5 mid-to late-round quarterbacks the Detroit Lions could draft in April

2. Jack Coan

Coan transferred from Wisconsin to Notre Dame for his final collegiate season in 2021, and had a solid campaign (3,150 yards, 65.5 percent completion rate, 25 touchdowns, seven interceptions).

Coan, at 6-foot-3 and 223 pounds pending official measurements at the NFL Combine, has ideal size and arm talent along with football IQ and intangibles.

Coming off a good showing at the East-West Shrine Bowl, the combine will be another showcase opportunity for Coan. He has seemingly solidified himself as a Day 3 pick, so his stock can only go up from there during the week in Indianapolis if he has a strong showing.

1. Kaleb Eleby

As a Western Michigan product, there’s the local angle with Eleby and the Lions. He declared for the draft a year early, after throwing 41 touchdowns with just eight interceptions over 19 games spanning the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He also added 10 rushing touchdowns over this last two seasons as a Bronco. He started the final five games of his freshman season in 2018, then redshirted in 2019. For his career in Kalamazoo, he averaged 9.2 yards per pass attempt.

Eleby is regarded by some as a sleeper prospect in this year’s quarterback class. He got some attention when Western Michigan beat eventual ACC champion Pittsburgh (and top quarterback prospect Kenny Pickett) last season, a game where he threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns.

Eleby would benefit from a year on the bench to learn the full extent of an NFL offense. The Lions have just that situation, with Jared Goff lined up to start next season.