Detroit Lions' 2015 Draft: Aggregating Report Card Grades from Around the Web
The passing of every NFL draft means grades are sprouting up all over the Internet. Lucky for you, I've aggregated five grades and opinions, and crafted them into an easy-to-use slideshow.
One quick note on the following slides: I don't always agree with what the experts say. While I express my dissent when appropriate, it's entirely too early to be sure about any of these players and their value.
But that shouldn't keep us from having some fun. Click through to find out how these five experts graded Detroit's draft.
Ty Schalter, Bleacher Report
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The first stop on this tour is close to home. Ty Schalter of Bleacher Report took on the task of grading all 32 general managers' performance over this past weekend, so it's the perfect place to start.
Schalter started out with some praise for the Laken Tomlinson pick en route to giving Martin Mayhew a B+, and ended with this:
"Carter roomed with the son of Lions legend Barry Sanders at Stanford, and his father Tom played with Lions general manager Martin Mayhew. All nepotism aside, he fits well in the Lions' scheme and has time to learn behind aging Rashean Mathis.
Wright is a need pick who might be underwhelming if forced to start his rookie season. Waiting this long for a defensive tackle when they lost Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley was a big gamble (even though they added Haloti Ngata).
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He's absolutely correct that Alex Carter fits the scheme because he's a big cornerback who likes to play with physicality. However, his transition to the NFL is going to be rough. He has a hard time dealing with speed and quickness. If defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and cornerback Rashean Mathis can teach him a few tricks to flip his hips quicker, Carter may prove worthy of his third-round pedigree.
Lastly, he touched on the defensive tackles. So many of them dropped throughout the weekend that there must be more than meets the eye. Grady Jarrett and Michael Bennett, two targets linked to the Lions, weren't picked until the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively, so Detroit's strategy might not have been that bold.
Bryan Fischer, NFL.com
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Bryan Fischer of NFL.com brings us our next grade. He awarded Detroit with a B and had this to say:
"In a span of about 30 minutes, the Lions upgraded their interior offensive line and managed to get more picks in the process. Matthew Stafford is no doubt quite happy at this news, and while some saw Tomlinson as a reach at the tail end of the first round, he's a safe pick that will help the team. Abdullah was Mayock's No. 3 back in the draft and is a steal at the end of the second round. He'll be a nice fit in the Lions offense while replacingReggie Bush. Carter is a smart corner who could be a nice weapon to combat the other quarterbacks and wideouts in the division.
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His main takeaway is that Laken Tomlinson is the star of the show. In that assessment, he's completely on the mark because of the dramatic impact Tomlinson can have on the offense as a whole.
By putting a credible guard next to Riley Reiff, the tackle will be able to trust Tomlinson to handle stunts and twists, allowing him to stay wider to block the defender looping around. It will also give Detroit a power duo on the left side to create holes for the running backs.
Lastly, Matthew Stafford will have nowhere to hide now. He was given a pass at times last season because of the anemic running game and shoddy protection. Many of his overthrows were the product of unsettled feet due to a muddy pocket. And that's the biggest reason Tomlinson was brought in.
Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated
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There are few cynics to be found regarding this Detroit draft. Doug Farrar of SI.com isn't one, either. In fact, he posted the highest grade I've found on the subject, handing the Lions an A- for their efforts.
He also had this to say:
"The Lions have dealt with offensive line issues even as they've established themselves as one of the NFL's more prolific pass-heavy teams in the last few seasons. With their first two picks in the draft, they sought to bring more balance to the Force, so to speak. First-round guard Laken Tomlinson from Duke is a big, smart, aggressive player whose stock has been rising. And Nebraska back Ameer Abdullah is a great fit for Jim Caldwell's scheme as a pure one-cut-and-go runner. Third-round cornerback Alex Carter from Stanford may project better as a safety in the long run. He's a little too slow in his transitions to deal with the best outside receivers. Fourth-round defensive tackle Gabe Wright from Auburn won't make anyone forget about Ndamukong Suh, but he is a reliable rotational player with some production potential. The potential sleeper pick here is Texas cornerback Quandre Diggs, a four-year starter who's the brother of Quentin Jammer and projects pretty well as a slot corner.—DF
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Farrar hit on an interesting point here. If Alex Carter doesn't pan out as a cornerback, he can switch over to safety and give it a go there.
