Detroit Lions 2017 NFL Draft Watchlist: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
By Erik Schlitt
Each week in college football there’s an opportunity to see plenty of future NFL talent. These players should be on the Detroit Lions radar for the 2017 NFL Draft.
It’s never too early to be looking ahead to next year’s NFL draft. In this weekly piece, I’ll examine players from a marquee game, who could be potential draft targets of the Detroit Lions.
This week’s feature game will be Ohio State at Oklahoma, Saturday September 17th at 7:30 on FOX. This game will feature several players that will be in the NFL one day. But these players have skills that would fill a need for the Detroit Lions in 2017.
Ohio State Prospects
Raekwon McMillan
Junior
#5
Inside Linebacker
6’2″, 240
Early draft projection: Round 1
On a defense that lost eight starters, Raekwon McMillan returns to his starting role at Mike linebacker. Ohio State’s weakness is the middle of the defensive line, and McMillan will be asked to pick up the slack. If Ohio State’s defense is going to return to form this season, it will be because McMillan leads them there.
Biggest Strengths:
- Quick to diagnose
- Strong tackler who finishes with power
- Comfortable in coverage
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Not an elite athlete
- Needs to be more comfortable in space
- Lacks short-area burst
If you were a fan of Alabama’s Reggie Ragland last year, McMillan will be your new draft crush. Because Detroit’s linebackers are arguably their weakest position group, Bob Quinn will have his scouts looking for upgrades.
On the surface, McMillan may not look like a player Detroit would target because Tahir Whitehead is the established starting Mike. But, Whitehead is position flexible and the Lions need depth. With Bob Quinn pushing for competition at every level, McMillan would be an immediate upgrade to the entire defense.
Pat Elflein
Senior (redshirt)
#65
Center
6’2 1/4″, 300
Early draft projection: Top 50 prospect
A two-year starter at right guard, Elflein is making the move to center in 2016. This position switch will not only help stabilize Ohio State’s offensive line, but it will also improve his draft stock. As of right now, Elflein is considered the top interior offensive lineman in the upcoming draft.
Biggest Strengths:
- Power run blocker
- Aggressive hands
- Position flexibility, starting experience at all three interior spots
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Sub-par athlete
- Anchor in pass protection still needs improvement
- Still learning the center position
The Lions have spent a lot of draft capital in offensive lineman, but they are still struggling to find consistent success with their starting unit. Elflein’s position flexibility, starting experience, and overall skill set, will make him a coveted player. His athletic profile may not be on par with the Lions recent offensive line additions, but his talent will put him on Detroit’s radar.
Gareon Conley
Junior (redshirt)
#8
Cornerback
6’0″ 195
Early draft projection: Top 100
After working his way into a starting role last season, Conley will now be asked to be the top cornerback on the Buckeye’s defense. After a rough freshman season, he gained confidence as a sophomore and looks to keep that momentum as a junior. If he can replicate the progression we saw in Eli Apple last year, Conley could quickly work his way up draft boards.
Biggest Strengths:
- Uses length effectively
- Foot Quickness
- Instincts
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Stiff at times
- Often gets too high in back pedal
- Starting experience
Detroit’s cornerback depth is questionable and you can be sure Bob Quinn has his scouts tracking the position closely. Conley has the potential to develop into an NFL starter and will use this season to prove he belongs. Expect Detroit to keep tabs on all the top cornerbacks, a group in which Conley belongs.
Other Buckeyes who could declare for the draft
Guard Billy Price is returning for his third year as a starter and is switching from the left to the right side. As one of the strongest players in the Big Ten, he is a key component in the Buckeye’s power run game. If the redshirt junior returns for his final year of eligibility, he will be considered one of the top interior offensive lineman. However, this guard draft class isn’t very deep, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he declared early and finds his way into the top 100 picks.
This goes against popular opinion, but both of Ohio State’s defensive ends would benefit from returning to school. Redshirt sophomore Sam Hubbard and redshirt junior Tyquan Lewis are both quality players and will both play in the NFL very soon. But, they both still have glaring holes in their game.
Hubbard looks like the next Joey Bosa and realistically has a chance to follow in his footsteps as a day one draft pick. Hubbard was very productive in a limited role last season and much will be expected of him as a starter this year. But, he’s still learning his techniques and needs to develop more skills before he moves on to the NFL.
Lewis is a returning starter and is more likely to jump to the NFL than Hubbard. His quickness off the snap shows up in his pass rushing stats. But, he still makes too many poor reads and gets out of position too often. If he wants to be more than just a pass rusher in the NFL, he’ll need to expand his skills.
Buckeyes who should return to school
Quarterback J.T. Barrett is the top offensive weapon Ohio State has. But, how his skills translate to the NFL is still to be determined. Average height and arm strength won’t help him stick at quarterback, but he’s an above-average athlete who will find a role at the next level. As of now, Barrett is likely a day three prospect who would benefit by returning to school for his senior year.
