Detroit Lions Draft Scouting Guide for the 2015 Senior Bowl
The 2015 Senior Bowl is the preeminent draft event between the end of the season and the scouting combine. Every team sends a large delegation to Mobile, Alabama, to evaluate the top seniors in the nation.
The Detroit Lions are no exception, as general manager Martin Mayhew, the entire scouting staff and many Lions coaches will be in attendance for the practice sessions and interviews.
The annual event draws most of the top seniors and a handful of redshirt juniors who have already graduated. Ladd-Peebles Stadium is packed for three days of intense, closely scrutinized practice sessions.
Anyone who is anyone in the NFL will be watching.
This will be my seventh year covering the Senior Bowl in person. Here are some of the players and positions the Lions, and by extension myself, will be looking at closely throughout the week.
Top Names
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Every year the Senior Bowl attracts several first-round talents, as well as a couple of players who rocket up in status after a strong week.
Eric Fisher is a great example. He played his way up from fringe first-round talent to No. 1 overall pick two years ago thanks to a fantastic Senior Bowl week.
Some of the biggest names for this season include:
- Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton (pictured)
- Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates
- UCLA defensive end Owamagbe Odighizua
- Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty
- Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings
- Colorado State offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo
All of those players have been mentioned as potential first-round talents at various points. Good performances in the drills and the interview rooms will solidify that status.
Clemmings and Shelton in particular could elevate themselves into the top 10, which would be great for them but unfortunate for Lions fans, as Detroit picks 23rd overall.
Potential First-Round Pick: T.J. Clemmings
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Pittsburgh offensive tackle T.J. Clemmings doesn't have much experience at his current position. He arrived on campus as a defensive end and didn't switch to the offensive line until the 2013 season.
It was a natural fit. Right away, he displayed unusual power and excellent footwork at right tackle.
He's exceptional—and I don't use that word lightly—at getting out to the second level and destroying would-be tacklers with powerful blocks and strong technique.
Check out his devastation on this Vine, courtesy of Kyle Posey of Bolts From the Blue:
"T.j. Clemmings (NSFW) https://t.co/7TtCajITSa
— Kyle Posey (@The_KP_Show) January 3, 2015"
While he only played on the right side for the Panthers, his athleticism allows him to project to the more valuable left side in the NFL. Mike Gerken of NE Patriots Draft agrees:
"I think he has the athleticism and footwork to play left tackle as well. Not only that, with his combination of power and ability to get to the second level, I think he could be a great guard as well. He is raw but has shown the ability to learn the position quickly and the negatives in his game are easily correctable with some good coaching. I give Clemmings a solid first round grade.
"
If he somehow falls to the Lions in the first round, Clemmings sure seems like a no-brainer selection. He presents many intriguing options for Detroit's shuffling line.
He could start right away at right tackle, as incumbent starter LaAdrian Waddle has durability issues and 2014 undrafted rookie Cornelius Lucas appears best suited for either the left side or as the third tackle.
Clemmings could succeed Rob Sims at left guard, which would allow him to get up to NFL speed and acclimated to more advanced pass-rushers.
Or he could take over at left tackle and allow the Lions to slide Riley Reiff inside to guard, where he could be more successful than he is at left tackle.
Potential Target: Quinten Rollins
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Casual sports fans probably know the name Quinten Rollins more for his prowess as the point guard for the Miami Redhawks. He ranked among the Mid-American Conference all-time leaders in steals.
Rollins decided his pro prospects were stronger in football, though, and he quickly established himself as a viable NFL prospect despite having not played on the gridiron since high school.
Eric Galko of Optimum Scouting ranks him as the top senior cornerback, noting:
"Miami OH CB Quinten Rollins worth watching pre-#SeniorBowl. Currently top SR CB. Fluid, finishes well, bball athlete: http://t.co/nbrig0ZdIX
— Eric Galko (@OptimumScouting) January 18, 2015"
Listed at 6' and 203 pounds, Rollins possesses ideal size for a cornerback. The bedazzling quick feet he demonstrated on the hardwood handily translate to the gridiron, too. He's the quickest in and out of breaks of any cornerback I watched in 2014.
One of the questions he will answer in Mobile is if he's a better NFL prospect at cornerback or safety. As Josh Norris of Rotoworld notes:
"Quinten Rollins is a CB who likes to hit and is a very good tackler for the position.
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) December 16, 2014"
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Position of Need: Defensive Tackle
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Defensive tackle is a definite need for the Detroit Lions.
The top three tackles from the last two seasons are all unrestricted free-agents. Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley are extremely unlikely to all return, particularly if the team is forced to use the franchise tag to keep Suh.
The Senior Bowl has several intriguing defensive tackles spread across the North and South rosters.
| Player | School | Height/Weight |
| Carl Davis | Iowa | 6'4"/315 |
| Kaleb Eulis | Mississippi State | 6'3"/295 |
| Grady Jarrett | Clemson | 6'0"/290 |
| Joey Mbu | Houston | 6'3"/312 |
| Danny Shelton | Washington | 6'1"/339 |
| Louis Trinca-Pasat | Iowa | 6'2"/290 |
| Gabe Wright | Auburn | 6'2"/290 |
*Measurements are from the Senior Bowl roster pages. Official weigh-ins take place Tuesday morning.
Two players who fit Detroit well are Davis (pictured) and Mbu.
Davis improved his play in 2014, showing more disruptive penetration and finishing burst near the ball. Rotoworld's Josh Norris noticed, too:
"Enjoyed Carl Davis' game in 2014 much more than 2013. Won more often in 1 on 1 situations, both through and around OL pic.twitter.com/MZ363hTSiS
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) January 18, 2015"
Mbu is lesser known but had some shining moments for the Cougars defense. He would fill Mosley's role of third tackle and run-stuffing 1-technique quite nicely.
