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Detroit Lions draft: Bob Quinn’s O-line profile, best values

By Michael Kirkland

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 08: David Blough #10 of the Detroit Lions calls a play on the line against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 08: David Blough #10 of the Detroit Lions calls a play on the line against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Offensive Lineman Matt Peart #65 from Connecticut
Offensive Lineman Matt Peart #65 from Connecticut (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Detroit Lions candidates

Here is a list of the Detroit Lions picks, from the Tankathon website. You can also see how every pick is situated for every round there, too.

Cameron Clark, Charlie Heck, Colton McKivitz, Lucas Niang, Matt Peart, Jon Runyan, John Simpson, Terrence Steele, Alex Taylor, and Prince Tega Wanogho all hit nearly every mark for size, agility, explosion, and experience, while also not being ranked above pick 35 with a week left before the draft.

Matt Peart, OT, Connecticut

Our first candidate is among the more athletic prospects that we’re going to preview. Blessed with a 6-foot-7, 318-pound frame with over 36-inch arms, one of Matt Peart’s biggest knocks is that his level of competition is in the AAC, American Athletic Conference. Peart’s short shuttle and 3-cone aren’t ideal, either but Quinn has drafted or signed lesser athletes.

He may be asked to work on his change-of-direction skills before Lions coaches would consider him starter material but he has the raw ability to work with.

Additionally, his strength to anchor against good bull-rushes, along with his hand technique are usually cited as areas for him to improve. Peart played in and started 48 games at UConn, though, although his Jamaican upbringing didn’t expose him to football until he started playing high school football in Massachusetts.

Another positive, Peart participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl and was coached by Detroit Lions coaches for more than a week; he is slated to be a round-three or round-four selection and could be available at pick 109 for the Detroit Lions. Lots of college starts, big frame with great length for his position, and a reasonable cost make Peart a guy we’d take Day-3.

Jon Runyan, OL, Michigan

“What?!? A Michigan player?” We hear you but hear us out. While rampant “homerism” is a norm in the sports writing world, there are several very good reasons to list Jon Runyan in this article.

Runyan ticks every box in Bob Quinn’s slate at 6-foot-4, 306-pounds, with 33 1/4-inch arms, runs a 5.08-second 40-yard dash, a 4.69-second short shuttle, and comes from Big-Ten competition; Runyan played in 34 games, starting 26 per the MGoBlue athletics website.

Runyan is a decent athlete, played tackle in college, but will be a guard in the NFL. At times he has gotten put on skates by fast edge players and pushed back by elite bull rushers. However, he will deal better with the more limited space on the interior if he can keep opponents from getting into his pads.

Jon Runyan is at least as good of an athlete as most draft picks by Quinn, although he needs to be more of a technician and is inconsistent at times. In Detroit, Runyan will have time to develop and has a low cost, maybe as low as the Detroit Lions pick No. 236 in the seventh-round. At that point, he’s well worth the risk for a player with gifts that are similar to the Lions’ starters.

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