Detroit Lions are applying a thick layer of smoke screen

Preparing for the draft after free agency allows teams to blow some smoke to keep their plans close to their chest, and the Detroit Lions are no different.

Detroit Lions first-round selection, offensive lineman Frank Ragnow, was a complete surprise target for many fans, but someone they had their sites set on all along. They kept their interest in the mauling lineman very quiet.

No big visits or interviews were reported. The team’s interest went under the radar so no other teams had a hunch and tried to trade in front of them. The Cincinnati Bengals even received some negative attention for not trading up to select Ragnow. And Ragnow himself was surprised to be drafted by Detroit.

When a player is surprised to be drafted by your team in the first round, that’s when you know your plan has stayed a secret and was successful. Fast forward to 2019. The Lions hold the 8th overall pick in the draft and could go any direction thanks to some nice free agency moves. What will they do?

Based on the information above, the Lions aren’t going to be giving many clues until they execute their draft plan. But there are some bread crumbs to follow pointing slightly away from the tight end position. The biggest crumb based on the history presented from last year, the team reportedly has a visit lined up with tight end Jace Sternberger.

While this could be a second-round selection, it pretty much negates the option of trading down to make him their first selection. The team wouldn’t make their interest known so publicly while also planning to trade down to select him. They either won’t find a trade partner or other teams will jump up higher to grab him if they really want him.

Another reason the tight end might not be an obvious selection for the Lions in the first two days of the draft? Head coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn can’t stop gushing about their other recently-signed tight ends. And continue gushing … There’s a lot of love for these two new Lions tight ends Logan Thomas and Jesse James.

It’s great that a team likes the players they sign in free agency. But don’t forget that it will also impact the draft. With Quinn’s history of selecting players in the trenches early in the draft and the smoke screen he put out in recent years to mask his true intention, everything happening this offseason seems to line up with another selection up front. To keep the suspense for Detroit Lions fans, you don’t get to know which side of the ball Quinn is eyeing until the pick is made.