By Michael Stets
The 2019 NFL Draft is drawing near and after finishing with a 6-10 record last season and missing the playoffs for a second straight year, Lions GM Bob Quinn will once again be tasked with adding new pieces to the organization. Unlike the last three years where he held mid-round picks in the first round (No.16 in 2016, No.21 in 2017, No.20 in 2018), Quinn will be selecting a player inside the top 10 for the very first time with the No.8 pick.
As for what Quinn will decide once the Lions are on the clock on Thursday, and whether he selects an offensive or defensive player, this year has been a bit tougher to predict than the past three.
Now entering his fourth draft with the Lions, Quinn has been open in recent weeks about his willingness to trade down from No.8. As for trading up, Quinn said this in his pre-draft press conference: “I just don’t think I have enough ammunition to get up there. Like I said previously, I rather move back a couple spots if anything. So, there’s definitely good players at the top, at the very top. There’s good players at eight, too. Guys that we’re excited about that hopefully, a couple of them are there and we can choose from a couple of them. But yeah, I don’t think I’m going to be in the business of moving up in this year’s draft, but there are players that are worthy of that.”
Of course, it’s smokescreen time for all NFL GMs, so you have to take most of what is said with a grain of salt while trying to read the tea leaves. There were eight trades in the opening round last year, so you can expect to see several deals take place once again. If the Lions do stand pat at No.8, there are certainly plenty of solid defensive playmakers for Quinn to add to head coach Matt Patricia’s defense like Montez Sweat out of Mississippi State, Ed Oliver out of Houston, or Brian Burns out of Florida State. Quinn could also add another offensive linemen and go with Jonah Williams out of Alabama, or Jawaan Taylor out of Florida. Tight end is also a possibility in the first round, especially after the abysmal production from the position in 2018. So perhaps we hear Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson’s name called at No.8.
We will know soon enough, but before we hear NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announce who the Lions are picking at No.8 on Thursday night in Nashville, Tenn., the Lions Radio broadcast team will attempt to predict who that player will be.
Dan Miller: Lions Play-by-Play
Prediction: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama
“I have no idea. We good? Seriously, that’s where I am this year. So many things make sense for this team, but we are going to have to narrow it down. I’m basing some of this on Bob Quinn’s past drafts. High character guys from big programs with solid resumes behind them. I narrowed it down to Jonah Williams, the offensive lineman out of Alabama and Christian Wilkins the defensive tackle out of Clemson. As of this writing I am going with Williams. They certainly can use more up front on offense. He could compete for the right guard spot and provide some possibilities if they decide to move on from either tackle in the next few years. Just so we are clear, they could also take T.J. Hockenson, Devin Bush, Ed Oliver, Montez Sweat, Brian Burns, Andre Dillard or that other guy. Think that covers it.”
Steve Courtney: Lions Pre- & Post-Game Host
Prediction: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa
“While Bob Quinn and the Lions could go in various directions, I believe the TE position gets the attention it deserves. The upside of T.J. Hockenson is too great to ignore. Combined with their earlier signing of Jesse James, the Lions TE group takes on a whole new dimension!”
Sean Baligian: Lions Pre- & Post-Game Host
Prediction: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama (via Trade with Cincinnati Bengals)
“I really think all signs point to a trade with the 10, 11, 13 and 15 all being potential landing spots. And with the New York Giants ahead of the Lions at No.6, I think Bob Quinn is the in the perfect spot to do it. The amount of times we hear it and the amount of times it happens are two different numbers, but I think Quinn finds a partner and trades out of No.6. The Lions will trade the No.8 pick to the Bengals, receiving the No.11 pick (and Cincinnati’s second-round selection) and will take Jonah Williams out of Alabama.”
Chris Renwick: Executive Producer Frank Beckman Show, Lions Radio Contributor
Prediction: Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
“The Lions did themselves a lot of good this off season, filling a ton of positions of need through free agency. I think there’s a good chance GM Bob Quinn and Co. will elect to trade the pick and move back, but if they do decide to hold steady at No. 8, Ed Oliver’s coming to Detroit. The interior defensive lineman out of Houston fits perfectly into head coach Matt Patricia’s system. He’s got a special combination of speed, power and athleticism that allows him to play inside and outside. Patricia likes to be multiple on that side of that ball, and Oliver allows them to be just that.”
Nick Roddy: Lions Radio Executive Producer
Prediction: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
“I truly believe Bob Quinn will trade down in the first round, as either the Bengals, Dolphins or Redskins will want to get ahead of the Broncos to draft a quarterback. But if the Lions stay at No. 8, Michigan linebacker Devin Bush makes too much sense. They desperately need a coverage linebacker (see Week 4 last season against the Cowboys — Jarrad Davis vs. Zeke Elliott), and Bush was the NCAA’s best last year. I’m tempted to mock Alabama offensive tackle Jonah Williams here, but after listening to Quinn over and over again mention the need for more playmakers, Bush fills that void.”
Michael Stets: Sound Editor, reporter, Lions Radio Contributor
Prediction: Devin White, LB, LSU
“Man, I really struggled with this one. There are going to be teams looking to move up, but despite what Quinn has said recently, I’m not completely sold that he will be trading out of the No.8 pick. I initially thought he would, but the more I’ve given it some thought, the more I feel he will end up staying put. And that’s largely based on what I think will happen early on in the first round. I have a feeling that Kyler Murray is not going to be taken first overall by the Arizona Cardinals like many are saying, which will allow for some talented players to fall to the Lions. Yes, they need an offensive linemen to replace T.J. Lang. Yes, they need a playmaking tight end, which Quinn will certainly address, but I think he does so in the second round not in the first.
“The Lions added a defensive end in free agency by signing Trey Flowers. So that’s why I think they go with a linebacker at No.8 and I think it will be Devin White. White is a quick, physical and explosive player with excellent range and sideline-to-sideline speed. He was consistently productive, leading the SEC in tackles the last two seasons and also contributed on special teams, which is something Quinn always looks for in players he drafts. The defense gets another playmaker in the linebacking corps to play alongside Jarrad Davis.”
WJR’s coverage of the 2019 NFL Draft begins at 7p.m. ET on Thursday evening with the Lions Draft Show, featuring Dan Miller, Lomas Brown, Steve Courtney and Sean Baligian.