10 Defensive Players the Detroit Lions Must Watch at the NFL Combine

Feb 25, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Brock Vereen catches a pass during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

This week into next, the second significant roadmap to the NFL Draft takes place, as the prospects put themselves to the test at the Combine in Indianapolis. Tuesday and Thursday, we’re profiling 10 players the Detroit Lions should watch on defense and offense. Next week, we’ll take a detailed look at the top performers from a Detroit perspective.

The last several years, the Detroit Lions have drafted much better on the defensive side of the ball, which has been one of the biggest factors leading to their overall franchise revival.

Recently, they’ve nabbed impact players such as Ezekiel Ansah, De’Andre Levy and Darius Slay. All have become franchise cornerstones at their position, and the building blocks of a solid foundation.

What was the common denominator between all of the above names? Each performed well at the NFL Combine and caught the eye of the team in the process. Who are the next defensive players Detroit should be watching? Here’s a guide to keep handy this week.

Next: The immediate impact DT