Detroit Lions Draft: A great first half but downhill on Day 3
By Bob Heyrman
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When you look back at the Detroit Lions draft to this point, it’s still a very successful draft. However, we all have many different opinions about who should have been selected where the overall talent is something to be excited about.
It’s now, round five of the draft, in my opinion, the wheels fall off a bit. I felt passing on those two defenders in round four was comparable to watching the bolts loosen off on the training wheels, but in round five, the wheels fell off entirely, and we’re not ready to ride the bike yet, and we just suffered a pretty dramatic crash.
With the 166th pick in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected wide receiver, Quintez Cephus from Wisconsin. This is one selection I am not too thrilled about. Cephus had multiple run-ins with the law during his college years, the most recent being last summer when he was accused of sexual assault, although the charges were eventually dismissed.
Cephus is a tremendous blocking wide receiver but lacks speed, which won’t help in the return game, and he’s not big in stature receiver either that can be used in specialty role during redzone situations. Last season he collected 59 receptions totaling 901 yards and seven touchdowns. In three seasons with the Badgers, Cephus made 93 catches amassing 1496 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Although Cephus displayed above-average ball skills at the college level, he won’t win those same battles at the rate he did in college playing against NFL corners. When he does catch the ball, he won’t run away from defenders, but his overall strength and toughness allow him to gain a few extra yards as he’s a load to get to the ground. My main concern with Cephus is his inability to separate from defenders leaving his ceiling as a WR5.
The Lions decided to pass on three receivers that all would be a better fit in Detroit. I would have preferred to see Quinn draft either Donovan Peoples-Jones, K.J. Hill, or James Proche. Detroit also passed on Bradley Anae, who surprisingly endured a free fall yesterday.