Detroit Lions: How many current Wolverines could play for the Leos?
Detroit Lions: QB, WR, TE, RB
For brevity, we are going to lump the offensive skill players together. Michigan has seen a surge of talent at these positions, while the Lions still have some holes or depth concerns.
Shea Patterson is a good college quarterback but he would not depose incumbent Lions QB, Matthew Stafford, anytime soon. Stafford, even when unhealthy or not playing his best, would beat out Patterson easily. Patterson could upgrade the backup quarterback position, though.
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Patterson is a smart, athletic guy (6-2, 205, 4.59) who can make plays with both his arm and legs; he still has a year of eligibility left. Michigan’s backup, redshirt frosh Dylan McCaffrey looked very good prior to a collarbone injury which saw him get shut down for this year.
Michigan boasts one of the better trios of wide receivers in the country in Tarik Black (6-2, 215, 4.55), Nico Collins (6-3, 218), and Donovan Peoples-Jones (6-2, 208, 4.4). All three are due to leave college by 2021, and all three play well enough to contribute to the Lions. Black and Peoples-Jones are both ranked top 5 in their class.
To add to that, tight ends Zach Gentry and Sean McKeon are willing targets with some upside; you can see their production at Sports Reference.
Gentry (6-7, 262, 4.82) is the better producer and a top 5 option in 2020, or earlier. McKeon (6-4, 251) has been reliable but is unranked for 2020. Considering the Lions problems with tight ends, Gentry would be a welcomed edition and McKeon might even make it, too.
At running back the Wolverines sport a pair of versatile, tough runners in Karan Higdon and Chris Evans. Higdon is the more traditional power runner, and at 5-9, 202, 4.5, he is almost assured of getting drafted. Evans (5-10, 216, 4.53) is an all-purpose back who catch and run effectively. Higdon is ranked 5th this year and Evans is #20 next year.
Depth behind Lions rookie Kerryon Johnson is thin. LeGarrette Blount is gone after this season, leaving Theo Riddick and Zach Zenner as the only backups. Kick thinks either Higdon or Evans could be a quality backup and weapon for Stafford and the Lions.
Worth a mention, Ben Mason, Michigan’s lead blocker and short yardage fullback, is one of the best in the nation. That is an area where the Lions definitely need help and they do use a fullback, unlike many franchises. Mason (6-2, 254, 4.88) is just a sophomore, but could probably start right now, regardless.