NFL Draft 2019: Detroit Lions select Jahlani Tavai No. 43 overall
The Detroit Lions opted to draft a tight end in the first round. Does that mean they’ll address their defense in the second round? They did.
With their first selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions made a tight end, Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson, their pick at eight overall. That’s despite already signing former Pittsburgh Steelers’ tight end Jesse James in free agency earlier this year.
With their second round selection, will the Lions address a more pressing need on their roster? Picking fairly early in the round, Detroit has yet another opportunity to land a quality player who can have an impact in their rookie season. Now, we know the selection …
With the 43rd overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select …
NAME: Jahlani Tavai
POSITION: Linebacker
SCHOOL: Hawaii
HT/WT: 6-2, 250
2018 STATS: 82 tackles, 5.5 tfls, 2.0 sacks (8 games)
PROS: Quick, Aggressive, Good Blitzer, Tackling Machine
CONS: Coming off shoulder injury, lacks top-end speed, lack of competition
QUICK ANALYSIS: The Lions continue to build their linebacker corps adding a bit of a surprise player in Jahlani Tavai that should have an instant impact. The Hawaii star will join Devon Kennard, Jarrad Davis and Christian Jones on a multiple defense that needed to build their linebacker depth. Tavai played at middle linebacker the past three seasons for the Rainbow Warriors.
Daniel Jeremiah said on NFL Network that LB Jahlani Tavai was someone the Patriots loved and compared him to Kyle Van Noy.
— Tori Petry (@sportstori) April 27, 2019
Detroit Lions’ second round selections since 2000
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2018 – Kerryon Johnson, RB – Auburn
2017 – Teez Tabor, CB – Florida
2016 – A’Shawn Robinson, DT – Alabama
2015 – Ameer Abdullah, RB – Nebraska
2014 – Kyle Van Noy, LB – BYU
2013 – Darius Slay, DB – Mississippi St.
2012 – Ryan Broyles, WR – Oklahoma
2011 – Titus Young, WR – Boise St.
2011 – Mikel Leshoure, RB – Illinois
2010 – No Pick
2009 – Louis Delmas, DB – West. Michigan
2008 – Jordon Dizon, LB – Colorado
2007 – Drew Stanton, QB – Michigan St.
2007 – Ikaika Alama-Francis, DE – Hawaii
2007 – Gerald Alexander, DB – Boise St.
2006 – Daniel Bullocks, DB – Nebraska
2005 – Shaun Cody, DT – USC
2004 – Teddy Lehman, LB – Oklahoma
2003 – Boss Bailey, LB – Georgia
2002 – Kalimba Edwards, DE – South Carolina
2001 – Dominic Raiola , C – Nebraska
2001 – Shaun Rogers, DT – Texas
2000 – Barrett Green, LB – West Virginia
Next. Ranking the Lions' first round picks since 2010. dark
What do you think about the Detroit Lions second pick of the draft? Did they make the right choice? Or did they leave a future Pro Bowler on the board? Let us know your thoughts about this selection in the comment section below. And keep checking back here at SideLion Report for more draft coverage.