So, day 1 is in the books, and Detroit surprised absolutely no-one in selected Jeff Okudah (CB, Ohio State) at No.3.
A little more about our new player:
Physically, he's 6'1, 200lb.
In his college career he played 35 games, logging 83 total tackles (64 solo), including 1 tackle for a loss. He had no interceptions in the first two years, but recorded 3 in 2019 (2nd in the Big Ten). He had 18 passes defended (9 in 2019, 5th in the Big Ten), 2 fumble recoveries and one forced fumble and was a unanimous Consensus All-American in 2019.
Here's some highlights:
It's clear from watching this that he's got terrific ability in man-to-man coverage, and he's got the football IQ to know when the ball is coming because his anticipation is excellent. He's able to shift from side to side because he's got very light feet and he's an excellent tackler. Detroit are getting a hell of a player.
He's was rated the no.1 cornerback in the draft and filled the joint-greatest position of need, alongside Edge and possibly makes the Lions DBs core one of the best in the league, with Okudah, Trufant, Coleman and Oruwariye at CB, and Harmon, Walker and Harris at safety.
Draft grade: A
Reportedly there were no trade offers for the number 3 pick, and so while we hoped for a trade down and still pick up Okudah at 5 or 6, we picked the best player on the board at the greatest position of need. Well done Bob Quinn.
Day 2:
Positions of need:
Edge
IOL/OT
RB2
IDL
Day 2 picks:
35
67
85
Now Okudah is locked in, we can look at who is left on the board in the positions of need (numbers refer to average draft pick number per ESPN's draft prediction model)
Edge:
Yetur Gross-Matos (Penn State), 28.3
A.J.Epenesa (Penn State), 30.6
Zack Baun (Wisconsin), 32.9
Josh Uche (Baylor), 57.8
Marlon Davidson (Auburn), 58.6
Julian Okwara (Notre Dame), 66.1
Darrell Taylor (Tennessee), 112.9
IOL:
Netane Muti (Fresno State), 67.4
Robert Hunt (Louisiana), 117.7
Damien Lewis (LSU), 118.3
Ben Bredeson (Michigan), 122.0
OT (included in the case that Detroit shift Vaitai to RG, or a drafted tackle to guard)
Josh Jones (Houston), 30.5
Ezra Cleveland (Boise State), 68.7
Lucas Niang (TCU) 110.7
Trey Adams (Washington), 114.9
RB
D'Andre Swift (Georgia), 35.4
Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin), 37.0
J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State), 51.2
IDL
Ross Blacklock (TCU), 30.5
Neville Gallimore (Oklahoma), 46.1
Justin Madubuike (Texas A&M), 54.0
Jordan Elliott (Missouri), 67.1
Pick 35:
The biggest need is Edge, and there are 3 value picks at the top of the board, and Detroit have the 3rd pick. So, we can take Gross-Matos, Epenesa or Baun knowing it's a good pick filling a position of need.
My pick is Epenesa. I've wanted him here since the beginning but feared he would go in the 1st.
Pick 67:
The biggest needs are now IDL and RB2. My analysis of Bob Quinn suggests that he would consider RB2 a low priority - we already have plenty on the roster and there will be some quality in free agency that I think we will pick up who we can on day 3.
The natural fit therefore at this pick is Joran Elliott from Missouri.
Pick 85:
At this point, Detroit are picking the best player available.
Ash, thank you so much for doing these. You and the rest of the ROTL UK gang are fantastic!
Greetings, I was glad to listen to your interesting interview. The season went really well. I liked the quality of your broadcast, which application did you use for this? Is it on this list? I just want to do live broadcasts