Detroit Lions 2013 Draft: Five Players to Target in Round Two
By Zac Snyder
The Detroit Lions have already added defensive end Ziggy Ansah but he is just beginning of what will be their 2013 NFL Draft haul. The Lions will get on the clock early in the second round and will have quite a few good choice available.
Here are five players at five different positions that the Lions should target with their second round pick.
September 22, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Larry Warford (67) and guard Zach West (75) block against the Florida Gators in the second quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Larry Warford
The Lions chose not to take one of the top guard prospects in Jonathan Cooper or Chance Warmack but Larry Warford still gives them a solid option one round later.
Warford is considered ready to start from day one and is athletic enough to play the in the Lions style of offense despite weighing over 330 pounds. Scouting reports note his ability to get to the second level as well as hold up against a bull rush.
Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl north squad defensive back Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International (37) prior to kickoff of a game against the Senior Bowl south squad at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jonathan Cyprien
Glover Quin and Louis Delmas are set to hold down the starting safety spots for the Lions but that doesn’t mean they should pass up the chance to add quality depth and a future starter – especially given Delmas’s inability to stay healthy. Cyprien plays a lot like Delmas and it is no wonder considering the two have developed a friendship.
Coming out of Florida International there are some concerns over the level of competition he faced but scouts widely agree that Cyprien has the tools necessary to be a very good NFL safety. He was a potential first round pick that doesn’t figure to last long in the second.
Nov 10, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Justin Hunter (11) catches a pass against Missouri Tigers defensive back E.J. Gaines (31) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Missouri defeated Tennessee 51-48 in quadruple overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Hunter
Another wide receiver high in the draft? Well, yeah. It would be nice if the Lions didn’t need to but the truth is that they still need an outside threat to play opposite Calvin Johnson given the way the Titus Young situation blew up.
Hunter is a good athlete capable of going deep although he will need to bulk up a bit. He appeared to be on his way to being a sure first round pick after a breakout 2011 season but a knee injury set him back and likely impacted his play in 2012.
Aug 31, 2012; East Lansing, MI, USA; Boise State Broncos cornerback Jamar Taylor (5) breaks up a pass intended for Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Bennie Fowler (13) in the second quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US Presswire
Jamar Taylor
If you were among the faction of fans that were hoping the Lions would draft Dee Milliner in the first round then Boise State corner Jamar Taylor is the prospect you need to your attention to in round two. He could have gone late in the first round and no one would have raised an eyebrow.
He isn’t as big as Milliner but he has decent size (5’11”, 192 lbs) with good speed (4.39 sec 40-yd dash) and plays a physical brand of ball. Scouting reports note that when the ball is in the air, Taylor acts as if it was thrown for him.
September 29, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive end Cornellius Carradine (91) forces South Florida Bulls quarterback Matt Floyd (11) to fumble the ball during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Florida State Seminoles defeated the South Florida Bulls 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tank Carradine
The Lions may have taken a defensive end in the first round but they have a big need at the position and have valued defensive line depth in the past so a talent like Carradine shouldn’t be automatically dismissed.
Carradine may have been considered a better prospect than Florida State teammate Bjoern Werner who went 24th overall to the Colts had it not been for an ACL injury. Drafting an injured player may not sit well with some fans but Carradine was able to work out for scouts last week and was running well.