Detroit Lions: Bob Quinn NFL Combine Press Conference Highlights

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn held his NFL Scouting Combine press conference today. Here are the highlights of what he had to say to the media.

Dozens of NFL coaches and front office personnel are holding press conferences in 15 minute blocks spread over today and tomorrow at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn’s turn came up at 1:30 this afternoon. Here is a look at what he had to say.

• Quinn has spoken to Calvin Johnson but he would not go in to details and indicated Calvin did not tell him which way he is leaning. There is no deadline and haven’t talked internally or externally about Calvin’s contract.
• Team has players they want to target in free agency at all levels but picture always changing with new deals getting done. Really wants to improve the depth of the team.
• No plans to replace Riley Reiff. He’s here and he will be part of the line. Wants to build the depth of the line but Reiff still part of it.
• Talking to a lot of agents of a lot of players on their team that are scheduled to become free agents. Was asked specifically about Haloti Ngata but didn’t offer any specifics about Ngata as a priority to be re-signed.
• Satisfying to see so many people he worked with with the Patriots get jobs elsewhere.
• Extremely important to have familiarity with Kyle O’Brien as his number two because the two speak the same language about players. Helps to get rest of staff on same page.
• Feel strong at quarterback, defensive line, cornerback. Good players at a lot of positions, still need depth at a lot of positions. Need to have depth at every level of team so next guy can step in.
• Acknowledged that this is a strong defensive line draft.
• Players train for interviews at the combine so they try to get players out of comfort zone to get good evaluation.
• Quandre Diggs had a good season, Quinn sees him as an inside corner.
• Wouldn’t get into detail about what goes on between him and agents when asked if a deal was offered to Joique Bell to stay.
• Decisions always made based on what is felt is the best decision for the team.
• There are guys they have already decided will not return as free agent but wouldn’t disclose who those guys are.
• Eric Ebron has a unique skill set. Very productive player in college and showed improvement from year one to year three. Quinn feels year three is when you really know what you have in a player.
• Look for instincts, quickness, power, tackling in a middle linebacker. Three down linebackers are rare now.
• “Fairly confident” DeAndre Levy can be back. Looking forward to seeing how he looks when Levy reports for the offseason program.

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Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is not scheduled for one of these 15 minute pressers. The full schedule is available on the NFL Communications website.