In about four weeks the NFL will begin the 2020 draft (April 23rd), the Detroit Lions have a number of positions that could utilize an immediate starting player.
The Detroit Lions have the third overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Exactly who they might target with that pick has been discussed by fans and media since well before the end of the 2019 season. Many have already set their sights on a particular player, but the Lions themselves will still be discussing it for a while yet.
It’s also important to remember that the Lions have nine selections total (at present) in the draft and have a tendency to identify specific players they want and target them. Last week I wrote about how the Lions have a tendency to reserve the number of draft picks from the total roster limit of 90 players, since that time they have agreed to terms with four more free agents (Oday Aboushi, Reggie Ragland, Elijah Lee, and Geremy Davis), leaving three more spots open if I’m correct.
Whether or not the Lions sign a “big name” free agent before the draft is a matter of opinion, and many of the free agents they have signed are more for depth and creating competition in training camp then for filling holes in the roster. That means that the position of the player they target in round one of the draft could easily become a starter if he were to win the job in training camp, and of course, he would be expected to win the job. The question is, which player?
Current favorites are EDGE Chase Young, cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, outside linebacker and safety Isaiah Simmons, and defensive lineman Derrick Brown. These choices don’t even include a quarterback (which I am nearly certain won’t happen) or the trade down scenarios. So which position will the Lions target? It could easily be any of the four!
The only move in free agency that removed a potential position in the first round was the signing of right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, taking potential first-round draft pick Tristan Wirfs off the list. The other moves, in my opinion, did not take any of the defensive positions listed above off the draft board. The issue is, they kind of need all four positions and luckily there are six other rounds to make selections in, it’s that “immediate starter” target that comes into play then.
It is my opinion that the immediate starter playing EDGE in Chase Young would be perfect playing along with Trey Flowers. The problem is he may be gone before the Lions pick. The other three popular choices could all be starters or at least rotated in and given playing time as their personal progress is made. I’m not sure if that’s a good enough reason to stay at three overall and draft one, a trade down at this point seems more logical, if the Lions can find a dance partner (someone to trade with for reasonable compensation).
As I said earlier, the Lions tend to target their guy, it’s entirely possible that this target is none of those listed above, but someone who is currently thought will be drafted later in round one. For fans and media this could mean a “reach” or it could mean one or more trades or it could all be a non-starter and the target is indeed one of those already mentioned. I’m so torn that I think whichever they choose will help the team, maybe equally.
Who do you think the Lions should target in round one of the draft. Or maybe instead of who, which position? Put your choice in the comments below.