Detroit Lions Draft 2017: Players Who May Fall to the Lions Third Round Pick

The Detroit Lions third round pick should be one of the great bargains in the draft. Injuries and small schools may make these players available.

The third round is where teams really start to see the available talent pool diverge. Players taken by one team in the third round may not have any role in the schemes of half the coaching staffs in the league. One team’s instant contributor could toil through their rookie contract and be out of the league if selected by another organization.

Larry Warford was one such player. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions to fit the power blocking scheme utilized by Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan in 2013. The 2014 coaching change brought Joe Lombardi and a more zone heavy running scheme. This did not put Warford in the best position to succeed. This offseason the player and the team moved on, but an additional three seasons of Warford’s career were spent as a round peg forced in to a square hole.

This season’s third round appears to be likely to have quality players at multiple positions of need for the Detroit Lions. The tight end position is deep in this draft, meaning that quality players are likely to find themselves here. The corners and safeties that may be available are also impressive. Injuries may also push some extremely talented players down in the draft, as teams look for some immediate help. Other positions lack top tier talents, but fill out nicely as the draft progresses.

The Lions are in a good position after free agency. There are no positions in which a third round pick is likely to find a great deal of playing time immediately. Bob Quinn has focused on improving the depth of the team, and filling key roles with veteran stop gaps. The Lions can afford to look long term in the third round rather than for immediate help.