Those poor Detroit Lions.  A franchise that landed multiple top-three picks during the ultimate peak of the old rookie wage scale within the past decade.

That meant while the front office started to build around talent pieces like Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, due to the insane amount of money locked up under the rookie pay scale, finding loose change for pending free agents was like digging through the sofa cushions.  

Now, with Johnson deciding to hang up his cleats and last years release of Ndamukong Suh the front office has some more wiggle room to build a core for the future.  This all starts at the top with the newest general manager Bob Quinn who was brought in to take the reigns over for all personnel decisions.  

Quinn's first decision was to retain head coach Jim Caldwell.  The move seemed to be a decision based upon timing and a lack of big name options available.  Caldwell does bring a structured environment to the team and stability inside the locker room, although he could be on a short leesh this time around.   
 

1. Defensive Tackle

The Lions chose to part ways with Suh who at times was the most dominating interior presence in the league.  While the addition of Haloti Ngata helped ease the pain it was clear the trenches took a big step back last season lacking physicality.   

The front office should look to take advantage of one of the best defensive tackle classes in the past decade to find a young and talented player that can be a consistent disruption in the middle.  

Adding another cornerstone on the defensive line next to up and coming star Ziggy Ansah would make take pressure off the second and third levels of the defense helping the defense grow their old identity back.

2. Strong Safety

Glover Quin has quietly molded himself into one of the better free safeties in the league however, the team was unable to find anyone who could help balance out his skill-set to take advantage of his range and coverage ability.   

The team signed former New England Patriot Tavon Wilson to come in and start, but Wilson shares similar free safety traits to Quin putting the defensive scheme in jeopardy.  Don't be surprised if the front office looks to the draft feeling the solution to the problem still isn't currently on the roster.  

Drafting a player like Jeremy Cash from Duke would make sense as a day-two selection.  While he may not possess great coverage skills Cash was one of the most disruptive safeties in the nation in the box against the run, and getting into the backfield with 18.5 tackles for loss.

3. Offensive Tackle

In a league that has watched the offensive tackle play diminish and get swallowed up by freak pass-rushers off the edge, I for one think you could do a lot worse than Riley Rieff who is more than adequate on the left side.

Michael Ola on the other hand is not.  Ola was brought in from San Diego but can not be considered a long term replacement on the right side.  With a pure pocket passer like Matthew Stafford to protect, having consistent protection is crucial for the offensive gameplan to sync.

Ohio State’s Taylor Decker is one of the best tackle prospects in the entire draft, and while he may not have the feet for the left-side he is one of the biggest and nastiest men to play in the trenches.  Decker would make a ton of sense with the Lions first-round pick to help grow a new identity on the offensive side of the ball with his tenacity and desire for physical play.   

4. Linebacker

Losing Suh had huge impacts on the linebacking unit as the holes and space created to make plays and roam free quickly vanished like your a libido at a retirement home.  

The Lions haven't had great luck using early picks at the position as guys like Ernie Sims to Kyle Van Noy simply haven't lived up to the high expectations.  

Focusing on the positions above first and waiting until day-three for a guy like Deion Jones would help maximize the most out of the draft for the Lions.   

Flip on the tape and it's obvious LSU’s Jones is one of the most athletic linebackers of the class, only solidified by his blazing 4.38 40-yard dash at his pro day.

5. Wide Receiver

There might not have been a more critical loss this offseason for a team than Calvin Johnson retiring.  Not just the main cog inside the offense but the face of the franchise as well, the causality of Johnson on the roster was a crushing blow.

The team signed Marvin Jones from the Cincinnati Bengals for collateral damage however, in a league that has morphed into a pass-heavy system having more than two capable wideouts is now a necessity.  

The addition of Jones in unison with Golden Tate will buy the front office a year, maybe two, but drafting multiple prospects to start developing now should be in the back of Quinn’s mind during draft weekend.  

After grinding the tape TCU’s Josh Doctson could easily be justified in round-one, but if the team decides to wait then Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins and Southern Miss’ Mike Thomas would be outstanding consolation prizes later on.

Lions Mock Draft

1. (16) Taylor Decker, Offensive Tackle, Ohio State

2. (46) Jeremy Cash, Strong Safety, Duke

3. Traded in 2015 (Moved up to select Gabe Wright)

4. (111) Rashard Higgins, Wide Receiver, Colorado State

5. (151) Deion Jones, Linebacker, LSU

5. (169 Compensatory*) Mike Thomas, Wide Receiver, Southern Miss

6. (191) Jonathan Williams, Running Back, Arkansas

6. (202 Compensatory*) Nick Martin, Interior Offensive Line, Notre Dame

7. (236) Glenn Gronkowski, Tight End, Kansas State