Detroit Lions: Five First Round Draft Options
By Jeff Risdon
Deforest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Ziggy Ansah is often a man amongst boys as an edge presence, but he could be even greater with a player on the other side who could also present a significant threat to the opposing offense.
Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Buckner, a burly senior who has played both end and tackle, has proven wildly effective for a Ducks defense that just hasn’t been very good. Don’t blame the 6’7″, 290-or-so-pound Hawaii native, as he’s been fantastic. He leads Oregon with 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks while batting down five passes.
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He has enough size to play inside at the 3 technique, enough athleticism to play as the strongside end. Think of Buckner as a younger, faster, more consistently great version of Jason Jones.
Next: Jaylon Smith