Best Possible Outcomes for Detroit Lions' Top 3 Draft Picks

General manager Martin Mayhew stayed his hand in free agency, leaving gaps in the roster, which has amped up the pressure for his first three draft picks.

Many, including Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, believe he needs to hit on the above picks.

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The Lions have holes at defensive tackle, cornerback, tailback, guard and receiver. And they are left with just three of the first 200 or so picks in the draft, depending on what happens with compensatory picks.

Detroit currently possesses the 23rd pick of the first round, 22nd pick of the second round and 24th pick of the third round, then won't be back on the clock until the 24th pick of the sixth round. It wraps things up with the 14th and 23rd picks of the seventh round.

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As you may know by now, the Lions didn't receive any compensatory picks. Golden Tate and James Ihedigbo wiped out any chance for one, and nobody should be upset with that trade-off.

Considering we're talking about the draft here, please remember that we are dealing in absolutes. There's no debate or uncertainty about which prospects will be available or which ones will succeed. It's always carved in stone by early March.

My bad. That's March Madness.

It turns out that the NFL draft is the opposite, with a plethora of outcomes that have to be evaluated. Here, we're looking to find the best scenarios for Detroit that are at least tenuously possible. So let's get the debate started by checking out five outcomes that stretch from the most reasonable to the extremely lucky.

Scenario 1: Reasonable Cornerback

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

First Round: CB Jalen Collins

The most likely scenario you'll find on this slideshow involves the sturdy corner from LSU. The 6'1, 203-pound corner has the size and physicality to excel in the first five yards and the foot speed (4.48 40 per NFL.com) to track down his mistakes.

He's a capable tackler who doesn't necessarily love the duty despite his build. He doesn't have a ton of experience either (10 starts), but his natural attributes are incredibly hard to ignore considering Detroit's defensive coaching staff and its ability to maximize potential. However, Martin Mayhew may be averse to picking a cornerback with possible foot problems:

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Jalen Collins (LSU- CB) had his foot operated on this past Thursday by Dr. Bob Anderson in North Carolina. Should be ready for mini camp

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) March 21, 2015"

Second Round: C Cameron Erving

Erving is the hidden T.J. Clemmings story with even more twists. Erving didn't just flip from the defensive line to the offensive line, he also took home first-team All-ACC honors at left tackle and then switched to center, where he was named to the All-ACC third team. That versatility along with his quickness that bolsters his pass-protection ability would do well for Detroit, whether at left guard or center.

Third Round: RB David Johnson

Remember that this is a best-case scenario with only a touch of reasonableness. It's not likely that Detroit could steal Johnson with the 88th pick in the draft. He's an incredible athlete who posted a 4.5 40, an amazing 41.5" vertical, 25 bench reps and an astonishing 127" broad jump, per NFL.com. He would fit the zone-running scheme well with his cuts, catches the ball extremely well and could come into play as a returner.

Scenario 2: Reasonable Offensive Lineman

John Raoux/Associated Press

First Round: OT D.J. Humphries

The more tape you see on Humphries, the more his potential starts to shine. He's a mid-riser, meaning it took some of us (myself included) a little time to catch on to the big man's talent, but we're still over a month out from the draft so it's not too late.

His seven missed games the last two years and a lack of polish could cause him to drop, making it a more reasonable scenario than most. However, the 6'5", 307-pounder has the type of athleticism that makes scouts and coaches alike drool, as Jon Ledyard of Pro Football Spot would attest:

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I can't quit D.J. Humphries man. Collins is most NFL-ready OT in this draft, but Humphries has highest ceiling and isnt as raw as many think

— Jon Ledyard (@jledgePFS) March 21, 2015"

Second Round: DT Michael Bennett

With Caraun Reid currently the only defensive tackle signed past 2015, the position will remain a need. Bennett's 35.5" vertical, per NFL.com, belies the type of backfield penetrator the Lions love. He'd make a nice rotational piece with Tyrunn Walker and Haloti Ngata, especially on passing downs with his burst off the line. He also would give the Lions plenty of leverage in future negotiations with Ngata and Walker.

Third Round: CB Quinten Rollins

Rollins is an excellent athlete whose conversion to football went smoothly. His four years as Miami of Ohio's point guard gave him the quick hips and feet needed to change direction with NFL wide receivers, but it had an even bigger impact on his ball skills. Despite playing just one season of college football, he ended his career with seven interceptions. He would benefit greatly from a year of no-pressure schooling behind Rashean Mathis.

