Is cornerback the Detroit Lions’ biggest draft need?

The Detroit Lions addressed several of their roster needs via free agency. Have those additions made the cornerback position the team’s biggest draft need?

Coming off a disappointing 6-10 season and sitting in the basement of the NFC North, the Detroit Lions figured to have plenty of areas of need along their roster to address. And after a stunning haul during free agency, Detroit has done just that.

The Lions’ free agent additions have so far included defensive end Trey Flowers, tight ends Jesse James and Logan Thomas, cornerbacks Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin, wide receivers Danny Amendola and Tommylee Lewis, safety Andrew Adams and guard Oday Aboushi. The numerous and varied signings have many fans excited about the upcoming season.

Yet, the Lions still have another opportunity to address areas of need in the 2019 NFL Draft. Detroit owns a whopping nine selections in the upcoming selection event, doubling up picks in both the sixth and seventh rounds.

But everyone’s focus is on their first selection, which is eighth overall in the first round. There is the potential to land a franchise-defining prospect with that pick. The Lions must get this one right.

According to Pro Football Focus, Detroit’s biggest draft needs are cornerback, tight end and edge rusher. Here’s what the football analytic website wrote about Detroit’s need in the secondary.

"“As mentioned prior, coverage is the most valuable asset for a defense, so going cornerback early and often is not unrealistic and should probably be the way the Lions go in April.”"

The Lions did address their needs at the cornerback position with the signings of Coleman and Melvin in free agency. And Detroit refuses to give up on former second-rounder Teez Tabor, despite his lack of development the past two seasons.

Although Coleman found success as a slot corner with the Seattle Seahawks, there’s talk about him possibly moving outside to play opposite of Darius Slay. But the signing of Melvin could change those plans.

Regardless, Melvin is a 29-year old veteran who only signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal. The Lions likely view him purely as an experienced bridge player, who will eventually give way to a much younger prospect.

Now the question is whether the Lions’ land that young corner using the eighth overall selection or not. The top defensive backs in this draft class include DeAndre Baker out of Georgia, Greedy Williams out of LSU, and Byron Murphy out of Washington. But none of them are seen as true difference makers.

In fact, in a recent mock draft that appeared on NFL.com, a cornerback wasn’t projected to be selected higher than 21st. Yet, all three of the above names were selected in the first round. But selecting any of them eighth overall seems like a stretch. The best player available method could be the ultimate choice for the Detroit Lions. And that’s likely to be either a defensive lineman or a linebacker.