Offensive playmaker Curtis Samuel has been blowing up defenses the first two weeks of the season. As an H-back/running back/wide receiver hybrid, he is already drawing comparisons to another former Urban Meyer utility player: Percy Harvin. Because he has burst on the scene, it’s difficult to get a read on his draft status, but if he can maintain his early success, he’ll be climbing draft boards this fall.
Outside linebacker Dante Booker is a name to pay attention too. The junior’s first year as a starter got off to a rough start, as he tweaked his MCL in the opening game. The injury kept him out of the second game of the season as well. But, if he is able to return this week, keep an eye out for number three, because he has an NFL skill set.
Oklahoma Prospects
Charles Walker
Redshirt Junior
#97
Defensive Lineman
6’2″ 304
Early draft projections: Top 50 prospect
Listed as a defensive tackle, Walker will rotate all along the defensive line. Even though he didn’t start in 2015, he still produced, registering six sacks and 10 tackles for loss. This will be his first season in an expanded starting role.
Biggest Strengths:
- High motor
- Strength
- Run defense
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Gets too high at times when pass rushing
- Inconsistent hand use
- Injury history
Stylistically, Walker would be a great fit in Detroit. His power and position flexibility fit the profile of what Bob Quinn values in a defensive lineman. He is a top 50 talent, but he has had several injuries that may give NFL teams pause. If he’s available when the Lions pick on day two, he will definitely be on their radar.
Samaje Perine
Junior
#32
Running Back
5’9 1/2″, 235
Early draft projection: Day 2
Samaje Perine took over the starting running back role half way through his freshman year and hasn’t looked back. His highlight game came in 2014 against Kansas, when he set the FBS single-game record with 427 rushing yards.
A shoulder injury in the opener limited his production in the first two games as Bob Stoops opted not to over work his feature back. Having a quality running back like Joe Mixon has also helped relieve some of Perine’s workload. The rest may pay off as it looks like he may not be limited against Ohio State.
Biggest Strengths:
- Balance
- Power behind his pads
- Acceleration in and out of his cuts
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Struggles in tight spaces
- Receiving experience
- Takes too many hits, as he often initiates contact instead of avoiding
With Perine likely having a day two price tag, he may be out of range for the Detroit. But, if by the end of the season, the Lions run game isn’t improved, they may be in the market for a big back. With the upcoming running back class looking to be potentially very deep, Perine’s name should be in the top five conversation.
Ahmad Thomas
Senior
#13
Safety
6’0″, 215
Early draft projection: Day 3
Thomas is entering his third year as a starter. Last season he showed his versatility by starting eight games at free safety and five at strong safety. Because Thomas has shown the range to line up in center field and in the box he has expanded his skills more than most college safeties.
Biggest Strengths:
- Heavy-hitter
- Closing speed
- Uses length to his advantage in coverage
Biggest Weaknesses:
- Lacks NFL size
- Sacrifices his body to make big hits
- Aggressive nature leads to missed tackles
The Lions will be scouting several players who can play strong safety. While Thomas doesn’t fit the traditional, box-type safety Teryl Austin prefers, his aggressiveness will be attractive. Thomas’s versatility lines up with the type of player Bob Quinn desires and he should be a player who draws their interest.
Other Sooners to consider
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (redshirt junior) will be popular name because he’s a legitimate Heisman candidate. His accuracy led him to a 36:7 touchdowns to interception ratio. His production and Johnny Manziel-like improvisation will have many clamoring for him during the draft process. But, he doesn’t have ideal NFL quarterback traits: average height, lack of arm strength, and he leaves the pocket far too often. He’ll get a shot in the NFL, but I don’t see a fit with the Lions.
Oklahoma has a trio of redshirt sophomores that will soon be big names, but are unlikely to enter the 2017 draft. Mark Andrews is listed as and used like a wide receiver, but his 6’4″, 250-pound frame fits the NFL’s move tight end role.
At 6’7″, 340 pounds, Orlando Brown is in his second year starting at left tackle. Like most young offensive lineman, he’s a much better run blocker than pass protector. If he can shore up his mechanics, he’ll an interesting name to keep an eye on.
Running back Joe Mixon has the type of electric skills that the Detroit Lions would love to have. However, he was suspended for the entire 2014 season because he punched a woman in the face, resulting in broken bones and her having to have her jaw wired shut. There’s no doubt he’s a dynamic player, but you won’t see him in Honolulu Blue.
Like Mixon, junior cornerback Jordan Thomas is highly talented playmaker, but is in off-the-field trouble far too often. In 2015 he flashed shutdown corner ability, but was also suspended twice for violations. He followed up his impressive season, by being arrested twice in the last nine months. While his incidents aren’t on Mixon’s level, I’d be surprised if he was on Detroit’s radar.
Next: NFL Draft 2017: Top Prospects From Michigan
Bob Quinn has proved that when it comes to the draft process, he is extremely thorough. He spent last offseason installing his approach to the draft and has set his expectations high. Because this is such a high-profile game, you can bet he will be assigning scouts to watch these players closely.