Scenario 3: Dream Offensive Lineman

David Quinn/Associated Press

First Round: OL La'el Collins

The injury risks that come with D.J. Humphries give Collins a boost over him, as well as Collins' ability to play inside. Collins' selection would give Detroit two guards that can blow open rushing lanes through anybody's front seven.

Collins is a nasty run-blocker who will drive through a defender. He also has enough athleticism to be an asset in pass protection, although not enough to kick out to left tackle. That won't matter to the Lions, who would be looking to put him inside Riley Reiff anyway. NFL Media's Bucky Brooks drives home how eager of a blocker Collins can be:

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The OL capable of making Zach Martin-like impact on a squad is @LSUfball OT La'el Collins. AFC exec raved about his toughness & physicality

— Bucky Brooks (@BuckyBrooks) March 20, 2015"

Second Round: RB Duke Johnson

Johnson has been a popular mock pick for the Lions in the second round—as well as every other team with the need for a dynamic, big-play-breaking back. His 4.54 40 at the combine doesn't do his field speed justice. One look at this tape shows a player with great small-space quickness who would excel in Detroit's zone-blocking scheme.

Third Round: DT Carl Davis

Dream scenarios don't only play out in the first round. Davis has been mocked in both the first round and the second, but he didn't reach those heights until his dominant Senior Bowl week of practices. The 6'5, 320-pound defensive tackle can anchor against the run with the best and could prove a valuable rotation piece in 2015, but his lack of recent pass-rushing productivity could cause him to drop.

Scenario 4: Dream Defensive Tackle

Eric Gay/Associated Press

First Round: DT Malcom Brown

The big man from Texas was a popular choice for Detroit prior to the Haloti Ngata trade. Some think that deal changes this pick, but Martin Mayhew would be wise to keep an open mind.

Despite checking in at 319 pounds, he'll make a living in the backfield as he did in 2014 (13 TFL, 6.5 sacks). Some will point to his one year of production as a reason to pass. However, maybe he's just starting to find his potential. And it appears he'd bring a mature attitude to the locker room, per his conversation with Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News:

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Texas DT Malcom Brown on idolizing Ndamukong Suh: "He's an animal on the field. Besides all the penalties and stuff, he's a great player."

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) March 24, 2015"

Second Round: OG A.J. Cann

The Lions' run game needs help, and Cann can provide it. He's a road grater that has a four-year resume of productive play for South Carolina. He also has the ability to move in the zone-blocking scheme and create cutback lanes. He'll require some help initially against the pass rush, but he fits Detroit's needs like a glove otherwise.

Third Round: DB Eric Rowe

The jack of all trades (played safety and cornerback in college) doesn't have a surefire position yet in the NFL. However, he projects very well as a press-man cornerback who isn't afraid to mix it up in the run game. He's an excellent athlete (4.45 40, 39" vertical and 3.97 20-yard shuttle, according to NFL.com) who could combine with Darius Slay to give Detroit the long-term cornerback solution it needs.

Scenario 5: Dream Cornerback

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

First Round: CB Trae Waynes

A lot of guys are being touted as better cornerbacks; that doesn't mean they're a better fit for Detroit. Waynes has a proven record both on the field and the track with combine numbers (4.31 40-yard dash and 19 bench reps, per NFL.com) that lit his draft stock on fire. 

His downfield grabbing is a concern, but his skills will serve him well at the line of scrimmage. He had plenty of success playing press-man coverage in college and will get the benefit of a year behind Rashean Mathis to break his bad habits.

But as Dane Brugler of CBS Sports points out, it will take a lot of luck to make this pick happen:

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Like I just mentioned on @105theticket, I still think WR is in play for the #Vikings at No. 11, but CB Trae Waynes will be tough to pass up

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) March 18, 2015"

Second Round: RB Tevin Coleman

The Lions could get by without nabbing a true speed threat out of the backfield. However, if Tevin Coleman is available, he'll be hard to pass up. He's the overshadowed Big 10 back that went for over 2,000 yards while finishing as a Doak Walker finalist. Coleman is the exact type of back who can find the cutback lane on a zone run and take it for 60 yards.

Third Round: OG Ali Marpet

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's scheme requires more athleticism from its offensive linemen than Rob Sims could handle. Marpet won't have that problem. He proved at the Senior Bowl that he can hang with tougher competition than he saw through his career at Hobart, and his 4.98 40 and 4.47 20-yard shuttle showed he has the athletic goods to succeed.  

All combine statistics are courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced NFL stats, grades and rankings are sourced from Pro Football Focus.

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.