Detroit Lions Draft Needs, Final Quarter
By Kent Platte
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Perennial Draft Need
The first need in seemingly every draft for the Detroit Lions since as long as I can remember has been cornerback. Occasionally offensive line is sprinkled in, but corner is always near the top. What’s funny is that the Lions needed a starter last season, and I wouldn’t have had this position that highly.
Now that they have two able starters, it’s a bigger need than ever before. That’s because rookie corners tend to struggle, so having able players in front of them that can carry the weight while they learn is invaluable.
I hate to sound like I’m favoring one school or another, but in this case it is another Washington product that could fit the Lions here. Marcus Peters was sharing time at the top of draft boards with Ifo Ekpre-Olomu as the best cornerbacks in this draft, but off the field problems saw his stock drop. It’s still possible, likely even, that Peters is drafted in the first round, but it will be much later. Like where the Lions are drafting.
Peters has that long, solid frame you want from a cornerback, with the athletic ability and ball skills to make him a threat at the professional level. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is another option, but the Oregon product is likely built more for a zone based system or slot role and the Lions have two of those guys already on the roster.
Other options include Eric Rowe of Utah (Who should have a steep rise come draft time), FSU’s P.J. Williams, and Charles Gaines from Louisville. With Rashean Mathis still fighting back age, someone will need to be there to step in when he falls off or retires.