2015 NFL Draft: Could Detroit Lions Draft Wide Receiver With Top Pick?
By Tony Fischer
The Detroit Lions are continuing to do their due diligence ahead of the 2015 NFL Draft by inviting prospects in for pre-draft visits. The highlight of this weeks visits was wide receiver DeVante Parker of Louisville who is considered the 3rd best positional prospect in the draft.
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Parker’s visit is notable not only because he is considered one of the top WR prospects but because he is the second top prospect ar reliever ti visit Allen Park in as many weeks. UCF wideout Breshad Perriman (son of former Lion Brett Perriman) also visited Allen Park as the Lions evaluate their draft prospects. Do these visit indicate the Lions willingness to draft a receiver with the 23rd overall pick?
Both Parker and Perriman are projected to go in the top half of the opening round. It is possible that one of the two could drop to the Lions at the 23rd pick but with teams ahead of the Detroit with a need at WR it is unlikely. That is of course the Detroit Lions are willing to trade up? A move that could be costly considering General Manager Martin Mayhew has already dealt the teams 4th and 5th round picks for Haloti Ngata.
DeVante Parker has the best hands of the two prospects and would figure to play the slot. Perriman is the faster of the two. His 4.2 forty time at the combine was the second fastest in the history of the event. Perriman admits he must improve his route running and hands but his game breaking speed can’t be ignored.
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But is that speed worth trading up for?
There are plenty of other needs on this team. After the Lions drafted stretch tight end Eric Ebron in the 2014 draft, it seems nearly inconceivable that they would draft another receiver in the first round this year. The Lions could just be gathering information for scouting proposes in case the team has to face either Parker or Perriman in the future. But considering Martin Mayhew’s track record of drafting the “best available” player in the first round fans shouldn’t rule out a wideout’s name being called on April 30th.
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