Detroit Lions Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades
The Detroit Lions didn't have the feel of a complete team when they entered the 2016 NFL draft.
The roster had a few weak spots and a gaping hole at defensive end. The offensive line needed work.
General manager Bob Quinn spent liberally to add talent and beef to the trenches, using four of his top five picks to bolster the lines. He also plugged the hole at safety with intriguing prospect Miles Killebrew.
The rookie general manager did a solid job in his first draft. Click through to find analysis and grades for each pick.
Detroit Lions Picks
1 of 11Inexplicably, the Lions left Chicago with 10 rookies. Considering Quinn's tenure with the trade-happy New England Patriots, it seemed impossible that Quinn could sit still with all of those picks.
But sit he did. Either the guy he coveted was always available or the offers weren't up to snuff.
Whatever the cause, the Lions have gotten much stouter in the trenches, and Miles Killebrew in the fourth gives Detroit a ton of value and fits a need.
The Lions added players in a few other positions of need with a backup quarterback, a reserve defensive end and even a long snapper late. Seventh-rounder Dwayne Washington could be a decent pickup if he learns to control his ball-security demons.
Round 1, Pick 16: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
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The Lions have problems along the offensive line and took a huge step toward fixing them with Taylor Decker.
The Ohio State offensive tackle was the ninth player on my last Lions-only big board before the draft. In fact, defensive tackle Andrew Billings was the only player left on the board ahead of him when Detroit made its pick.
Decker will battle with Michael Ola and Geoff Schwartz to start opposite Riley Reiff. While the rookie will take some lumps in the passing game, he will improve the running game enough to win the job.
Decker is a huge presence at 6'7" and 310 pounds, per NFL.com. He's strong at the point of attack and will blow holes through to the second level.
Detroit will have to give him some help on passing downs, however, especially with speed rushers. But Decker is a solid pick at a position that was in dire need of upgrading.
Grade: B+
Round 2, Pick 46: A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
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Apparently, Quinn wanted A'Shawn Robinson badly. There was little to no lag time between the pick prior and Herman Moore's declaration of the selection.
Robinson is a solid defensive tackle physically, standing 6'4", weighing 307 pounds and looking like somebody spliced together The Mountain from Game of Thrones and Rick Ross.
He has the power to match his thick yet surprisingly athletic body. When Haloti Ngata needs a rest, Robinson will step in, eat up blocks and make life easier on the linebackers.
There is still room for development, as he just turned 21 last month. He doesn't, however, match Andrew Billings' upside, which drops this pick's grade. Yet, Robinson should be a solid starter for years once Ngata moves on and will elevate the run defense immediately.
Grade: B
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Round 3, Pick 95: Graham Glasgow, C, Michgian
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Quinn apparently saw the same thing everyone else did: The Lions needed help in the trenches. And he was adamant about fixing it.
Glasgow really burst onto the scene with a strong performance at the Shrine Bowl. He followed that up with a stellar Senior Bowl week and worked his way into the third round.
Detroit gets a center who went to the Jim Harbaugh school of running the football. Glasgow excels using power in tight spaces, and his selection along with the addition of Taylor Decker likely means offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter is committed to using a power-rushing attack.
Plus, Glasgow has experience at guard. He might not be able to unseat Travis Swanson right away, but he'll provide depth all along the interior until he can earn a starting nod.
That's a solid return on investment in the third round, although a possible backup center over the options available at safety is a bit hard to swallow.
Grade: C+
Round 4, Pick 111: Miles Killebrew, S, Southern Utah
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For the fourth straight round, Quinn had his pick ready to rock with other teams apparently not offering enough to alter his plan.
Luckily for Detroit, that plan has all sorts of potential.
Killebrew has long been a favorite of this writer for Lions mock drafts. He will immediately contribute on special teams and is a legitimate contender to play extensively on defense as a "money linebacker," which is a hybrid of linebacker and strong safety.
He will be an absolute force in the box. He's 6'2", 217 pounds and rarely misses any tackles. In fact, Pro Football Focus' draft guide credits him with zero missed tackles, although they only charted 77 of his snaps.
Unfortunately, Killebrew will struggle if Detroit asks too much of him in the passing game too soon. But he's been compared to former first-rounder Deone Bucannon by Lance Zierlein of NFL.com for a reason, so grabbing him in the fourth round is an absolute steal.
