SideLion Report
FanSided

Ranking the Detroit Lions’ first round picks since 2010

By Jeremy Friedrichs

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Ezekiel Ansah of the BYU Cougars stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (R) as they hold up a jersey on stage after Ansah was picked #5 overall by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Ezekiel Ansah of the BYU Cougars stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (R) as they hold up a jersey on stage after Ansah was picked #5 overall by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 25, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Number Four – 2017

Selection/Position: Jarrad Davis / Linebacker
Draft position/School: 21st overall / Florida
Tenure with Lions: 2017 – Present
Lions statistics: 30 games played, 30 starts, 8.0 sacks, 1 interception

Coming off a 2016 season in which the Lions entire linebacking group failed to record a sack, interception or forced fumble, they selected an athletic “MIKE” backer in Davis to help add some playmaking ability to the second level of the defense. After two seasons in Detroit, Davis has made some strides, but the jury is still out.

Davis has tremendous closing speed, is a punishing hitter when he connects, and has flashed some serious potential as a spot blitzer, finishing with six sacks in 2018. He is also already one of the leaders on the defense with his all-out-on-every-play style. Where Davis has struggled is in pass coverage, missing tackles and over-shooting his gaps on occasion.

Hyperbole aside, 2019 is undoubtedly a pivotal season for Davis. In his second season under  Matt Patricia and defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, the Lions will likely be looking for him to become more of a complete player, gain the coaches’ trust on third down and continue to build on the team’s run defense that finished the season on a high note.

Davis isn’t quite in Ragnow’s spot, where he has notable players picked closely after him at his position. The only linebacker to be selected for a Pro Bowl from the 2017 draft is T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, Davis will be heavily scrutinized in his third season. Another jump in play from him would likely land him near the top of a similar list a year from now.

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