Did the Detroit Lions draft themselves a future All-Pro in the fifth round?
By all accounts, the Detroit Lions found themselves tremendous value in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. But was it an All-Pro caliber find?
Last year, not a single player chosen in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft was selected in the Pro Bowl. In fact, since 2010, only ten fifth rounders total have ever been selected to go to the league’s version of an all-star game. Out of those ten, just six have been named first or second team All-Pros. None of those Pro Bowlers have been from the Detroit Lions.
But just last season, the Lions did have a fifth rounder named to the All-Pro first team. That player being special teams returner and cornerback Jamal Agnew. In fact, Detroit has had some pretty big names come out of that late round in recent years. Players like linebacker Tahir Whitehead, punter Sam Martin and offensive guard Joe Dahl.
Here’s a list of the Lions’ fifth round selections since 2010:
2010 – No Pick
2011 – Doug Hogue, LB – Syracuse
2012 – Tahir Whitehead , LB – Temple
2012 – Chris Greenwood , CB – Albion
2013 – Sam Martin, P – Appalachian State
2014 – Caraun Reid, DT – Princeton
2015 – Michael Burton, FB – Rutgers
2016 – Joe Dahl, G – Washington State
2016 – Antwione Williams, OLB – Georgia Southern
2017 – Jamal Agnew, CB – San Diego
In the 2018 NFL Draft over the weekend, the Lions appear to have found themselves another hidden gem. With the 153rd pick in the fifth round on Saturday, Detroit drafted Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby.
And a 38-year veteran of NFL Films and executive producer/analyst for ESPN’s NFL Matchup, Greg Cosell, believes the Lions might have just uncovered their best fifth rounder yet.
"“Very desirable combination of size and power. [Tyrell Crosby’s] size and build are likely better suited to play inside at guard at the next level,” wrote Cosell for DetroitLions.com recently. “… There will be teams depending on run game concepts and pass game design that will project Crosby at tackle and my sense is he could be effective outside given his size-length and power, but I believe he has the physical and competitive traits to be an All-Pro OG in the NFL.”"
History tells us that finding an All-Pro in the fifth round is highly unlikely. Finding two in back-to-back drafts could be franchise-changing.
Crosby’s descent down draft boards is a bit hard to explain. Named a borderline first round selection, apparent concerns about the prospect’s lack of bench press reps (17) at the Scouting Combine and “skinny” ankles upped his bust probability in the eyes of some scouts.
Still, many seemed to believe the 22-year old offensive lineman would be gone by Day Two of the draft. But Crosby tumbled all the way down to the Lions in the fifth, who had already chosen Arkansas center Frank Ragnow with their first round pick, 20th overall. Ragnow figured to fill Detroit’s final starting role, beside veterans Taylor Decker (left tackle), Graham Glasgow (guard/center), T.J. Lang (right guard) and Rick Wagner (right tackle).
But the addition of Crosby, whom the Lions believe has position flex, could suddenly challenge Glasgow as a possible starter. The former third rounder was expected to shift from left guard to center this offseason. But the drafting of Ragnow could change those plans. The Lions’ newest first rounder could fill-in at guard as well.
Next: Detroit Lions - The best draft picks of the past decade
Regardless of how it all shakes out this offseason, the Detroit Lions should feel very happy to have landed a potential All-Pro at guard in Tyrell Crosby. Whether the Motor City’s latest fifth rounder actually achieves that lofty prediction is anyone’s guess. But even if Crosby never becomes anything more than a quality backup, that’s still above average value for such a late round pick.