Detroit Lions: Full 2016 Draft Guide and Preview

Build, baby, build!

Go with whatever positional demand you want. The Detroit Lions have a few holes that need to be addressed before September, but general manager Bob Quinn must understand that the tail can't wag the dog.

There isn't a franchise in the NFL that would pass up legitimate young talent at any level of the offense or defense because of inferior in-house options. The better approach is to elevate the overall talent on the roster while adding pieces that will thrive in your schemes.

But if you find a talented player who fits into one of those holes, all the better. And there's certainly no need to draft a kicker in the second round when you're set with your veteran.

So let's find out what Quinn and the Lions are working with ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.

Draft Picks

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Draft Picks

Round 1, Pick No. 16 Overall

Round 2, Pick No. 46 Overall

Round 3, Pick No. 95 Overall (compensatory)

Round 4, Pick No. 111 Overall

Round 5, Pick No. 151 Overall

Round 5, Pick No. 169 Overall (from Denver)

Round 6, Pick No. 191 Overall

Round 6, Pick No. 202 Overall (from Seattle)

Round 6, Pick No. 210 Overall (compensatory)

Round 7, Pick No. 236 Overall

What to Know

1. None of these picks are safe. Bob Quinn knows there are many routes to adding players, having spent so long with the trade-happy New England Patriots. Quinn won't sit on his hands or his phones.

2. Not all of the Lions' draft capital is liquid. NFL owners "voted to allow compensatory draft picks to be traded," but not until 2017, per ESPN.com.

3. Gabe Wright could be moved. Last year's third-rounder who cost this year's third-rounder would be the odd man out if Detroit grabs a talented defensive tackle early.

Top Needs

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Here are the Lions' top-five needs:

1. Center

Detroit's offensive line had holes at right tackle and left guard last season, but neither of those deficiencies amounted to the errors of Travis Swanson's play.

Rob Sims, an offensive guard who played next to Swanson's predecessor, suggested to MLive.com's Kyle Meinke that the lack of veteran leadership was the real problem, however.

2. Defensive End

Ziggy Ansah and Devin Taylor could be a top-five starting combination if the latter continues his improvement. But two defensive ends can only carry you so far.

The depth chart is incredibly bare behind them. Wallace Gilberry is the only other defensive end on the roster, leaving the pass rush in a state of despair should either Ansah or Taylor need a breather.

3. Strong Safety

The Lions brought in a couple of bodies for the back line through free agency. However, neither Tavon Wilson nor Rafael Bush inspires enough confidence to overlook the position.

Teams regularly attacked James Ihedigbo until he was replaced by Isa Abdul-Quddus, and the same tactic will re-emerge without a stronger, faster presence next to Glover Quin.

4. Offensive Tackle

No, this has nothing to do with Riley Reiff.

Detroit needs help on the right side. Michael Ola has been the definition of a journeyman despite a decent showing with the Lions last season. And Geoff Schwartz is better off inside at this stage of his career.

5. Wide Receiver

It's a tight race between wide receiver and linebacker for the last spot. Neither is a pressing concern as both depth charts have strong points near the top, but the talent level tapers off quickly.

While Josh Bynes has proved to be semi-capable, faith in Corey Fuller hasn't been rewarded. Detroit's lack of a field-stretching option without Calvin Johnson creates enough uncertainty to push the wide receivers over the top.

Top Targets

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Here are two potential targets for Detroit's top needs.

Center

1. Ryan Kelly, Alabama: The buzz building around Kelly is starting to get unreal. The MMQB's Peter King (h/t SB Nation) had him going to the Arizona Cardinals in his mock draft, but now nobody would be surprised if he was gone by the middle of the first round. Kelly is tough, smart and physical, with enough athleticism and power to excel in any scheme.

2. Nick Martin, Notre Dame: Martin hasn't been linked to a team in the first round, but he would still be a savior for the Lions. The Fighting Irish center has the intelligence to improve the calls made before the snap, and the skills to upgrade the blocking afterward. 

Defensive End

1. Joey Bosa, Ohio St.: More than likely, Bosa is beyond a pipe dream for Detroit. However, the recent trades and possible run on quarterbacks make it slightly more possible. If the Buckeye with a sensational mix of speed and power falls far enough, the Lions may swing for the fences with a trade.

2. Shaq Lawson, Clemson: Some folks will swear there's no way Lawson falls to 16th overall. Others don't think he's a good enough fit, such as Alex Reno in the Detroit Free Press. Yet Lawson led the NCAA with 25.5 tackles for a loss in 2015 and has enough athleticism and power to justify a mid-first-round selection.

