to find a wide receiver at some point in the draft so that Matthew Stafford has another offensive weapon in the passing game.
Potential Fits:
- Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi)
- Josh Doctson (TCU)
- Tyler Boyd (Pittsburgh)
Defensive Tackle
The Lions lost both Suh and Fairley from the defensive line before the 2015 season and the difference between the two seasons was dramatic. In 2014, the Lions ranked first in the NFL allowing only 3.2 yards per carry compared to 2015 when they ranked 19th in the NFL allowing 4.2 yards per carry. Look for the Lions to try to sure up the interior defensive line in the draft or free agency this offseason.
Potential Fits:
- Sheldon Rankins (Louisville)
- Andrew Billings (Baylor)
- Vernon Butler (Louisiana Tech)
Late-Round Flier
Donte Deayon (Boise St.) is an undersized cornerback (5’9’’ and 155 lbs.) who is not afraid to tackle in the open field, has the speed to stay with quicker receivers and the leaping ability to contest passes. Deayon has big play ability as shown by his 17 career interceptions in college. Deayon could also be used as a punt returner.
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Brad Richter is a correspondent at FantasyPros and a contributor at DailyOverlay. For more from Brad, you can view his archive or follow him @RotoPilot.
