Prepare yourself, Bob Quinn, because the NFL draft is only a few days away and I’m not an easy grader.
The Lions general manager has two drafts under his belt that have been the definition of mediocrity. Sure, he drafted All-Pro punt returner Jamal Agnew in the fifth round last year. But he also drafted a long snapper — yes, a long snapper — in the sixth round the year before that.
So if Quinn wants an easy A, he should look elsewhere. Perhaps to the people he has convinced that two years of unremarkable draft picks with supposedly high floors but low ceilings — I’m guessing Quinn didn’t major in architecture — will become franchise cornerstones.
As for me, if Quinn wants an A there is one thing he absolutely must do: Draft LSU running back Derrius Guice in the first round.
Guice is a 5-foot-11, 220-pound brash ball of hate who runs angry between the tackles. He’s exactly what the Lions need if they hope to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: The offense.
Folks, this isn’t rocket science, although I know that’s Matt Patricia’s thing. The Lions ranked dead last in rushing last year. They were 30th the year before that. Dead last the year before that. Get the picture?
LSU running back Derrius Guice celebrates after being named MVP in a 29-9 win against Louisville in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS) (Photo: Stephen M. Dowell, TNS)
It’s a no-brainer. They must improve their rushing attack significantly if they hope to move the ball and protect Matthew Stafford better.
Currently it’s en vogue to say the feature back is going out of style and that teams prefer a committee approach. That’s only true if you don’t have a feature back. I bet the team that drafts Penn State’s Saquon Barkley isn’t going to be talking about committees.
And I don’t want to hear about better value in taking an edge rusher or defensive tackle or offensive lineman in the first round. You want value? Go to Kmart. You want to win? Go get Guice.
The Lions are in luck here because there’s a good chance Guice will still be on the board when they pick 20th. If Washington doesn’t take Guice with the 13th pick, the Lions should have a clear shot at him.
If you’re not sold on Guice or the dire need for a running back in the first round, let me spell out how desperate the Lions really are. They signed LeGarrette Blount to a one-year deal as insurance because he turns 32 this year and that’s the age when the batteries usually go dead and the wheels fall off running backs with 1,300 carries.
Theo Riddick doesn’t run between the tackles and he keeps having wrist problems.
I question whether Ameer Abdullah will even be on the team in September. And Dwayne Washington is going to have to fight hard to gain his coaches’ trust after he took a step back last season.
Is that dire enough for you? Still want that edge rusher who’s going to take a year or two to develop, or an interior lineman who’s the second coming of Laken Tomlinson?
So, drafting Guice is the one thing Quinn absolutely must do if he wants to earn an A from me. If he wants extra credit, here’s an outline of other moves and picks he can make:
DT Maurice Hurst, Michigan – Hurst’s draft stock is still in flux after he was sent home from the combine with a heart problem. He worked out at Michigan’s pro day and said he’s been given a clean bill of health, but every team will view him differently. A bit undersized, Hurst is one of the best interior pass rushers in the draft. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
Second round
The Lions pick 19th and should have a lot of options. They can go with an interior offensive lineman like Ohio State’s Billy Price or a tight end like Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews.
But they should take the best defensive tackle available. I think it’s a longshot for Michigan’s Maurice Hurst to still be there for the Lions, but if enough teams are scared off by his heart condition, they should take him. If not, I like Harrison Phillips, who had great production at Stanford.
Third and fourth rounds
The Lions should target edge rushers, tight ends and offensive linemen. These should be depth players who will need at least a year to develop.
Fifth round
The Lions have the 16th pick. Then they have to wait 84 picks until they select again in the seventh round. So they should trade back. Quinn made no secret last week he was open for business and ready to deal and acquire more picks. I’d be fine with him trading his fifth-rounder or even his fourth-rounder to get more picks for this year or next.
Martin Mayhew knew how to find defensive gems in the draft. Matt Millen just took receivers every year. But it’s hard to say which way Quinn will go, especially with a mostly new coaching staff. He hasn’t been exceptionally good or bad in any area of the draft. At this point, he’s deserves a C for his two drafts. If he wants to bring that grade point average up, he knows what he has to do.
Contact Carlos Monarrez: cmonarrez@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez. Download our free Lions Xtra app on your Apple and Android devices.
