5 Prospects Detroit Lions Should Target in 2015 NFL Draft
The Detroit Lions have some big free-agent decisions to make, but the most successful franchises build through the draft. Luckily for you, I'm here to point the team toward the right targets to make things easier for general manager Martin Mayhew in the 2015 NFL draft.
The names linked to the Lions will change often through the next four-plus months. Rumors will fly about work ethics, drug tests and Wonderlic scores, and people will react irrationally. That's draft season in a nutshell.
Detroit's needs, however, for young talent at certain positions will not alter. It's possible that a big-name veteran offensive lineman could alleviate the immediate need for cheap talent up front, but the other positions mentioned here need the cheap infusion of potential.
Click through to find five targets plus two underclassmen who have yet to declare whom Detroit should keep in mind come late April.
Cornerback Marcus Peters
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Detroit could target other good corners in the first round and beyond. Fellow Bleacher Reporter Jeff Risdon recently did a seven-round mock draft in which he had the Lions taking Michigan State product Trae Waynes.
No fan would argue with that selection. At 6'1", 182 pounds, Waynes has ideal size for press-man coverage, and you have to be physical to play for head coach Mark Dantonio.
But you can't ignore Marcus Peters' talent.
He has decent size (6'0", 198 lbs) and long arms that suit his aggressive style well. He could be a great bookend to Darius Slay, giving Detroit two of the most talented, physical corners in the league. I'm not alone in thinking he has the talent necessary to be a beast at the next level:
"It would have been nice if Marcus Peters didn't get kicked out of the school. Love his talent. Best cornerback in the class IMO.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) January 5, 2015"
Did I not mention that? Peters was removed from the team, and the rumors have run rampant, with a now debunked choking-the-coach narrative making the rounds, per The Seattle Times. Peters' dismissal from the Washington program will raise plenty of eyebrows in a front office that has been burned by the likes of Titus Young and Aaron Berry before.
That doesn't mean that Martin Mayhew shouldn't take a peek at what makes Peters tick. The talent is too immense to drop him from the board without due consideration.
Cornerback P.J. Williams
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I don't mean to hammer you with cornerbacks. There is a good chance that the Lions keep Rashean Mathis since he finished with his highest grade in Pro Football Focus' history (founded in 2007 - subscription required). But Detroit needs to worry about the future as well as find depth better than Cassius Vaughn.
P.J. Williams is a monster corner who has a couple of inches on the previously mentioned Peters. His 6'1", 196-pound frame would give the Lions another strong corner capable of playing at the line of scrimmage.
Plus, he could bring a little humor to a locker room that enjoys making ugly sweater Christmas cards and twerking after touchdowns:
"#FSU DB P.J. Williams says via twitter he's leaving early & putting his name in the draft: "I will be taking my talent to the NFL"
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 6, 2015"
The big cornerback isn't afraid of mixing it up in the running game either, and run support is a big deal for Detroit. His tackling prowess will also do well in the bubble-screen world we currently occupy.
Detroit might be able to move back and still grab him. You can bet Mayhew will closely monitor his stock as the offseason drags along.
Running Back Jay Ajayi
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The Lions will more than likely be moving on from Reggie Bush. Parting ways with him would save Detroit $3.28 million against the cap, per Spotrac.com, and too many options in the draft can easily exceed his recent production.
Jay Ajayi is one of those guys.
The Boise State Bronco doesn't have Bush's home run-hitting trait, but he does have that Joique Bell-like ability to keep moving forward when he gets hit. They both run as if they need yards to breathe.
Ajayi will also do whatever it takes to get into the end zone:
"#BoiseState RB Jay Ajayi ended up with more touchdowns than 19 teams this season, including #Michigan, #PennState, and #Vanderbilt.
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) January 8, 2015"
He finished the season with 1,823 rushing yards and 28 scores on the ground, so Bush's carries will have a soft landing spot. Plus, the soon-to-be rookie grabbed 50 passes for 535 yards and four scores in 2014. His all-around game will force defenses to account for him in both roles, which is more than Theo Riddick and his 2.6-yard average can say.
