3 Rounds Draft Scouting - Defense

Yesterday I covered the Lions' 2 biggest needs on the offensive side of the ball - running back and offensive line. Today we're going to look at 2 positions on the defensive side of the ball - defensive tackle and cornerback. After drafting Suh #2 overall in 2010 and then following up with Nick Fairley #13 overall in 2011, you wouldn't think this would be a position of need. But due to Suh being signed under the old CBA, he's going to be SUPER expensive to re-sign this year, and Fairley has been too inconsistent and injured to make the Lions pony up for both Suh and Fairley. Two of the other DTs on the team, Andre Fluellen and CJ Mosley, are both entering free agency as well.

The Lions will do their best to retain Suh, but even if they get him that puts the squeeze on the other guys. They've got DT Caraun Reid on the 2nd year of his rookie deal, so I expect they'll try to develop him as a backup for the 2015 season, but they'll still need another difference maker at that position.

Cornerback is also a concern. Rashean Mathis is 34, which is usually when a CB's career starts to dry up, and he's a free agent. The Lions had some depth at the position, only Bill Bentley and Nevin Lawson both had season-ending injuries early last year. Neither looks to be a lock down guy, although the jury is still out. Darius Slay looked like a good #2 CB last year so the potential is there for him to be a stopper, but the Lions still need another guy. They could go DE here as well, but it's not a MAJOR need.

Defensive Tackle - 1st round options:

Malcom Brown, Texas - 6'3", 317 lbs
40 time: 5.05 sec
Bench: 26 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.59 sec
2014 stats: 61 tackles; 6.5 sacks; 1 pass defensed

Brown would be the guy you want if Suh decides to take his talents elsewhere. He's pretty athletic for such a big guy, a bit better against the run than against the past, and he blows up double teams. He'd be a REALLY good guy to pair with Suh as well.

Eddie Goldman, Florida St - 6'4", 320 lbs
40 time: 5.15 sec (didn't work out at Combine)
Bench: N/A
20-yd shuttle: N/A
2014 stats: 35 tackles; 4 sacks; 1 PD

Goldman looks a lot like an NT to me, but with some help in his pass rush technique he could be a solid 4-3 DT. He's a load against the run and has a nose for the ball. He's been a fan of Suh since before he was a Lion, so you know he'd love to come here. Moves really well for such a big dude.

Defensive Tackle - 2nd round options:

Michael Bennett, OSU - 6'2", 293 lbs
40 time: 4.95 sec (didn't work out at Combine)
Bench: N/A
20-yd shuttle: N/A
2014 stats: 40 tackles; 7 sacks; 3 PD

Bennett isn't the stout run stopper that Brown and Goldman are, but he's not bad either and he's a better pass rusher. In his combine interview (he didn't work out there with a pulled groin) Bennett mentioned that because he's slightly undersized for a DT, he has to play with flawless technique. Well, his technique is REALLY good. I think if he adds 10-15 lbs, he could be better than the other 2 guys.

Grady Jarrett, Clemson - 6'1", 295 lbs
40 time: 5.06 sec
Bench: 30 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.56 sec
2014 stats: 44 tackles; 1.5 sacks

Jarrett is a lot like Bennett, only with less production. To be fair, he was robbed of a couple of sacks because the QB either JUST made it back to the line or chucked the ball in the air just before he hit the ground. Bennett's a better prospect, but Jarrett would be an immediate impact guy as well.

Defensive Tackle - 3rd round option:

Marcus Hardison, Arizona St - 6'3", 307 lbs
40 time: N/A (didn't run at Combine)
Bench: 27
20-yd shuttle: N/A
2014 stats: 54 tackles; 10 sacks; 2 INT; 1 PD

Hardison is converting from DE to DT, so a lot of these highlights show him lining up on the outside. He's a heck of an athlete, so with some added leg muscle and improved leveraging technique, he could be a great find in the 3rd round.

