Detroit Lions: Which rookie needs to have the biggest impact?

The Detroit Lions 2018 rookie class was able to get their feet wet last weekend, but which one will need to make the biggest contribution this season?

The 2018 draft went a little different for the Detroit Lions than most predicted it would. Instead of fortifying the defense early, they made their picks with the ground game in mind.

Four out of six picks will be expected to directly contribute to the improvement of Lions anemic rushing attack.

The remaining two went the route of the defense.

So the early answer as to which one will need to make the biggest contribution should be pretty easy. Either center/guard Frank Ragnow or running back Kerryon Johnson. Ragnow is expected to be a starter from day one and Johnson should get plenty of touches in the backfield rotation.

There are 16 offensive linemen on the roster currently. Seven of them were not with the Lions last season. The expectation is that along with Ragnow helping to solidify the starting unit, that the depth will be better this year as well.

An idea that isn’t all that bad after having injuries upon injuries to the offensive line last year.

By the eighth week of the season the Lions were having contests like ‘the first five in attendance will start on the O-line’. All that was left was to add a couple more spots for backups because everyone on the line outside of Graham Glasgow was busy finding ways to get hurt.

With the big emphasis on the ground game that general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia made in the draft and continue to make as they keep adding offensive linemen, there couldn’t possibly be another answer, right?

The truth of the matter is that while the case can certainly be made for Ragnow, who is being considered the final piece to the offensive line puzzle, there is another player whose contributions will need to be made early and often if this team is going to compete for the playoffs.