Detroit Jock City
Fansided

Detroit Lions Draft 2017: A Defensive End for Every Round

By Zac Snyder

Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) work out before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (94) work out before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 8
Next
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Youngstown defensive end Derek Rivers speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Youngstown defensive end Derek Rivers speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Round 2

Pro Football Focus named Youngstown State’s Derek Rivers as one of the top five edge prospects in this year’s draft from non-Power Five conference schools. He was the second prospect named in that list, but he should be bumped up to number one considering Temple’s Haason Reddick won’t (or at least shouldn’t) be playing on the edge in the NFL.

In that piece, PFF’s Michael Renner offers the following bullet points of Rivers’ game.

"Ideal build and frame. Elite explosion off line of scrimmage. Can go speed-to-power all day if he wants. Extremely raw. So many pass rushes with no plan of attack. Inconsistent reaction to the snap. Freezes a lot reading run/pass."

Like many smaller school prospects that could find themselves going early in the draft, Rivers’ plusses are heavy in the things that can’t be taught, while the minuses are more the things that can be taught.

Some might feel this point in the draft is too early for Rivers (although some will surely disagree), but if the Lions have serious interest, they probably can’t wait until their third round pick to get him.

Home/Detroit Lions