Detroit Lions 2018 draft needs as free agency slows down

The Detroit Lions have filled their starting line up with stop gaps. The team still has needs for its roster heading into the draft.

The Detroit Lions are almost assuredly done making big moves in free agency. The team still has a sizable amount salary cap space available, but the majority of that will likely serve as a rainy day fund. It was having that fund that allowed the Lions to make some moves in the wake of Taylor Decker‘s pre-season injury last year.

The Lions have signed a lot of players to one-year deals this offseason. The good news is that their starting positions are now manned. The team has signed players who will prevent a rookie from stepping into a starting role before they’re ready. The bad news is that some of these starters signed for only one year. The Lions will be searching again if they don’t draft someone to fill the role in the future.

The Lions needs fall into two categories: early needs and late needs. The early needs are spots where sure, the team has a starter, but they could find someone better in the draft. The late needs are positions that lack depth now, or have players becoming free agents in 2019. The line is, of course, more blurred than that. Some positions take longer to develop and some positions are deeper in this draft class than others.

The interior offensive line is the biggest need remaining on the team. It is also the spot that best fits Bob Quinn’s “make two positions better with your first round pick” M.O. In 2016 Quinn selected Taylor Decker. This allowed Riley Reiff to move to right tackle. Both spots improved. In 2017 Quinn drafted Jarrad Davis. This allowed Tahir Whitehead to move to the outside linebacker position that fit his skill set. While eventually, Whitehead took the middle linebacker role back, Quinn was still trying to improve two positions with one draft pick.

Graham Glasgow was the Lions starting left guard last season. He filled in at center while Travis Swanson was injured, and played well. Drafting a guard high in the graft allows Glasgow to move over to center full time. That is why it is very likely that the Lions draft a left guard high. It just fits the pattern too well. They may select an offensive tackle late in day three but they have no immediate need at the position.

The Lions signed tight end Luke Willson, but that is a one year deal, and he has similar hands to Eric Ebron without the athletic upside. They need a receiving threat at the position. It would not be shocking to see one come off the board early in the draft.

Defensive tackle is still one of the Lions biggest needs, but not in the way that many seem to think. The fanbase is buzzing about the need for a “3-technique” defensive tackle. Matt Patricia’s defense doesn’t typically use a player like that in anything but obvious passing situations. A gap shooting defensive tackle is about the least likely draft pick for the Lions high in the draft.

The Lions signed Sylvester Williams to a one year contract, which is a solid move. Williams was only available because he failed to play at an acceptable starter level in Tennessee. He also brings absolutely no pass rush ability to the position group. The Lions still very much need a defensive tackle early. That player needs to be capable of playing both their new two-gap run defense scheme and pushing the pocket in passing situations.

LeGarrette Blount is a perfectly acceptable starting running back. The Lions are one injury away from having last season’s backfield, however. The team is still very much in need of help at the position. We all hope Ameer Abdullah returns to form, but the Lions should not be counting on it like they did in 2017. Blount and Abdullah are also both free agents next season. As of right now the starting running back in Detroit next year is Theo Riddick. Some nightmares are based in reality.

The Lions signed Devon Kennard to a three-year deal, but that does not end their need on the edge. Ziggy Ansah is likely to play the 2018 season on the franchise tag, hoping to hit the open market in 2019. Kerry Hyder, Anthony Zettel, and Kennard form the pass rush rotation for next season. That absolutely can not happen. The Lions should be looking at pass rushers in every round. They need to stock the cupboard.

Wide receiver is a bit of a sneaky need for the Lions. Golden Tate and T.J. Jones are both free agents in 2019. Tate is going to get a sizable raise, and Jones will garner interest elsewhere. As much as Lions fans love Tate, it really makes sense to try to replace him in the draft and let him find a payday elsewhere. Tate will be 30 next season. Wide receivers do not hit the same wall running backs do, but they don’t make it to 35 very often either.

Linebacker is also three only need. Davis will be a starter. Christian Jones signed to fill a role on the outside, and Jalen Reeves-Maybin looked ready for a passing down role last year. The team has decent depth in place as well, but it seems likely that they’ll add more on day three.

Corner back is a purely late round position of need for the Lions at this point. Anyone they draft is only going to get on the field as a special teamer barring injury. Unlike Safety, where all of the starters and backups are all under contract for next season, the Lions corner group has holes in 2019. Both Deshawn Shead and Quandre Diggs are free agents in 2019. Jamaal Agnew is a great returner, but he had a long way to go to be a competent NFL corner. Teez Tabor is also still a question mark and Nevin Lawson is coming off a terrible season.

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Those are the Lions draft needs as I see them. The team still needs interior linemen on both sides fo the ball, edge rushers, running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, and corners. They just do not need any of them as much as they did two weeks ago. That is what Bob Quinn does.