Detroit Lions: Bold predictions for the 2018 NFL Draft
By Zac Snyder
An assumed “position of need” will go unaddressed
If you think Bob Quinn is going to approach the draft with checklist to complete, you’re in for disappointment. The Lions roster certainly has some position groups that are deeper and better than others but that doesn’t necessarily mean picks will be concentrated into those positions that are perceived as needs.
Consider this quote from Quinn’s pre-draft press conference in which he hits on his assessment of the current roster and what he is looking for in the draft.
"I don’t want to isolate any one position or two positions. I think with the way the roster is today, I don’t think I’m in a position to reach for any position of so-called need. We’re looking for good football players. We’re looking for big, strong, tough competitive guys that are going to help us win. So, I’m not eliminating any position."
One big problem if you’re looking for the Lions to use all their picks to check off needs is that good arguments can be made for needs at more positions than the Lions have picks.
One of the big takeaways I got from going through my seven-round mock draft series is that each version left me unsatisfied at one position or another based on how the picks fell. Sometimes that meant not being able to hit a position until much later in the draft while other times meant having to forgo a position altogether.
There could always be a “what about position X” or “No position Y?” comment from readers and they would be absolutely right. Even if Quinn wanted to just hit a list of needs, I don’t think he could do it with the picks available to him right now. Add in that he probably won’t even take that approach to begin with and there will be some fans left screaming at their televisions because the Lions made a pick at one position when someone else was available who seemed like a perfect way to fill a need.