Detroit Lions Round 1 Big Board Ahead of the Combine

The Detroit Lions have a few holes to fill and only one first-round pick to snag a young starter or major contributor. That's why general manager Martin Mayhew surely has his big board ready to rock before the 2014 NFL combine.

Now, no team is going to let their list leak prior to the draft. However, there are some certainties we can ascertain.

First, there won't be any quarterbacks anywhere near the top. Matthew Stafford is the quarterback of next season and several more after that.

Next, offensive tackle won't be an area of focus. Regardless of the talent available, there are too many holes spread throughout the roster for Detroit to go chasing a luxury. 

Other than that, it's all pure speculation for now—painfully agonized-over speculation.

1. DE Jadeveon Clowney: The combine will serve as a reminder why Clowney was the consensus top-overall pick heading into the 2013 season. There are some concerns that might scare off Nick Fairley persecutors (*raises hand*), but Mayhew is not going to pass on a guy with Clowney's ability to get after the quarterback. 

2. WR Sammy Watkins: There's a reason so many fans would put Watkins at the top spot. The Lions desperately need a wideout opposite Calvin Johnson, and Watkins has drawn comparison to everyone from Julio Jones to Cordarrelle Patterson. Nothing at the combine is going to drop Watkins any further down the list. 

3. WR Mike Evans: The Texas A&M prospect is probably the most likely outcome of the draft as it is currently situated. Plenty of fans would be disappointed to "settle" for Evans, but the Lions won't be. Evans' height (6'5") and ability to battle for balls in traffic would make him a great target for jump balls downfield and in the red zone.

4. LB Khalil Mack: Current starter Ashlee Palmer isn't terrible, but he isn't a playmaker. Mack certainly is and could push Palmer back into a depth role, which is more his wheelhouse. Meanwhile, Mack would give new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin a versatile player that wouldn't have to come off the field on passing downs like Palmer (almost 700 fewer snaps than fellow starter DeAndre Levy).

5. DE Kony Ealy: I'm aware that Austin said the Lions won't target a pass-rusher. I have a habit of not believing much that comes from the coaching staff when it comes to future personnel decisions. Ealy would give Detroit another talented, young end with great size (6'5", 275 lbs.) that can close on the quarterback. That's just too tempting for Mayhew to eschew.

6. TE Jace Amaro: If the Lions can't land one of the top-name wide receivers, Amaro would be a solid consolation prize (although preferably not at 10). Everyone knows how good the next tight end on this list can be, but Amaro is a more physical player who might allow Joseph Fauria to spend more time outside of the trenches. Thus, Amaro is a better fit than Eric Ebron.

7. TE Eric Ebron: But it's not by much. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi would get a Jimmy Graham-style player to plug directly into that spot. However, as mentioned above, this scenario would rely on Fauria's blocking. It'd be difficult to have both Ebron and Fauria on the field if neither could handle the more traditional of tight-end duties.

8. S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix: Safety has become a huge position of need for the Lions. Louis Delmas hasn't signed with any other teams yet, but he has been making the rounds. Clinton-Dix is an instant starter that can make plays all over the field. Whether against the run or patrolling a deep half, Clinton-Dix would be an excellent addition to the back of the defense.

9. WR Allen Robinson: There's a reason the offseason message boards have been dominated by wide-receiver comments. It's a glaring hole in the Lions' roster that might only be outranked by the void at the safety spot. The former Penn State wideout stands 6'3" and has the speed to carry an offense for a short spurt should Johnson's knee struggles continue.  

10. LB C.J. Mosley: During his time with Nick Saban, Mosley was an enforcer in the middle against the run. The Lions aren't looking for that particular player with Stephen Tulloch locked down for a few more seasons. However, Mosley does have the athleticism to drop into coverage as well, making him the second-best option in this draft for replacing Palmer.

11. OLB Anthony Barr: Barr doesn't seem to have a natural position in the standard 4-3. Yet, Austin will employ a versatile scheme and finding a place for an explosive playmaker like Barr is a good problem. Still, he can't climb too much higher on this list because of that awkward fit. 

12. WR Marqise Lee: Lee has the physical tools to be an excellent NFL wide receiver. However, the Lions will rightly get squeamish when they see Lee's drops on film. Nobody let their quarterback down more last year than the Lions with their 58 dropped passes. That's enough to knock Lee out of the top 10.

