SPORTS

2017 NFL draft: Five fits for the Detroit Lions in first round

Drafting any of these 5 players would help the Lions immediately on defense

Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Bob Quinn invoked the old “Best Player Available” line when asked about his draft strategy last week, but it makes sense given the current composition of the Lions’ roster. The Lions have solid depth at most spots, but not enough front-line players. They could take nearly any position in Round 1 of the draft. Free Press sports writer Dave Birkett presents five players who would fit the Lions if they’re available at pick No. 21:

Jarrad Davis

Position: LB

College: Florida

Vitals: 6-1, 238 pounds

Scouting report: Davis was the leader of a talented Florida defense the past two years, totaling 158 tackles despite missing time as a senior with a high-ankle sprain. That injury kept Davis out of the combine, but he impressed at his pro day workout by running in the high-4.5/low-4.6 range in the 40-yard dash and posting a 38.5-inch vertical (better than every LB at the combine). As productive as Davis is on the field, scouts rave even more about him in the locker room. Given Quinn’s stated desire to “not only improve the players on the field, but improve the overall locker room,” Davis would be an ideal fit.

He said it: “From a talent standpoint, Jarrad Davis is a first-round player. From an intangible standpoint, he’s top five in the class. He’s a player that loves the game. You can see the passion and just energy that he has for the game when you study him on tape, and then you talk to people around the Florida program and scouts that have been evaluating him and doing the background, there’s nothing but positives when it comes to Davis. Now, durability’s going to be the only thing, where you look at the issues he’s had. How do teams with their medical process, what do they think of him in terms of long term? Is the knee injury (from 2014) a concern? Is he going to be able to stay on the field? I think that’s the biggest thing. But if he checks out medically, to me Davis (is a first-round pick).” — ESPN analyst Todd McShay

Reuben Foster

Position: LB

College: Alabama

Vitals: 6-0, 229

Scouting report: On talent alone, Foster is one of the 10 best players in the draft. He’s a violent, vicious hitter who starred on the best defense in college football. He’ll likely play as a weakside linebacker in the NFL. And if it weren’t for a host of off-field questions, there wouldn’t be a chance he’d make it to 21. The Lions brought Foster in for a predraft visit a week ago. He’s recovering from shoulder surgery that will keep him out till training camp, reportedly failed a drug test at the combine and once was at the scene but not involved in a triple-shooting. He’s a huge risk-reward prospect.

He said it: “This is an extremely explosive linebacker, a tackling machine. Can play sideline to sideline. There’s no concern about you have to substitute for him on third down. He’s a four-down player in the NFL because he can also play special teams, especially early on as a rookie. So there’s a lot to like with the physical ability that Reuben brings to the table. I think from a club perspective, he did have the shoulder surgery. ... I’ve been told and my sources say that he’s made good progress and should be ready to go by training camp and certainly by the beginning of the season. ... But the clubs I’ve spoken to in that 10-to-20 range have told me that they are very interested in him, that they would still take him regardless of his shoulder.” — Senior Bowl executive director Phil Savage

Taco Charlton

Position: DE

College: Michigan

Vitals: 6-6, 277

Scouting report: Charlton has the size and length the Lions like in their defensive ends, but he’s a notch below some of the other edge rushers in this class when it comes to athletic ability. He improved on his 4.92-second 40-yard dash time at his pro day, but still projects as a 3-4 defensive end or left end in a 4-3 scheme. At Michigan, Charlton wasn’t as consistently productive as scouts thought he should have been given his frame, but he closed the season on a tear with six sacks in his final five games.

He said it: “He’s intriguing. I wonder why he didn’t play more football prior to this year. He’s got length, he’s got power, he’s got athletic ability. He doesn’t have the twitch. Like, I wanted him to be (Bengals defensive end) Carlos Dunlap, ’cause they’re a very similar size. Dunlap ran 4.72, Charlton ran 4.92. So what you see on tape is what I saw at the combine where he doesn’t quite have the twitch of an elite edge rusher. So I think he’s more of a base 4-3 end, and there’s nothing wrong with that. He’s going to be a good football player that plays eight to 10 years in the league and I’ve got a second-round grade on him.” — NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock

Charles Harris

Position: DE

College: Missouri

Vitals: 6-3, 253

Scouting report: Harris doesn’t have the same size or length as Charlton, but he’s a toolsy edge rusher who posted 16 sacks and 30 1/2 tackles for loss while playing in the SEC the last two seasons. Like Charlton, he didn’t run a great 40 time (4.82 seconds), but he had an adequate 10-yard split (1.65 seconds) and is considered to have good bend coming off the edge. He’s a fit in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, though he’d be challenged to fill the Lions’ closed-end role because of his size. Still, top-flight pass rushers aren’t easy to come by and he’d make sense at 21.

He said it: “That first step. You talk to offensive linemen, the thing that bothers offensive tackles the most is speed. Speed is the most important thing and Harris has an explosive first step, really good closing speed. And I think Harris opposite (Ziggy) Ansah would be a guy that would give them that extra pass rusher, that No. 2 pass rusher instead of just having it all on Ansah to get the job done and get after the quarterback. I think athletically and speed-wise he has the edge over (Tennessee’s Derek) Barnett, and certainly Charlton.” — ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

Gareon Conley

Position: CB

College: Ohio State

Vitals: 6-0, 195

Scouting report: This is the strongest cornerback class in recent memory, and Conley is considered one of the safest players at the position in the draft. His college teammate, Marshon Lattimore, is expected to be the first corner off the board, and some teams will prefer Washington’s Kevin King, Alabama’s Marlon Humphrey or perhaps Florida’s Quincy Wilson. But Conley is a two-year starter with six career interceptions who has the requisite size, speed and length to excel in the NFL. He might not make it to 21, but if he does, the Lions have to consider him to pair with Darius Slay.

He said it: “I think Conley falls right up under (Lattimore as the best cornerback in class). Conley to me is a solid, dependable, blue-collar type corner, a guy that can do all of the things that you look for from a skill set. Can press, can play off, is a willing tackler, has ball skills. Those guys have a tendency to play for a long time in the league, but there are a number of guys that have similar skill sets (in the class).” — NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!