Grade: A+
Round 5, Pick 151: Joe Dahl, OT, Washington State
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Quinn has let us all in on two elements of his plan through his first five picks.
First, he believes in building from the lines out. And second, he has no deference for the players who preceded him to Allen Park.
Joe Dahl's selection is a warning shot for Cornelius Lucas, Corey Robinson and Michael Ola. Obviously, Quinn doesn't feel comfortable with the trio—as he shouldn't—and he's looking to improve the offensive line depth.
Dahl finished the 2015 season with Pro Football Focus' highest grade for pass protection among offensive tackles. He also finished with a pass-blocking efficiency score that was only 0.8 lower than Laremy Tunsil's, according to PFF's draft guide.
However, he could end up moving inside, adding the versatility needed to make the final roster.
Injuries hurt Dahl's draft stock this year. If he can stay healthy, this could end up being a nice find in the fifth round.
Grade: B
Round 5, Pick 169: Antwione Williams, LB, Georgia Southern
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The tide turned back to the defense with the 169th pick, as the Lions drafted Georgia Southern linebacker Antwione Williams.
Detroit has a hole behind the starting duo of Tahir Whitehead and DeAndre Levy. The Lions won't use more than two linebackers most of the time, so Williams will probably start off behind both Whitehead and Josh Bynes in the middle.
Williams is a big boy (6'3", 245 lbs) and has solid athleticism. He finished 2015 with 107 tackles and four forced fumbles. He has a long way to go before he threatens to start, but so long as he takes well to Detroit's coaching, he should contribute on special teams and provide depth on defense.
Grade: C
Round 6, Pick 191: Jake Rudock, QB, Michigan
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Jake Rudock is a testament to week-by-week improvement.
The beginning of the season was rough. He threw three picks in the season-opening loss to Utah and tossed another one in each of the following two weeks.
But Rudock only threw four more the rest of the way, showing better confidence and pocket presence as he became more familiar with the system.
That last part is pertinent. Detroit is looking to maximize Matthew Stafford's talents. Rudock's ability to quickly learn and implement Jim Harbaugh's offense at Michigan created a lot of value to Quinn and his staff.
He probably won't be called upon too often for game action. Yet he would be capable of accurately dinking and dunking down the field, allowing the rest of the team to secure a win if necessary.
Allow me, however, to cut any bright-eyed optimists off quickly: Rudock bears no resemblance to another former sixth-rounder from Michigan.
Grade: C-
Round 6, Pick 202: Anthony Zettel, DL, Penn State
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Defensive end was arguably one of Detroit's biggest needs entering the draft, and it wasn't addressed until the sixth round. There's still work to be done here.
Anthony Zettel mostly played defensive tackle in college but will likely be handling the closed end duties in Detroit behind Devin Taylor.
Zettel has the size (6'7", 277 lbs) to handle the job. His main task will be setting the edge against the run and likely using his versatility to rotate throughout the line in a reserve capacity.
The Lions won't rely on Zettel's pass rushing, though. He doesn't have the athleticism to create disruptive havoc at the next level.
Grade: C
Round 6, Pick 210: Jimmy Landes, LS, Baylor
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There's not much to be said for drafting a long snapper in the sixth round. Well, except that Quinn must have liked Jimmy Landes.
The Lions have employed Don Muhlbach at the position since 2004. There haven't been any notable issues over that time.
Yet Detroit pulled the trigger on Landes in the sixth round. The full scouting report on him is he had no issues during the 2015 campaign.
Other than an incredible snap into a garbage can, there doesn't seem to be a reason for wasting a pick on a long snapper. That's why we have undrafted free agency.
Grade: D
Round 7, Pick 236: Dwayne Washington, RB, Washington
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When it seemed that maybe Zach Zenner could exhale, the pressure was turned up with Detroit's last pick.
Dwayne Washington fits the mold of this draft. He's a huge running back at 6'2" and 226 pounds, but he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at his pro day, per NFL.com.
His combination of size and athleticism is enticing. However, he had 10 fumbles in just 227 carries, which is the quickest way for a running back to lose his job.
For Washington, he still has to beat out Zenner and George Winn before he gets one to lose. But his potential is enough to warrant a decent grade to round out the draft.
Grade: B-
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.
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