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Detroit Lions 2018 NFL Draft: 5 possible first round picks

By Steven Mullenax

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play during the second quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Here are five prospects many seem to believe will be atop the Detroit Lions’ draft board when their number is called in the first round on Thursday night.

For months now, the speculation around who will become the first round pick for the Detroit Lions in the 2018 NFL Draft has been unrelenting. Finally, Thursday night, we will have an answer to that question.

There have been several prospects mocked to the Lions this offseason. But there seem to be five players who have become a consistent favorite among them. Let’s go over that list and breakdown each one.

Marcus Davenport, DE – UTSA

I’m starting to believe that if Davenport is available when the Lions have their number called at 20th overall, he might be the selection. And it makes a lot of sense. Many compare Davenport to Ziggy Ansah. What better prospect to replace Ansah in Detroit than Davenport? With Ziggy on a one-year deal, the Lions’ brass could certainly look to invest this high in a premier pass rusher so they can move on from a 30-year old Ansah in 2019.

Taven Bryan, DT – Florida

Last year, the Lions spent their top two draft selections on prospects out of Florida. So it would seem to make sense that Detroit could be a perfect pipeline for Bryan. But more importantly, the interior of the Lions’ defensive line needs to be addressed. And Bryan gives Detroit a talented defensive tackle that has been compared to Haloti Ngata, someone this team desperately needs to replace.

Harold Landry, Edge – Boston College

Some believe Landry is a superior pass rusher over Davenport, who faced questionable competition in Conference USA. But do the Lions believe it? Likely Detroit’s new defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni is pounding the table for this prospect as he was Landry’s positional coach at Boston College. With questions surrounding Ziggy Ansah’s future and Kerry Hyder Jr. coming off a season-ending injury, edge rusher is certainly a justifiably need in the Motor City.

Da’Ron Payne, DT – Alabama

The New England Patroits seem to have a penchant for drafting Alabama players. With former Pats defensive coordinator Matt Patricia now head coach in Detroit, you have to begin to wonder if some of those old habits will reveal themselves in the team’s draft strategy on Thursday night. Again, Detroit has a need for a strong interior presence and Payne fits the bill. The fact he played for Alabama is just a bonus.

Next: Detroit Lions: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time

Derrius Guice, RB – LSU

Questions about his maturity-level combined with a deep draft class of running backs has Guice likely slipping out of the first round. Although I still believe he’s on the Lions’ radar, recent comments made by general manager Bob Quinn seems to point to Detroit addressing the position on Day Two. But if they decide to draft Guice, they will have landed themselves a quality running back to pair with LeGarrette Blount.

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