I mentioned it last week....start warming up the Lewan bus! Dude had a monster combine...looked like he could play DE lol. Personally I wouldn't pick him at 10 if gilbert is there....but I would understand the pick.,
Detroit Lions open to drafting an offensive lineman with 10th overall pick in NFL draft
Kyle Meinke |
[email protected] By Kyle Meinke |
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on February 27, 2014 at 10:38 AM, updated February 27, 2014 at 11:05 AM
INDIANAPOLIS -- MMQB's Peter King projected this week that the Detroit Lions would select Michigan offensive tackle Taylor Lewan with their 10th overall pick.
That sound you hear is either readers spitting coffee into their computer screens, or commenters pounding on their keyboards about how King is an idiot who was born in a barn and probably yesterday.
I get it.
But here's something: The Detroit Lions are open to the idea of drafting an offensive lineman with that 10th overall pick.
"As you guys know, we like to keep our options open. Know what I mean?" Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew said. "We're looking for good players. The most important thing we need, from a talent standpoint, is guys who can play football. Doesn't matter what position they play. That's the way I look at it."
This boils down to the classic need vs. best player available debate.
Detroit needs receivers and cornerbacks, and there's a fleet of good ones in this draft. The most likely outcome is Roger Goodell hands Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Justin Gilbert or Darqueze Dennard that Honolulu blue hat in May.
But if a player the Lions believe to be special falls to them at No. 10, they will consider that option seriously. That includes at positions of strength, including offensive line.
Detroit is young and talented at tackle, where Riley Reiff is entering his third season (and second as a starter on the left side) and LaAdrian Waddle his second. The Lions are comfortable with that lineup.
But elite tackles aren't easy t come by in the draft, nor do they come cheaply in free agency. If the Lions believe a good one is available, they could forgo more pressing needs to pick up that guy.
Texas A&M's Jake Matthews, Auburn's Greg Robinson and Lewan are widely considered the three best tackles in the draft (and NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock believes they are more talented than the three tackles who went in the first four picks of last year's draft).
"(Waddle and Corey Hilliard) are quality players on our offensive line and we wouldn't shy away at all from putting those guys on the field," Mayhew said. "I feel comfortable with those guys out there. By the same token, if you can upgrade that position, I think you have to look into that."