Carter has the aggressive style and tackling prowess that coaches love in a strong safety, but he's a bit undersized (196 lbs) for the role. He'd probably need to add another 20 pounds; otherwise he could provide depth behind Glover Quin at the free safety spot.
The part about Quandre Diggs is particularly interesting. Diggs could become the steal of the sixth round considering his talent level. He's only 5'9", but he has a great ability to mirror quick players and is a willing tackler.
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Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
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Pete Prisco of CBS Sports wasn't nearly as big a fan of Detroit's handiwork. His grade wasn't too negative (B-), but the one pick that he really seems to harp on here was the second-round selection of Ameer Abdullah:
"Questionable move: I like running back Ameer Abdullah, but they needed to get more of a power runner and the second round was a little high for him. He also has to cut down on his fumbling.
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I can't agree with that reasoning. Detroit has Joique Bell to handle the tough carries, and he's an excellent 3rd-and-short back, finding his way through a small crease with power to pick up the first down.
Abdullah is exactly what the Lions needed because of his explosiveness. He posted a 42" vertical and the fastest three-cone drill at the combine among running backs, per NFL.com, which belies how suddenly he can change direction and scoot.
Bell does a lot of things well (bang between the tackles, receiving, etc.), but he is not a guy who will turn a six-yard run into a 67-yard game-changer. Abdullah can and will bring another avenue of attack for an offense that struggled scoring points last season.
Mel Kiper, ESPN
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You can't talk about draft grades without mentioning Mel Kiper, Jr. from ESPN. He's one of the people most responsible for taking the draft from the shadows and making it the full-blown extravaganza that it is today.
He's not always correct, obviously, and he has his share of detractors. However, he didn't let that bring down his attitude about Detroit's draft. Kiper gave the Lions a solid B. Here's an excerpt from his draft breakdown:
"Reggie Bush is gone, but Ameer Abdullah is now here. This was about where I thought Abdullah would go -- solid pick. Alex Carter gives them some needed depth in the secondary, and the addition of Gabe Wright gives them much-needed depth on the interior of the defensive line. Wright could make some plays as a rotation player. Quadre Diggs is an intriguing physical talent who has the chance to stick, and Corey Robinson is a massive tackle who might end up at guard. The Lions clearly wanted to improve the interior of the offensive line and add useful depth on defense, and they accomplished those things. Abdullah will also be a fun one to watch.
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We just went over how Ameer Abdullah will contribute to the Lions, and Kiper is spot on that he'll be fun to watch. He also touched on Corey Robinson briefly. The seventh-rounder will prove more valuable if he can play both guard and tackle, giving depth throughout the line.
Kiper also hits the nail on the head regarding Gabe Wright. He has a nice burst off the line that must have endeared him to the Lions' front office. He'll likely back up Tyrunn Walker and possibly line up next to him on passing downs.
Final Grades
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| Outlet | Grade |
| Ty Schalter, B/R | B+ |
| Bryan Fischer, NFL.com | B |
| Doug Farrar, Sports Illustrated | A- |
| Pete Prisco, CBS Sports | B- |
| Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN | B |
My Grade: B+
As you can see, nobody is too up or down on the Lions' draft. It is a solid group of players who can all find roles on this team. The aggregate would more or less balance out to a B or B+.
And that's right in line with my view of this draft. It's odd for general manager Martin Mayhew to spend so much time addressing needs, even if some of these guys were the best players on his board.
Every player seemed to carry the appropriate value with the exception of fullback Michael Burton. However, I would caution getting too upset with the pick. The Lions needed a fullback, and Jalston Fowler went off the board in the fourth.
Plus, it was the fifth round. You need to find contributors or take fliers in the later rounds. Burton fills a hole in the roster, and even if Mayhew could have grabbed him a round or two later, he needed to get his guy before someone else did. It wasn't worth the risk.
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