Safety

1. Karl Joseph, West Virginia: The hard-hitting Mountaineer will almost certainly be available at 16. He has a knack for dislodging wide receivers from the ball with timely hits and has underrated cover skills. Joseph is the second-best safety in the draft behind Jalen Ramsey.

2. Vonn Bell, Ohio State: Bell doesn't pack the same punch as Joseph. He can be an effective tackler, but he doesn't have the look of a future Pro Bowler.

Offensive Tackle

1. Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame: Just as Jalen Ramsey was left off the above targets, Laremy Tunsil has been overlooked as well. Neither is going to slip that far. Stanley would immediately upgrade the team's overall pass protection, but he'll need some help in the run game.

2. Taylor Decker, Ohio State: Decker presents an opposite set of pros and cons. The Buckeye loves to mix it up in the running game, giving Detroit a badly needed upgrade in the power running game. However, he will need time to develop his footwork to handle speed rushers.

Wide Receiver

1. Josh Doctson, TCU: Feel free to bet the house on the Lions passing on a wide receiver in the first round. Yet if they do pull the trigger, Doctson is explosive enough to stretch the field and round out a suddenly top-notch trio of receivers.

2. Corey Coleman, Baylor: Coleman is similar to Doctson in the explosiveness department, but he offers even more quickness. He's an absolute stud in terms of separation production. His spotty hands may cause him to slip to the second day, however.

The Latest Rumors

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Bob Quinn keeps Allen Park under the type of lock that Fort Knox would blush at. So unearthing Lions rumors is a fool's errand, although making inferences on other reports is still entertaining.

It's obvious that defensive line coach Kris Kocurek would love the opportunity to work with Shaq Lawson. Kocurek told the Clemson defensive end that only former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney had performed his explosiveness drill better, per Chase Goodbread of NFL.com.

There is a possibility that Detroit finds itself in the middle of a bidding war at 16. The New York Jets desperately need a quarterback, and Buffalo Bills offensive assistant Chris Palmer reportedly "loves him [Paxton Lynch]," per Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News.

Alabama center Ryan Kelly has been bandied about as an option for the Lions, especially if they move back in the first round. According to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports, Detroit had better stay in the top 20 if Kelly is the target because the Washington Redskins have their eyes fixed on him.

7-Round Mock Draft

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

First round: Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor

The Lions don't address a true "position of need." Instead, they grab an incredibly strong defensive tackle who just turned 21 and has All-Pro potential.

Second round: Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan St.

In a twist, Detroit spends its first two picks restocking a defensive line that has lost some talent the past two seasons. Calhoun proved to have more athleticism than originally thought, giving Detroit a solid swing reserve behind Ziggy Ansah and Devin Taylor.

Third round: Avery Young, OT, Auburn

The draft party turns frat party as a legacy is added to the house. Willie Young's "little" brother projects to most as an offensive tackle, although some want to kick him inside. Whether he's a starter or depth, Young will prove valuable.

Fourth round: Graham Glasgow, OL, Michigan

Glasgow was an afterthought until he tore up the Shrine Bowl. That led to a Senior Bowl invite and a draft stock that's been rising ever since. He would immediately give Travis Swanson legitimate competition.

Fifth Round: Vernon Adams, QB, Oregon

For the past two months, it seemed destined that Kevin Hogan would end up in Allen Park. Now that Hogan's stock is rising to an unacceptable point for Bob Quinn, the underrated Adams should stick to the bottom of the roster.

Fifth round: DeAndre Houston-Carson, DB, William & Mary

Houston-Carson is a big defensive back who might need time to become a starter. He will, however, use his tackling prowess to stick on special teams until he is ready to take over.

Sixth round: David Morgan II, TE, UTSA

If Tim Wright was good, he wouldn't get a different color jersey every few months. Morgan looks to be a better version of Wright and is willing to block when called upon.

Sixth round: Blake Martinez, LB, Stanford

This is a pure special teams move. Martinez doesn't have the speed to become an every-down starter in the middle. He can provide depth while killing himself in the often-forgotten (a.k.a. "special") phase of the game.

Sixth round: Cody Core, WR, Ole Miss

Core is my favorite "sleeper" candidate in this draft. He's big (6'3") and fast enough (4.47 40) to become a valuable weapon in a growing stable of wide receivers. And, of course, he can contribute on special teams, having racked up 18 tackles at Ole Miss.

Seventh round: Deiondre' Hall, CB, Northern Iowa

The final pick of the 2016 draft hasn't proven he can stay in front of an NFL receiver. He does, however, have the long frame (6'2") that defensive coordinator Teryl Austin loves, giving him a chance to develop on the practice squad.

Brandon Alisoglu has covered the Detroit Lions for five years. You can find his work on About.com, Bleacher Report, Yahoo, CNN and others. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter @BrandonAlisoglu.