Third Round, Pick No. 101: Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
Note: This is the compensatory pick the Lions will get this year for losing Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets, and the exact spot it will be is not yet locked in.
The level of need the Lions will have at cornerback will be determined by what happens in free agency (does Carlton Davis leave? If so, who is signed to replace him?).
Strong (6-foot-1, 179 pounds) played 53 games over five seasons at Virginia Tech, with 112 total tackles, seven interceptions and 28 pass breakups. He is seen as most effective in zone coverage, but Pro Football Network's evaluation deviated from that in a notable way when considering how he'd be a fit for the Lions.
"Dorian Strong is a skilled and instinctive cornerback who excels in man coverage but is also more than competent in zone coverage schemes. He possesses fluid hips, quick feet, and strong closing speed, allowing him to stick with receivers and disrupt passing lanes. Strong's ball skills stand out, as he consistently tracks the ball and makes plays on it in contested situations. He plays with physicality at the line of scrimmage, using his length effectively to disrupt routes. Strong’s football IQ and anticipation enable him to read quarterbacks and jump routes but can also make him vulnerable if he mistimes the play or double moves. Additionally, adding strength will allow him to handle bigger receivers and further enhance his game as a lockdown defender."
Assuming new Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard maintains Glenn's man-heavy tendencies, Strong looks like a sneaky fit and Holmes has adopted the general idea "you can never have too many corners." With that in mind, Strong begs for the front office and coaching staff to take a deeper dive on.
Fourth Round, Pick No. 133: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
The Lions may re-sign Tim Patrick, but beyond next season they'd still have a need for a No. 3 wide receiver. Looking toward that, Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report tabbed the Lions as a team who would be a nice fit for Bryant within his evaluation of some wide receiver prospects.
"The 6'3", 200-pounder brings legitimate X-receiver size and physicality to the position, which isn't as common among Day 2 targets. He has enough burst to stack cornerbacks, with the body control to win down the field."
Bryant (6-foot-2, 6-foot-3, 200-plus pounds) followed a breakthrough final season at Illinois (984 yards, 18.2 yards per catch and a tied for single-season school record 10 touchdowns) with a good showing at the Senior Bowl. Athletic testing at the Combine stands to have some impact on where he goes in the draft, particularly his 40-yard dash time (and more particularly his 10-yard splits).
The Lions wasted a lot of time finding a suitable replacement for Josh Reynolds before fortune smiled on them with Patrick becoming available at roster cuts. They won't make that mistake again, and independent of a veteran addition that may only be a one-year stopgap Bryant makes a lot of sense with an eye on the future.
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