(SportsNetwork.com) - The Lions lost both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley from the interior of what was the second-best defense in the NFL and replaced them with the aging Haloti Ngata as well as Tyrunn Walker.
That's not a great trade off and more help is needed. That could point to Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown at No. 23 overall, the stoutest option in this draft after Washington's Danny Shelton and a player with the strength to dominate at the point of attack along with the natural quickness to penetrate gaps.
Detroit could also use a complement to Calvin Johnson at wide receiver, especially one that can line up in the slot, as well as help at cornerback and aid on the offensive line. Names to be on the look out for could be LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins, UConn corner Byron Jones and Miami-Florida WR Phillip Dorsett.
"It certainly is a strong draft in some of the areas that we might be looking in, but you never know how it's going to fall," Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said. "You never know how the board's going to go. I mean, there could be a lot of guys that go early that we'd like to have. So, every draft is different. One thing that I've learned about this process is it's very unpredictable. You don't know what's going to happen, so you've got to prepare for everything. We'll be ready for every alternative."
2014 Record: 11-5
Top Needs: DT, CB, RB, OL
First Three Picks: No. 23, No. 54, No. 88
Number of Selections: 6 (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 7)
RECENT FIRST ROUND HISTORY: 2014 - Eric Ebron (TE, North Carolina); 2013 - Ziggy Ansah (DE, BYU); 2012 - Riley Reiff (OT, Iowa); 2011 - Nick Fairley (DT, Auburn); 2010 - Ndamukong Suh (DT, Nebraska), Jahvid Best (RB, California); 2009 - Matthew Stafford (QB, Georgia), Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Oklahoma State); 2008 - Gosder Cherilus (OT, Boston College); 2007 - Calvin Johnson (WR, Georgia Tech); 2006 - Ernie Sims (LB, Florida State); 2005 - Mike Williams (WR, USC)
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