Detroit Lions Draft Results: Grading the Selection of Ryan Broyles

The Detroit Lions selection of Oklahoma wide receiver Ryan Broyles with the 54th pick makes little sense.

Detroit had too many needs to address with this pick and far more important holes to fill.

It would at least make sense if Broyles was the best player available because that has always been GM Martin Mayhew's strategy in the draft.

Broyles, however, was a projected third- or fourth-round selection.

He was taken far too early, but that does not mean Broyles is a waste of a pick.

The Sooner product has great quickness off the line of scrimmage and excels at route running.

He is a tough player that will run block with the best of them and is not afraid to lower his pads and fight for extra yardage.

Broyles is also not a guy who will fear going over the middle. His 349 career receptions are the most in NCAA history. 

But one area of worry has to be the torn ACL that he suffered this past November.

Broyles looked fine at his pro day, but there have to be all kinds of durability concerns surrounding the pick.

On the plus side, Broyles, if fully healthy, could provide another versatile weapon for quarterback Matthew Stafford to throw to.

Wideout Nate Burleson is not getting any younger and Broyles will become a nice member of Detroit's stable alongside Calvin Johnson and Titus Young.

Again, Detroit clearly needs secondary help and there were plenty of high-quality defensive backs on the board when pick No. 54 rolled around, but Mayhew felt compelled to bring in Broyles.

Broyles was a luxury pick at a time when the Lions desperately needed to address the cornerback position. 

Only time will tell if this works out, but for now Broyles is a real head scratcher for Detroit.

Overall Grade: C-