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Detroit Lions 2018 draft prospect: Running back Martez Carter

By Brian Wallace

TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 10: Wide receiver Martez Carter #4 of the Grambling State Tigers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the second quarter at Arizona Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
TUCSON, AZ - SEPTEMBER 10: Wide receiver Martez Carter #4 of the Grambling State Tigers celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the second quarter at Arizona Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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We discuss how the Detroit Lions can improve their rushing attack without spending a first round draft pick on a running back.

As the NFL combine is slated to kick off Friday, March 2nd, it is probably safe to say that the Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn and newly crowned head coach Matt Patricia                      are starting their prep work.

I think it is also safe to assume the Lions front office brass will target a running back. Although given Quinn and Patricia’s New England Patriots background, it is hard for me to see them targeting help for the run game with their first round pick at number 20.

Fans should not be upset by this. The 2018 NFL draft contains some outstanding running back prospects. There are diamonds in the rough. Not to mention better value in the later rounds. That can improve a Detroit Lions running game that can only go up.

A running back who has caught my attention is Grambling State University’s Martez Carter. Not to mention Carter fits with the Lions philosophy of being a versatile player, given he returned kickoffs as well as playing running back.

Carter is listed at 5’ 9”, 205 lbs. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and has an outstanding first burst and good balance as mentioned by Pass2Win.

I really like this prospect. NFL teams might want to see him put on more weight to be able to handle the rough job of a professional running back.

If the Detroit Lions could grab him in either the third or fourth round that would be a steal. Not to mention they would get tremendous value for the pick.

This is my favorite time of the NFL offseason. Combine prep, players to watch, players that rise and fall, and guys who come out of seemingly nowhere to improve their draft status for the NFL draft in April.

Next: The Detroit Lions All-Time Defensive Team

As a whole, I am not into mock drafts. Instead I like to focus on the needs of the Detroit Lions. That is not to say I frown upon people who love mock drafts. I feel running back is a 2018 need, it may not be the most pressing need, but it is a need.

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