Detroit Lions: Did we just see Motown’s 2019 top pick?

IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 10: Tight End T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a pass during the first half in front of defensive back Travis Whillock #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats on November 10, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- NOVEMBER 10: Tight End T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes catches a pass during the first half in front of defensive back Travis Whillock #7 of the Northwestern Wildcats on November 10, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Did the Detroit Lions find the man to use the eighth overall pick in the draft on during yesterdays combine exhibition of quarterbacks and receivers?

The NFL Combine is like the Olympics for football, and the Detroit Lions along with the rest of the league are watching intently.

Let’s be honest, at this point pretty much every team in the NFL has their draft board set. What this weekend and the following pro days will do is force teams to possibly change those boards.

Players show up at Indianapolis trying to show general managers and coaches that they are faster than previously believed to be. Or stronger or more fluid or technically sound. This is the ultimate job application for an athlete.

And fans love it! They fall in love with players that suddenly burst on the scene with superspeed or terrific hands or roll through drills effortlessly. We’ve all seen that. Was there any NFL fan that saw receiver N’Keal Harry from Arizona State run a 4.54 in the 40-yard dash, which is significantly better than the expected time of 4.7 seconds, and didn’t start to think, ‘He wouldn’t look bad playing for my team.’

That right there is the real reason for the combine. It’s a platform for elite athletes to prove they are as good or better than advertised.

Yet the player many Lions fans wanted to see was Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray. He’s the player the Detroit media has fallen in love with and advocates at every turn how Lions general manager Bob Quinn needs to select the former Sooner with their top pick.

Yet Murray didn’t work out and from the buzz around the league, it certainly doesn’t sound like he will be on the board when the Lions are on the clock at number eight.

However, many other athletes did work out and it’s possible that we just may have seen the Lions top pick in action. Even if the thought of it makes the Honolulu Blue and Silver faithful cringe.