Detroit Lions 2017 NFL Draft Watchlist: Clemson vs Florida State
By Erik Schlitt
Day Three Tigers
Senior linebacker Ben Boulware (#10, 6’0″, 240) has experience playing at both Mike and Will spots at the second level. An aggressive player, Boulware loves to talk trash and mix it up with offensive players. This can be motivating for his teammates but it also leads to some unnecessary penalties.
He is quick to see the play unfolding in front of him, and usually finds himself around the ball. He is a limited athlete and stiff in coverage, but he doesn’t waste his movements when he moves around the field. If he can improve his change of direction skills he’ll have a change to move up draft boards, but for now he’s looking like a late day three prospect.
Tyrone Crowder (#55, 6’2″, 320) and Jay Guillermo (#57, 6’2″, 325) and both big offensive lineman who have shown potential to be contributors in the NFL. Crowder is only a redshirt junior and with a day three grade he could return to school, but it’s not a deep draft at guard and he may be tempted to test the waters.
Guillermo battled a bout of depression in 2014 and almost walked away from football. He sought treatment and would go on to speak to Sports Illustrated about it, in order to help others who may be dealing with a similar situation. Now in his senior year, he is starting for the second straight season and is a fringe draft prospect.
With center being a coveted position in the NFL Guillermo could hear his name called in the final round of the draft.
NEXT: Top Draft Prospects from Michigan
Lions Scouts
Bob Quinn has proved that when it comes to the draft process, he is extremely thorough. He spent last off-season 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.
Previous Watchlists:
Alabama vs USC
Tennessee vs Virginia Tech
Ohio State vs Oklahoma
Georgia vs Ole Miss
Western Michigan vs Central Michigan
Washington vs Oregon
Stanford vs Notre Dame
Texas A&M at Alabama