Detroit Lions mock draft 2018: A running back for every round

Round 2

Using a first round draft pick on a running back is not what a lot of Lions fans have in mind for the team’s 2018 draft, including yours truly. However, the need for a running back is real and going the late round or undrafted free agent route has not produced results for Bob Quinn. A high draft pick is warranted, and day two is looking like the sweet spot.

Quinn should have plenty of options to choose from when the Lions are on the clock in the second round. USC’s Ronald Jones is one such possibility.

At 5’11” and 200 pounds, Jones is on the small side but plays bigger than his measurables. The smaller frame means he will be in for something less than full-time duty but the Lions don’t appear interested in having one lead back ahead of the others. That’s the way it works more often than not in the NFL now anyway and adding Jones to the mix would be a definite juice boost for the depth chart.

Jones didn’t show well at the NFL Combine but his 4.65 seconds in the 40 was due to a strained hamstring. It’s disappointing but actually also impressive to still post that kind of time while hurting his leg in the process. For reference, Ameer Abdullah‘s combine 40 time was 4.60 seconds.

Some might worry about fumbles because Jones’ hands are on the smaller end of that scale but that has not been a problem for him during his college career. Of the top running back prospects in this draft, no one has a better fumble rate than Jones.