Detroit Lions: Do’s and Don’ts for the 2020 NFL Draft

Don’t: Draft a Punter Before the Sixth Round

I tried to keep this one out of here, but knowing general manager Bob Quinn’s history with long snappers, it had to be noted. Reports have shown that the Lions have done a lot of work with Texas A&M’s punter Braden Mann.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but taking a punter anywhere before the sixth round has no value whatsoever. Even though the likely hood of finding star players in the later rounds is low, it’s still possible to find solid starters and rotation players.

Quinn’s sixth and seventh-round resume isn’t all that impressive. Naturally, those rounds have the lowest success rate, that’s when teams should select their punters and kickers.

Do: Plan for the Future at Wide Receiver

This is a tricky one, it goes against everything this article is advocating for. Despite that, if Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia are comfortable with sacrificing an early-round pick on a wide receiver, they should go for it.

Even if that particular wide receiver might be a rotation player in his rookie year. Wideout Marvin Jones is entering a contract year and he hasn’t been healthy these past two years. The production is there, but we don’t exactly know if Quinn will want to pay him big money.

Slot receiver Danny Amendola is also on a contract year. Amendola became a fan favorite in Detroit, but at the age of 34, who knows how many more years he has left before he calls it quits.

In this instance, the Lions would be drafting a rotation player in the second or third rounds. Although, unlike the running back position, this potential draft pick becomes the starter in year two. A sound investment for the Lions to make when considering beyond the 2020 season.