Detroit Lions Draft Profiles: Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State

Lately, the Detroit Lions haven’t been shy about selecting players they’ve either brought to Allen Park for visits or interviewed at either the Senior Bowl or NFL combine. Considering this, it’s wise to keep explosive Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett in mind as the team sets out to fill the massive youth void in the center of their line in the 2015 NFL Draft. Bennett made plays all over the field for the Buckeyes in 2014, and could continue that trend if he is selected by Detroit later on this spring.

Notable Combine Measureables

More from Lions Draft

Height: 6-2

Weight: 293

40-Yd Dash: N/A

20-Yd Shuttle: N/A

3-Cone Drill: N/A

Vertical Jump: N/A

Broad Jump: N/A

225-lb Bench Press: N/A

*Bennett missed the on-field workout portion 2015 NFL combine due to injury, instead choosing to work out at Ohio State’s pro-day last week. According to Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com, Bennett ran roughly a 4.8 40-yard dash and had a 32 inch vertical jump while there.

Traits and Projected Round

Considering he missed the combine with injury and was forced to pull up during his 40-yard dash at Ohio State’s pro-day, durability is one of the bigger questions about Bennett. Can he stay healthy at key times? Outside of that, he’s a disruptive force in the middle of the line that can rush the passer as well as get into the backfield to stop the run. He shows an explosion one on one and uses his body and motor incredibly well. Sometimes, this means he’s not as adept at breaking through the line quickly and making an early push. That’s something he will have to do at the next level, especially considering double teams.

Bennett may have lost some luster since teams haven’t seen a ton out of him during the pre-draft process in the last few months. He was thought of as an obvious first round pick, but could now see himself slip into the early portion of the second round. Expect his obvious talent to keep him in the first round, however.

Why The Detroit Lions Could Draft Michael Bennett

Obviously, thanks to Martin Mayhew’s best player available drafting strategy, if Bennett is the highest-rated defensive tackle on the Lions’ board, he could very well be the pick in the first round, especially considering the team asked him directly about replacing Ndamukong Suh. Knowing that, it’s obvious there could be some interest. Along with Haloti Ngata, Bennett would help provide the team with the speed and agility Suh had as it relates to flying around the pocket and making plays on the quarterback and running back. Quietly, he could actually be the best fit among the defensive tackles for this exact reason.

Highlight Film

Snap-By-Snap Film

Next: More Detroit Lions draft profiles

More from SideLion Report

Home/Lions Draft