One last Detroit Lions mock draft before some NFL virtual reality
By Robert Jones
Time to fill some offensive needs
With two more selections in the third round, it’s time to address a few needs on offense. While the Lions offense was certainly its strength last season, there is still work to be done there. Especially after some turnover on the line.
Robert Hunt isn’t an unknown commodity and even though he is projected by most draft experts to go somewhere between the second and third round, I consider him still being available at this point a gift. The 6 foot 5-inch 322-pound road grater is expected to move to guard in the NFL because he is more suited to playing in limited space. That being the case, he has plenty of power and skill to become an outstanding player in the NFL.
Hunt will need some good coaching, but he has the ability to start for the Lions at guard from day one. If plugged in at right guard next to free-agent tackle acquisition Halapoulivaati Vaitai, the right side of the line should be very good at opening holes for Kerryon Johnson and whoever else the Lions have in the backfield.
Both Hunt and Vaitai will need to improve in their pass blocking, but neither one is a liability either. This should improve the line play as well as the quality of the offense.
Bryan Edwards is a little off the radar for some people since he missed the final four games of last season due to injury, then broke his foot in February while training for the NFL Combine, but he is a solid player that has a chance to be very productive in the NFL. He’s a big, strong receiver that will be hard to knock off his routes and is fast enough to make plays downfield as well.
Missing the combine will probably hurt his draft stock, but the biggest thing he will need to prove is that his hands can be consistent. Edwards doesn’t have bad hands, but he does have the occasional drop. With better focus, there is no reason that shouldn’t improve as well as his route running.
He needs to polish up his game a little, but he’s a hard-worker with good potential who could very well be a mid-round steal.