NFL Draft 2018: Detroit Lions select Frank Ragnow No. 20 overall
With the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the Detroit Lions have selected center/guard Frank Ragnow.
After months and months of offseason speculation, we finally have the answer to the question: Who will be the Detroit Lions first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft?
Prior to the top selection being made, the Lions had many perceived roster needs. Positions like running back, offensive line, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and tight end. Did the Detroit brass elect to fill one of these needs? Or did they go rogue, ignored need and simply went with the best player available?
Without further ado, here’s the answer we’ve all been waiting for …
With the 20th overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select …
NAME: Frank Ragnow
POSITION: Center/Guard
SCHOOL: Arkansas
HT/WT: 6-5, 312 pounds
AGE: 21
PROS: Position flexibility, leadership, intangibles, tough guy role, highly consistent
CONS: belly-to-belly blocker, feet movement, balance issues
ANALYSIS: The Lions pull a shocker here opting to address their offensive line issues with a first round selection for the second time in three years. And that’s not including the expensive free agency signings of both guard T.J. Lang and tackle Ricky Wagner last offseason. Detroit has made a major commitment to improving in the trenches. Now, it must pay off.
The Detroit Lions’ first round selections since 2000
2000 – Stockar McDougle, OT, Oklahoma
2001 – Jeff Backus, OT, Michigan
2002 – Joey Harrington, QB, Oregon
2003 – Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State
2004 – Roy Williams, WR, Texas
2004 – Kevin Jones, RB, Virginia Tech
2005 – Mike Williams, WR, USC
2006 – Ernie Sims, LB, Florida State
2007 – Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
2008 – Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
2009 – Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
2009 – Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
2010 – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
2010 – Jahvid Best, RB, California
2011 – Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn
2012 – Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
2013 – Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
2014 – Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina
2015 – Laken Tomlinson, G, Duke
2016 – Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
2017 – Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
Next: Detroit Lions: 15 best first-round draft picks of all-time
What do you think about the Detroit Lions first round selection? Did the Lions’ brass add the right player to the roster? If not, who should have been their top pick instead. Let us know in the comment section below. And check back here at SideLion Report for more draft coverage.