By Michael Stets
The 2018 NFL Draft is finally upon us, and after a disappointing 9-7 season that saw the Lions miss the playoffs for the second time in three years, it’s time once again for GM Bob Quinn to add some new pieces to the roster.
With five possible quarterback prospects expected to be taken in the first round, and the likelihood of several trades to occur (2017 saw six in the first round), there will be plenty of action going down outside of AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas before it’s time for the Lions to hand in the envelope at No. 20. And that will leave a number of different options for Quinn, who heads into his third draft as Lions GM, and will again be picking in the middle of the first round.
At his pre-draft press conference, Quinn said there is “Good depth at all the positions” this year, with the number of the “Cream of the crop, top group” players being in the “Eight to 12 range.” The two biggest attributes he covets in a first-round pick, he said, are “Playmaking” and “Dependability,” which the Lions are in need of on both sides of the football, especially when it comes to rushing the passer or running the football.
So with that in mind, members of the Lions Radio broadcast team will attempt to predict who Quinn will draft when it’s time for the Lions to surrender their pick at No.20, which should be right around 10:30 pm ET on Thursday evening.
Dan Miller: Lions Play-by-Play
Prediction: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
“So I did this exercise for the Lions site (Detroitlions.com). While part of me wants to change my selection, I will keep it the same: Marcus Davenport, the defensive end out of UTSA. I have felt the defensive line was going to be the spot because it is where the surplus on the board seems to meet the team’s needs. I think there is a good chance Harold Landry (defensive end out of Boston College) will be gone. If that is the case, then it may very well be Davenport as the next defensive end on the board. I think the team could certainly use some help up front with rushing the passer, and getting some depth there now would help them next offseason when they will have to make a tough call on Ziggy Ansah.”
Jim Brandstatter: Lions Color Analyst
Prediction: Marcus Davenport, DE, UTSA
“I’ll go with defensive end Marcus Davenport. If he’s off the board, then I think the Lions will go with Harold Landry. The Lions will go with defense first, preferably a front-seven position.”
Steve Courtney: Lions Pre- & Post-Game Host
Prediction: Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
“With the 20th selection, the Detroit Lions will take Maurice Hurst, the defensive tackle out of Michigan. Hurst will provide everything that Matt Patricia likes in a defender: size, speed, athleticism, and the ability to plug holes and rush the passer. Hurst did both in Ann Arbor and can do it at the next level. The question is: will the heart situation affect his status?”
Sean Baligian: Lions Pre- & Post-Game Host
Prediction: Harold Landry, DE, Boston College
“Mere hours before the draft and the collective media that covers the Lions do not have the faintest idea who the team will select in the first round. I’m sure that’s exactly the way GM Bob Quinn likes it. In fairness, it is difficult enough to guess what the pick might be at No. 20, but add the usual intrigue and rumors of teams sliding up and sliding back, and it makes it an even more difficult proposition.
“I am going to say that it will be Harold Landry, the defensive end from Boston College. I think that we all know that the Lions need an edge guy and a defensive tackle, but I think Landry would be too good to pass up at No.20 if he is there. This regime has shown they like versatility and Landry can provide a speed skill set, with room to develop in other areas as opposed to being just a pass rusher.”
Ken Brown: Co-Host Mitch Albom Show, Lions Radio Contributor
Prediction: Derrius Guice, RB, LSU
“The Lions can’t afford to wait until the second round to address the biggest need on the team. Guice, who has been compared to a young Marshawn Lynch, is a little immature, but a couple of NFL hits will straighten him out. I think he will run for 1,200 yards as a rookie.”
Nick Roddy: Lions Radio Executive Producer
Prediction: Da’Ron Payne, DT, Alabama
“The Lions biggest needs entering the NFL Draft are defensive line, linebacker and interior offensive line. In Payne, Detroit will get an immediate run-stuffer to replace Haloti Ngata. Last season, in the five games with Ngata in the lineup, Detroit’s defense allowed just 74.6 rushing yards per game. In the 11 games without Ngata, that stat sky-rocketed to 129.7 rushing yards per game. With Ngata in Philadelphia, Payne would not only replace him in the run-game, but also could be one of their better pass-rushers. Other players I’d consider at No. 20 are Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, UTEP offensive guard Will Hernandez, or Florida defensive tackle Taven Bryan.”
Michael Stets: Sound Editor, Lions Radio Contributor
Prediction: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
“I made this prediction in the mock draft for the “Inside the Lions ” podcast, and I’m sticking with it here. I firmly believe Bob Quinn would pull the trigger on Harold Landry at No.20, or Marcus Davenport, but I don’t think either player will remain after Seattle picks at No.20. I think it could come down to a choice between Da’Ron Payne or Taven Bryan, and I’ll side with Bryan. Yes, Bryan is a bit raw and can use some refinement, but he has a high ceiling with his speed, quickness, and explosive ability to blow past guards and cause disruption in the backfield. While Bryan is a defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, many experts, some who compared him to J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans, believe he possesses the ability to play the five technique in a 3-4 alignment.
“That type of versatility sounds like it would be music to new head coach Matt Patricia’s ears, especially since he ran multiple fronts as defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots and will continue to do so with here in Detroit with new defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni. Quinn picked two Florida defenders in last year’s draft, and I think he does so once again in the first round this year. Also, I think it’s entirely possible for Quinn to trade down a few spots from No.20 and take Bryan there while acquiring an extra pick or two.”
Chris Renwick: Executive Producer Frank Beckman Show, Lions Radio Contributor
Prediction: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida
“I think there’s quite a few avenues Detroit can travel in the first round. The Lions need a feature back to kick start a sputtering ground game, but because this is such a deep a running back class, there’s going to be some good value at that position in the second round. I think Bob Quinn and Co. look to the defensive side of the ball, and specifically along the line. Guys like Washington DT Vita Vea will probably be off the board at No. 20, and UTSA defensive end Marcus Davenport will likely already have taken his picture with Roger Goodell wearing another team’s hat. So with the 20th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select Taven Bryan, the defensive tackle out of Florida. The Gator-Lions connection continues to be a good one for Detroit. Some say the Casper, Wyoming native has a little J.J. Watt in him. That could be a game changer for Matt Patricia and his defense.”