Detroit Lions Draft 2017: Prospects Who May Fall To The 21st Pick
By Ash Thompson
O.J. Howard: TE, Alabama
O.J. Howard is valuable because of his versatility. At Alabama he lined up as an in line tight end, split out wide, ran patterns from the slot, and even served as a pseudo fullback at times. He would be an excellent bridge between the skillsets of Eric Ebron and Darren Fells. The Lions used a fullback fewer that 100 snaps last season. Michael Burton‘s role on the team may not justify a roster spot. Having Howard on the roster would give them the option of utilizing Burton’s roster space for a player that might serve more of a purpose on offense or defense.
As a receiver Howard excels in all of the ways the Lions like to utilize their players. He is fast enough to stretch the field down the seam. Howard also has the run after the catch ability to be effective in the screen game. He is also great at finding blocks in the open field against the second and third level of the defense.
This would do nothing but help the likes of Golden Tate and Theo Riddick wrack up YAC of their own. Howard would also provide a more credible receiving threat in play-action from the fullback position, that is how he scored his receiving touchdown against Texas A&M. In the design of a defense, coverage of the fullback is often the domain of the other team’s weakest coverage linebacker. Such a design left Howard wide open more often than not during his college career.
Howard is one of the fifteen best players in the draft without question but his role may limit his prospects. The tight end position is not generally a priority for a lot of teams. This is also regarded as a deeply talented tight end class. Those factors make it possible that Howard might fall to the Lions at pick 21. The Lions may return to the days of running an offense with two first round picks at tight end.
The team needs to make a decision just days after the draft regarding Ebron’s fifth-year option. There are no other long term solutions on the roster at the tight end spot making the option all but automatic if they do not draft a tight end high in this year’s draft. A tight end does not fill one of the Lions biggest needs in 2017, but the salary difference in 2018 between O.J. Howard and Eric Ebron as Detroit’s number one tight end would be greater than $7 million in salary cap space. That alone may make Bob Quinn consider the pick.