Cornerback - 1st round options:

Trae Waynes, Michigan St - 6'1", 182 lbs
40 time: 4.31 sec
Bench: 19 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.39 sec
2014 stats: 43 tackles; 1 sack; 3 INT; 9 PD 

 Another draft, another top-rated MSU corner. Waynes isn't as technically sound as Darqueze Dennard, but he's bigger and faster. NFL.com thinks he's too "handsy" and will get called for a lot of penalties, so that's something he needs to work on. He's the #1 guy on both ESPN & NFL.com. Not a Patrick Peterson type of prospect, so it's tough to say where he'll be drafted. Could be top 10, could be in the 20's.  Marcus Peters, Washington - 5'11", 193 lbs40 time: 4.53 sec
Bench: 17 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.08 sec
2014 stats: 30 tackles; 3 INT; 7 PD (only have stats for 8 games)
 

Marcus Peters may be a better CB prospect than Waynes, but he comes with a HUGE caveat: he was kicked off the team in November, causing him to miss the last 5 games of the season. He tested positive for weed in 2011 and had been suspended for various infractions on & off the field before Coach Chris Petersen kicked him off the team. He's owned his mistakes and made up with Petersen, and will work out at Washington's Pro Day to try to improve his 40 time (I think he's faster than a 4.5).

Now for the positive. His production is outstanding. Considering he missed about 1/3 of the season, he may have ended up with 5 or 6 picks, 11 or 12 passes defensed, and about 45 tackles. He's really good at anticipating and reading the play. His maturity issues are a big concern and could cause him to drop into the 2nd round, but if the Lions are satisfied with his interview, then they should pull the trigger here. Both Jalen Collins and Kevin Johnson are also options here, although they don't have Peters' ceiling.

Cornerback - 2nd round options:

Quinten Rollins, Miami (OH) - 6'1", 203 lbs
40 time: 4.57 sec
Bench: 14 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.28 sec
2014 stats: 73 tackles; 7 INT; 9 PD

Rollins was a college basketball player who decided to play football in 2014. His technique is a little sloppy, he lacks good top end speed, but holy crap does he look good. On many of those picks, he looked like he knew the route before the WR did. He tackles like a linebacker. He needs more reps and some more coaching, but I think he could be a solid #2 CB for somebody. Worst case, they convert him to a ball-hawking FS.

PJ Williams, Florida St - 6'1", 196 lbs
40 time: 4.57 sec
Bench: 12 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.28 sec
2014 stats: 78 tackles; 1 sack; 1 INT; 10 PD

He's less of a ball-hawk than the other guys. He's more ready to contribute that Rollins is, but he's got less upside. He didn't run well at the Combine, so look for him to improve on his times at his pro day.

Cornerback - 3rd round prospect(s):

Senquez Golson, Ole Miss - 5'9", 176 lbs
40 time: 4.46 sec
Bench: 15 reps
20-yd shuttle: 4.20 sec
2014 stats: 43 tackles; 0.5 sacks; 9 INT; 16 PD

Senquez Golson had 9 picks last year and no highlight reel exists on YouTube? What a shame. He lacks ideal size and 3 of his 4 TDs allowed were to players 6'4" or taller, but I'd like to point out that in the clip above he's going over the top of a 6'6" TE. He's got good top end speed, great coverage skills, and he's willing to help out in the run game. I'd like to see him add 15 lbs of muscle, but I'd rather have a little guy who can cover than a big guy who can't. Oregon's Ifo Ekpre-Olomu could be an option as a slot CB here as well.

Ideal draft combinations for me would be to either get RB Gurley/Gordon in round 1, OT/RG Ogbuehi in round 2 and DT Hardison in round 3; DT Malcom Brown in rd 1, CB Rollins in rd 2, and OT/OG Daryl Williams in rd 3; or OT Ereck Flowers in rd 1, DT Michael Bennett in rd 2, and RB Duke Johnson in rd 3.

That's it for draft coverage until late April. I may check in with news in between  now & then as it warrants, but expect more Pistons/Wings/Tigers content until then.