Team-by-Team Draft Recap: Detroit Lions
This article is part of our ongoing series where we provide team-by-team analysis of the NFL Draft, as well as divisional winners and losers from the draft. You can read the entire series here.
Over the last few years, the Lions have actually been a team with an identity. They have been known for the once in a generation talent that is Calvin Johnson leading the passing game as well as a very strong and nasty defensive line. Outside of that, they have had offensive line issues in the past few years and a pretty terrible defense outside of the defensive line.
They addressed their lack of depth at wide receiver by signing Golden Tate in free agency and re-signed Brandon Pettigrew at tight end. For that reason many were expecting them to focus on the offensive line and the back part of their defense in the draft. That ended up being only partially true.
Eric Ebron, TE (First round, Pick 10 overall)
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With their first pick, the Lions went after who they felt was the best player on the board, taking one of their team strengths and making it even stronger. While the selection kills a lot of value Pettigrew and Joseph Fauria might have had, it adds yet another explosive element to the Lions’ passing game. Matthew Stafford couldn’t have been happier with this selection as opposing defenses will now need have even more fits trying to figure out how to defend against the Lions with Megatron on one side, Tate on the other, Reggie Bush and Joique Bell coming out of the backfield to catch passes and now Ebron over the middle.
Allow me to put things into perspective a little bit on the Ebron selection. In the last fifteen drafts, 2000 going forward, there have only been two tight ends selected in the first ten picks of the NFL draft. Vernon Davis went sixth in 2006 and Kellen Winslow Jr. went sixth in 2004. Both are special physical specimens who gave defenses very unique challenges for years. That’s some pretty good company for Ebron to find himself in and he seems to fit the bill of the special tight end.
At 6’4” and 250 pounds, Ebron might be on the smaller side of the ideal size range, but with his athleticism and explosiveness he more than makes up for any complaints about his size. He isn’t going to be much of a blocker right away, but he won’t need to be. With the other tight ends on roster, Ebron can focus on doing what he does best, catching the ball. He has large hands and long arms which provide an exceptional catch radius and a very large target range for Stafford to throw into.
Ebron is the right answer to the question of which rookie tight end should be the first one drafted. The situation is ideal and his talent leads the rest of the pack at the position. In fact the gap between him and the others means he is the only one who should be considered in the first round of rookie drafts in normal sized leagues. He is currently ranked #5 overall in our DLF rookie rankings, but I’ve seen him go as early as third in drafts. Third is a touch early for my liking, but I can understand why he would go there. If you’re in need of a young tight end, he’s a prime target. Don’t expect him to slide much past seventh or eighth in rookie drafts.
TJ Jones, WR (Sixth round, Pick 189 overall)
After selecting Ebron, the Lions focused exactly where everyone expected them to focus, offensive line and defense. The only other skill position player drafted by the Lions (unless you still use a kicker in your fantasy leagues) was TJ Jones in the sixth round. Jones is six feet tall, but he has a rather lean build. In my opinion, he was brought in as Ryan Broyles insurance by the Lions. Broyles was once a highly regarded slot receiver prospect but he’s had one major injury after another. Over the last few years he’s suffered multiple ACL tears as well as an Achilles tear. If Broyles can’t make it back this year or has been sapped of his ability, Jones will be ready to step into the fray as the slot receiver for this high powered offense.
The big question is if the possibility of him being the slot receiver in Detroit in the not too distant future means you should be spending a rookie pick on him. Personally, I think he’s not worth a pick until the fifth round of your rookie draft, if you have that many. He’s near the bottom of our top 50 overall rookie rankings and near the bottom of our top 25 rookie wide receivers. Not only is there some uncertainty about his role, but he is also going to be pretty low on the pecking order. With Megatron, Tate, Ebron, Bush and Bell all going to get their targets prior to the slot receiver, there just isn’t much production from the position. Add in a limited ceiling as he is just an average NFL talent and I’m more likely to let someone else draft him.
Nate Freese, K (Seventh round, Pick 229 overall)
It pains me a little bit to even mention a kicker in this article, but I’ll grit my teeth and bear it. The Lions did sign a second rookie kicker after the draft, but they actually spent a pick on Freese. I guess that gives him the upper hand on the competition. Of course if neither performs, the Lions could just sign one of the many unemployed kickers out there to replace him at any given time. Kickers are barely worth a thought and rookie kickers are even less so. Unless you’re in a 32 team league which requires kickers (I feel very sorry for you if that is the case), don’t spend any more time on this one.
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- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Three - April 28, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round Two - April 26, 2021
- Final 2021 Pre-Draft Rookie Mock: Round One - April 25, 2021
