Detroit Lions land three-time Pro Bowler in 2014 NFL Re-Draft
A redo of the 2014 NFL Draft by the league’s official website has the Detroit Lions landing a three-time Pro Bowler at offensive guard.
During the 2014 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions took a gamble on North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron. So far, that top ten gamble hasn’t really paid off in Detroit. But the 24-year old tight end started showing signs last season, posting 61 receptions for 711 yards and one receiving touchdown.
But what if the Lions had an opportunity to get a do-over in that draft with what we know today? Especially considering names like offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive tackle Aaron Donald were taken immediately after Ebron in that draft.
Who would Detroit land in a 2014 NFL Re-Draft? According to NFL.com, that name would have likely been Notre Dame guard Zack Martin.
"“Let’s put it this way: Neither Donald nor [Khalil] Mack are better players than Zack Martin,” wrote NFL.com analyst Elliot Harrison via the league’s official site on Thursday. “So don’t misunderstand his going 10th here to the Lions. In fact, guards almost never go top-10. Drafting Martin would’ve meant the Lions would not have had to spend big money on free agent T.J. Lang.”"
Martin is arguably the most talented player to come out of the 2014 NFL Draft. But his position as an offensive guard isn’t exactly a flashy one. But the 26-year old lineman has been named an All-Pro and been nominated to the Pro Bowl every single season he’s been a professional. And who knows what kind of impact a player like that would have had on the Lions’ offensive line.
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Although tight end Eric Ebron could still turn out to be the next Rob Gronkowski in Detroit, guard Zack Martin has been arguably the best player at his position since the moment he stepped on the field for the Dallas Cowboys. If the Lions had the opportunity, they’d likely love to have the player recently named #58 on the NFL’s recent Top 100 list as a part of their offensive line.