Potential Target: Eric Rowe
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Eric Rowe was a middling draft prospect entering the 2014 season after being a decent but unspectacular safety in his first few seasons at Utah. He converted to cornerback over the offseason, and it was a brilliant career move.
In just his third game at his new position, he blanketed Michigan star wideout Devin Funchess all over the field in a game I attended and charted. Rowe broke up three passes to Funchess and allowed just one completion while matched up with the potential first-round pick.
Brian Krosky of Buffalo Bills Draft nicely summarized Rowe's draft stock:
"Been watching/working on Eric Rowe. Chance to become on of the top corners based on physicality and ball skills/awareness.
— Brian Krosky (@bkrosky26) January 17, 2015"
Rowe's style fits the Lions' defensive scheme quite well. Rowe is at his best playing tight to the line and controlling the release of the receiver. He has the speed to turn and run down the field.
Senior Bowl practices will be key for Rowe to demonstrate he has the footwork and anticipation skills to hang with the faster and stronger wideouts. If he acquits himself nicely, he's a definite option for Detroit at No. 23 overall. That's probably higher than anyone believes right now, but it's not unfeasible.
It's more likely Rowe is a definite option for Detroit in the second round—if he falls to the team at No. 54 overall.
The Lions need to make plans to replace 35-year-old Rashean Mathis, and Rowe perfectly fits the bill.
Position of Need: Guard
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With Monday's breaking news that the Lions are not bringing back veteran center Dominic Raiola, the pieces of the offensive-line puzzle are starting to fall into place.
Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:
"The Lions have informed long-time C Dominic Raiola that they will not be bringing him back for a 15th season http://t.co/AMxLjYguz5
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 19, 2015"
Last year's third-round pick Travis Swanson, who primarily played guard as a rookie, will take over for Raiola in the pivot.
With long-time starter Rob Sims an unrestricted free agent generally not expected to return, there is a pressing need for a new left guard.
It's not a sexy position, but there are some prospects the Lions should become intimately familiar with in Mobile.
| Player | School | Height/Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Tre Jackson | Florida State | 6'4"/340 |
| Arie Kouandjio | Alabama | 6'5"/315 |
| Shaq Mason | Georgia Tech | 6'1"/311 |
| Robert Myers | Tennessee State | 6'5"/305 |
| Laken Tomlinson | Duke | 6'3"/315 |
Myers is the most intriguing, in part because he's relatively unknown coming out of the FCS level. His Senior Bowl bio details his impressive performance at that level, and game tape reveals a very lithe athlete with good natural bend.
Kouandjio is probably the most recognizable name, as his older brother Cyrus was in the 2014 Senior Bowl before becoming a second-round pick for the Buffalo Bills. He's got a similar, though less extensive, history of knee problems as his older brother but is a more natural bender. He's also an Academic All-American.
Potential Target: Tyler Lockett
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Even with Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate both providing serious punch at wide receiver, the Lions still have a need for a more dynamic third option. They also need an upgrade at return specialist, where Jeremy Ross underwhelmed last season.
One player who could kill both birds with one stone is Kansas State wideout Tyler Lockett.
Lockett, the son of former NFL wideout Kevin Lockett, was a dynamic receiver and return man in his four years in Manhattan. He returned four kickoffs and two punts (both in 2014) for touchdowns, leading the nation in punt-return average as a senior.
He's the Big 12's all-time leader in kickoff-return average and sixth in NCAA history. Lockett also proved to be a major threat as a receiver, with 187 receptions in the last two seasons.
The quickness and open-field jets that serve him so well as a returner translate as a route-runner. His polish in routes stands well above most other prospects in this class.
Check out this filthy move on San Diego Chargers 2014 first-round pick Jason Verrett:
"Tyler Lockett - oh my RT @patjburns: @smartfootball his double move on Jason Verret was silly last year http://t.co/yXCZBN8Ybx
— Chris B. Brown (@smartfootball) January 3, 2015"
Lockett could handily take over the slot/No. 3 wideout role and man the return duties in Detroit. He does have a small frame for a 5'11" guy, and his hands are neither big nor strong.
Detroit would be wise to consider Lockett in the third or fourth rounds of April's draft. His stock can go up or down between those spots based in part on how well he performs in Senior Bowl practices.
Position of Need: Backup Quarterback
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Matthew Stafford is the unquestioned starter at quarterback for years to come. However, reserves Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore are both unrestricted free agents.
The need is there for a developmental prospect to groom into a viable backup, and there are several candidates at the Senior Bowl.
| Player | School | Height/Weight |
| Shane Carden | East Carolina | 6'2"/218 |
| Garrett Grayson | Colorado State | 6'2"/220 |
| Sean Mannion | Oregon State | 6'5"/220 |
| Nick Marshall | Auburn | 6'1"/210 |
| Bryce Petty | Baylor | 6'2"/230 |
| Blake Sims | Alabama | 6'0"/208 |
As far as a long-term backup who can operate the same sort of offense Stafford operates, Grayson is probably the best bet. Jayson Braddock of KBME in Houston accurately notes:
"I gave a 4th round grade to Garrett Grayson. He's Kyle Orton with a great deep ball, but questionable decisions. Locks on a read too long.
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) January 16, 2015"
Carden is more agile and presents a different dimension to the offense. He reminds me of journeyman backup Bruce Gradkowski.
It's not an ideal year to address this position, but at some point the Lions will draft another quarterback. They have not done so since taking Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009.
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