13. S Calvin Pryor: The Lions won't miss Delmas' physicality if they plug Pryor into his old spot. Pryor is a violent player who is always looking for someone to crash into at full speed. That type of aggressiveness got Delmas burned a few times, but Pryor's ability to force turnovers (seven interceptions and nine forced fumbles in three years) is worth the risk. 

14. OLB Kyle Van Noy: I'm not as high as other on Van Noy for the Lions as others are. He's a solid player; I'm just not sold he's the game-changer you'd hope for from a first-rounder.

While Van Noy would fill a need, he'll need a particularly awesome combine to climb this list. Although, if based solely on character, this guy would merit extreme consideration considering his story as told in "The System" by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian.

15. CB Darqueze Dennard: Austin has shown his hand in terms of defensive backs, stating that he likes the big corners who can match the physicality of larger receivers. That's why Dennard lags a bit in these rankings. Plus, the Lions already have $5.2 million guaranteed to Chris Houston and last year's second-rounder Darius Slay is starting opposite him. Dennard is an excellent player. He just doesn't fit in Detroit.

16. CB Justin Gilbert: Again, there isn't a need for the Lions to put such a premium on cornerbacks. They have so much invested in that particular position that it shouldn't elevate slightly less talented players up the board based on need alone. Gilbert is the second-best corner in the draft heading into the combine, but doesn't have the elite size that will make Detroit pull the trigger. 

17. DT Aaron Donald: The Pitt defensive tackle comes with all the accolades one could want: unanimous All American, ACC Defensive Player of the year and swept the Bronco Nagurski and Outland trophies. The trio of Ndamukong Suh, Fairley and Mosley will be tough to keep together due to high salaries or age. It could be time for Mayhew to restock the position. 

18. WR Odell Beckham: If Mayhew doesn't understand what he's seeing when he watches Beckham on tape, that's understandable. It's been awhile since the Lions general manager has seen a wide receiver actually hold onto the ball. All jokes aside, Beckham is a reliable threat who lacks the size of the higher-ranked receivers. Maybe that'll be just the chip on the shoulder that carries Beckham to a couple Pro Bowls. 

19. DE Dee Ford: Ford put up two sacks in the national championship and followed that up with two more sacks in the Senior Bowl. That's how you start a draft cycle. Detroit barely had more than half the number of sacks as the Carolina Panthers (33 to 60). What if I told you the Lions could trade down and up their sack numbers while picking up another pick? Is that something you might be interested in?

20. OT Jake Matthews: At some point you have to include one of the consensus best left tackles in the draft. Detroit is all set along the offensive line for 2014, but an upgrade of this caliber has to be entertained. And remember, this would require a trade back by Detroit for all of the above guys to already have been drafted as well as a few quarterbacks.

21. OT Greg Robinson: Any discussion including Jake Matthews should also include Robinson. It's far from a slam dunk that Matthews will be better, and it could be a title they battle for their entire careers. The hulking Auburn Tiger, despite all of his obvious talent, might not crack the starting lineup with the Lions' current depth. 

22. RB Carlos Hyde: There doesn't appear to be a huge need at running back with Reggie Bush and presumably Joique Bell already on the roster. However, the duo will be 29 and 28 when the season kicks off.

Furthermore, Hyde is a beast. He's 6'0" and 242 pounds. He is different than the current crop of backs and would give Detroit the flexibility to keep Bell on a one-year deal if nothing long-term is to its liking.

23. DT Louis Nix: There's something about Louis Nix that I don't trust. Injuries will happen but Nix never reached the bar he set with a standout 2012. He would bring a different skill set than anyone on the current roster, but his problems might be too reminiscent of a recently highly drafted defensive tackle who has yet to find consistency. 

24. OLB Ryan Shazier: The combine is exactly what Shazier needs. After earning plenty of hype early in his career and the 2013 season, Shazier seemed to tail off toward the end of the year. Before any team pulls the trigger on his tremendous upside, he'll have to convince the front office that the dry spell was just a blip in his progression.

25. S Deone Bucannon: There were more than a few contenders for the final spot, but Bucannon's physicality and coverage ability at a position of need can't be ignored.

In a perfect world, the Lions will be able to grab one of those top receivers in the first round and Bucannon in the second. However, it's possible Detroit will have to grab him at the back of the first if they want to procure his services.