Early in the NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions may choose to focus on the defensive end of the ball.
Throughout the season, coordinator Aaron Glenn’s team had trouble finding the ideal balance between rush and coverage. Consequently, they might target the defensive line and secondary early in the draft.
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Detroit may take into consideration two Missouri defenders in the draft: defensive end Darius Robinson and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Ahead of the NFL Combine, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah discussed both players in-depth on a recent conference call. With Robinson, he compared the defender to New Orleans’ Cam Jordan, who has carved out an amazing NFL career.
“No, I think there’s pass rush there. He was kind of in that awkward place where, they were trying to figure out at Missouri, is he going to be an inside player or outside person? as he is larger,” Jeremiah remarked. “Cam Jordan is a name that comes up just based on body type.” Because he was such an athlete, I recall watching Cam Jordan at Cal work out and run with the skill players. There’s this guy who weighs 286 pounds and he can move like that.
Robinson is from Canton, so he has ties to Michigan. Jeremiah thinks he’s a better player playing up on the edge rather than lining up inside because of his strength and toughness.
Consequently, his worth can rise further during the pre-draft round.
“I felt that he was more effective as a fit on the outside, as he can stand tall on the edge, burst through your chest with strength, and close effectively from behind,” Jeremiah said. “I really felt that the Senior Bowl demonstrated how much the larger alignment with him helped release him. He therefore strikes me as someone who will probably make it big in his 20s. And I believe he is deserving because he has the capacity to operate in that area.
In contrast, Rakestraw is regarded as a strong, powerful defender with a lot of promise as a boundary corner. Even while his numbers aren’t very impressive, his toughness at the line of scrimmage and tackle skills make him an intriguing option for the Lions.
“Yes, I believe he is in that range. Jeremiah said, “I have him a little bit higher than that.” “I know that when I talk to teams, I have a slightly different opinion of him than some other teams do, but it’s true that he plays with a lot of toughness, feistiness, aggression, energy, and passion. Indeed, he is a perfect fit for Detroit.
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The expert selected Zach Frazier, an offensive lineman from West Virginia, with the 29th overall pick in his most recent mock draft. Exploring the blocker’s past, Jeremiah said that the combination of his raw strength and wrestling experience made him another excellent addition to Dan Campbell’s squad.
“Looking at the center from West Virginia, I was giving them Frazier for almost the same reason. because the man is a four-time wrestler state champion. He’s quite physically fit, Jeremiah remarked. “The best thing they’ve done in Detroit is that he plays that nasty style and finishes guys.” Despite all the talent they have added, I believe the most important thing they have done is developed a genuine sense of self and mission. They went out and looked for men that fit, having established that goal from the start. Both of those men seem like players that the Detroit Lions would want.
laying the groundwork
The immediate reaction to the Lions’ 2023 rookie class was harsh criticism, as Holmes made unexpected choices.
But in the end, the group produced a historically high caliber of work, especially in the first four selections. By the end of the season, all four were starting players and were crucial to the team’s push for the NFC Championship.
The fact that linebacker and running back, the positions Holmes pursued in the first round, aren’t seen to be very valuable, is what first made the choices confusing. Therefore, some people thought it was a reach to draft Jahmyr Gibbs and Jack Campbell.
A year later, these selections proved to be just what the Lions required. One well-known NFL Draft analyst, though, does not believe that other teams will take Holmes’ lead and stop caring about traditional positional worth.
Jeremiah made the observation that Holmes’s first two draft draft successes directly influenced the Lions’ 2023 decisions.
“We’ve paid a lot of attention to their refusal to adopt those ‘non-valued’ positions, but we’ve overlooked the reality that, yes, you can go ahead and do that once you’ve established the foundation,” Jeremiah stated. “What Brad and those others accomplished earlier to widen the line of scrimmage on both sides made that draft successful.
The quarterback was on board. They struck gold with the wide receiver, laying the groundwork for the pricey, elite positions beforehand, Jeremiah added. “That gave them a significant advantage over the other teams in the league, allowing them to take advantage of opportunities to score runs, hit home runs with the tight end, and intercept passes from the linebacker. Once the foundation is in place, you can accomplish those tasks.
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