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Revisiting the Detroit Lions’ 2016 draft: Bob Quinn’s first

By James F. Puzzuoli

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: (L-R) Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: (L-R) Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: (L-R) Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: (L-R) Taylor Decker of Ohio State holds up a jersey with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #16 overall by the Detroit Lions during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

TAYLOR DECKER

Left tackle Taylor Decker is the anchor for the Detroit line. After a successful rookie campaign, in which he started all 16 games, Decker caught a bad injury in year two. Shoulder surgery kept him out of the first eight games in 2017.

Decker did play in the final eight games. The first four games of Decker’s 2017 season did not look great. However, the final four games, Decker looked much better. The first four probably served as his personal training camp and preseason.

The line simply looks more cohesive with Decker in there, mostly because the Lions had no real depth behind him. Is Decker elite? Not sure that he is, but it certainly isn’t out of reach. The 2017 injury leaves this “elite” question unanswered for at least another year.

A’SHAWN ROBINSON

Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson improved over the course of two years. He started all 16 games in 2017, and had 53 combined tackles, opposed to five starts and 30 combined tackles in 2016. He only had half a sack in 2017, compared to two sacks in 2016.

Sacks are nice from anywhere on the field, but with Robinson it’s about two things: stop the run and eat up blocks. Robinson can play the position, and it is just a matter of finding a long-term solution next to him.

In the immediate future, it would be wise for the Detroit Lions to bring defensive tackle Haloti Ngata back for his thirteenth season (fourth with the Lions). Ngata’s tutelage and talent are big keys for Robinson’s further development. Hopefully, it gets done at a cap friendly price.

GRAHAM GLASGOW

Center Graham Glasgow’s versatility has been invaluable to the Detroit Lions. He started 11 games in 2016. Glasgow was used as a left guard, right guard, and center in his rookie campaign. He started all 16 games in 2017 at both left guard and center.

He started in the latter position because of center Travis Swanson‘s continued injury problems. The Detroit Lions are likely to move on from Swanson because of multiple head injuries, which have put his career prospects in jeopardy. As the probable starter at center in 2018, Glasgow’s value rises even higher.

The picks on “Day 3” for the Detroit Lions have contributed to the team. At this point, there may be one possible star among them, but let’s start with the bad news.

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