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Defensive Tackle Malcom Brown
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Texas' early loss will be some NFL team's gain.
Michael Bennett of Ohio State is a popular pick to help Detroit handle the departure of either Ndamukong Suh or Nick Fairley. He's quick enough to pierce the pocket, but he doesn't have the bulk (6'2", 288 lbs) to anchor a run defense, and that was the key to Detroit's success this year.
If the Lions don't have guys up front who can occupy multiple blockers, DeAndre Levy and the other linebackers won't be free to find the ball. Instead, they're busy trying to shed offensive linemen.
Malcom Brown can handle that problem. The behemoth Longhorn weighs 320 pounds, so filling lanes shouldn't be an issue.
He also has the speed necessary to bring pressure from the middle, and as NFC South lead writer Brent Sobleski explains, Brown has the right attitude too:
"If you want a player that produces, shows great work ethic, no off the field concerns and top talent, Malcom Brown is your guy.
— Brent Sobleski (@brentsobleski) January 8, 2015"
If Brown isn't worth a target, he's at least worth a look. There are plenty of differing opinions on the junior, and the draft process will see him bounce between the mid-first and second round.
Offensive Tackle T.J. Clemmings
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I'm not the first person to suggest that Riley Reiff might be better off at guard. He's a serviceable left tackle, but if Detroit can upgrade the position, there's no need to hold back.
Like two or maybe three of the other guys on this list, T.J. Clemmings will be a first- or second-round target. The tall tackle (6'6", 315 lbs) from Pitt has plenty of people predicting big things, including CBS Sports' Dane Brugler:
"#Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings has signed with Priority Sports Agency. I expect him to shine at the @SeniorBowl, my top-ranked senior OT
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 6, 2015"
The Lions need to add talent that can move because offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's blocking scheme requires athleticism. Tight ends and tackles are expected to pick up opposite defensive ends or to block in space on screens.
Clemmings is a more graceful athlete than Reiff. If Detroit can pull off a successful transition between these two, the offensive line could return to being a strength in 2015 and beyond.
Possible Early Entrants Detroit Could Target If They Declare
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Defensive End Shilique Calhoun
Unfortunately for Shilique Calhoun, he didn't make the leap this season that most were anticipating. He still finished with eight sacks, adding 1.5 in the bowl game against Baylor, but it wasn't enough to alleviate the concerns that CBS Sports' Dane Brugler expressed in September:
"WEAKNESSES: Calhoun isn't as strong as he looks right now and is missing a power element to his game as he's too easily slowed or stonewalled at contact. He loses the leverage battle too often and his ball awareness tends to run hot/cold. His snap anticipation and technique are both underdeveloped.
Calhoun isn't yet a polished product and his hand use needs coached up to improve his shed technique and rush ability.
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All of those weaknesses sound like something the defensive line coaching duo of Kris Kocurek and Jim Washburn could cure along with some time in an NFL weight room. Not only does he have the talent to have been projected as a top-10 prospect prior to the season, but he also has the height (6'4") that Martin Mayhew covets in defensive ends.
Defensive Tackle Eddie Goldman
Florida State Seminole Eddie Goldman has been linked to Detroit for obvious reasons. He should be available toward the end of the first round, and the Lions will need to replace either Nick Fairley or Ndamukong Suh. And until recently, he was performing at a high level:
"As @PFF_Steve pointed out, Eddie Goldman was invisible for FSU. That cannot happen for a guy with his potential.
— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) January 2, 2015"
He's big enough (6'4", 320 lbs) to handle the running game as a defensive tackle or a nose, but his ability to get off the line in a hurry will help ease the pain of whichever former first-round defensive tackle moves on.
If teams become too concerned about his late-season play, Detroit could trade back and still grab him. But before Detroit pulls the trigger in the first round, it must conduct a thorough examination into why he disappeared in the biggest game of the season.
Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.
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