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Detroit Lions draft 2017: What it means, what we learned, what’s next

By Zac Snyder

Jan 1, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Pyrotechnics go off as the Detroit Lions run onto the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Packers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Detroit, MI, USA; Pyrotechnics go off as the Detroit Lions run onto the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field. Packers won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron hugs wide receiver Golden Tate (left) before the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Golden State Warriors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Warriors won 119-113. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron hugs wide receiver Golden Tate (left) before the game between the Detroit Pistons and the Golden State Warriors at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Warriors won 119-113. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Talk of indecision on Ebron’s option was probably overblown

Combine Bob Quinn wanting to wait until after the 2017 NFL Draft to make decision on Eric Ebron’s fifth-year option and rumored interest in tight end David Njoku as a first round pick and speculation about Ebron’s future in Detroit ran rampant.

Now on the other side of the draft, Ebron’s option has been picked up and Njoku is a first round pick, but as a Cleveland Brown after the Lions chose Jarrad Davis instead.

The Lions did draft a tight end, Michael Roberts in the fourth round, but one whose style and role is about as opposite as could be. In a deep tight end class featuring a number of players capable of playing a more Ebron-like role, Quinn instead drafted the one whose game is most dissimilar to Ebron’s.

And it wasn’t because of a lack of timing. The Lions did hold off some before adding a tight end, but Quinn picked Roberts ahead of a run on day three tight ends.

During an appearance on 97.1 The Ticket the morning Ebron’s option was picked up, Quinn said his mind was made up the week before the draft but wanted to get through the draft before making it official.

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