Mike Evans would be an excellent offensive addition for the Lions. (Ben Liebenberg/AP Photos)
The coaching position along with other holes have been filled for the Detroit Lions; it is now time for them to have a stellar draft, starting with the tenth overall pick. Detroit still has needs at the positions of linebacker, wide receiver, cornerback, and defensive end. The Lions have a great chance at getting a player that can be an immediate impact with their first round pick.
Here are the three players that’d be great options, and why:
1. Mike Evans, Wide Reciever, Texas A&M: Johhny Manziel wasn’t the only offensive star at Texas A&M; the six-foot-five receiver was quite the show himself, catching 69 passes for 1394 yards and twelve touchdowns. Evans is simply a machine; he has great speed, size, and hands. He’s marvelous with catching short passes, then exploding down the field for extra yards afterwards. With Calvin Johnson across from him, he’ll give defensive coordinators an impossible duo to combat. He’s a very physical receiver with much aggression, never afraid to battle for the ball. Though the Lions did sign Golden Tate, who is a good receiver, they still lack depth at the position. Drafting Evans would end all doubts for their receiving corps, take much pressure off of Johnson, and allow Tate to flourish even more as a slot receiver, giving opposing defenses the fight of their lives.
2. Justin Gilbert, Cornerback, Oklahoma State: The Lions have one of the worst secondaries in the NFL; Gilbert would help Detroit take a huge step in the right direction. He possesses everything teams look for when it comes to a cornerback, having a tall six-foot frame, weighing 202 pounds, and having blazing speed and athleticism. Gilbert ran his 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. He’s a freakish athlete who’s known to have incredible ball-skills, having the ability to play both zone and man coverage. Gilbert finished the 2013 season with 12 interceptions, leading the Big 12. Gilbert’s physical and athletic; he’d be a phenomenal asset to Detroit’s ailing secondary. Better cornerback play would relieve Detroit’s safety play. Gilbert’s an athlete that can change the whole dynamic of a secondary; he’s the best cornerback this draft has to offer.
3. Anthony Barr, Linebacker, UCLA: Defensive Coordinator Terly Austin wants to implement an aggressive and blitzing scheme for Detroit’s defense; Barr would be an excellent player to assist this execution. Barr accumulated 23.5 sacks and 41.5 tackles for a loss over his tenure at UCLA. He’s a brutal pass-rusher and shows explosive play-making abilities at moments. He’s quick off the snap of the ball, and is a ruthless brute when it comes to ravaging quarterbacks. Barr does have pass-covering abilities as well. The six-foot-four and 248 pound linebacker would be a demon quarterbacks would cringe at. Austin’s defensive scheming would be utilized greatly with a linebacker like Barr and his play.
Whoever Detroit takes must be an immediate impact. Both the offense and defense had their mistrials last season, leading to the horrendous landslide they endured. Any of these three players would be fantastic picks.
Loading ...
Leave a Reply