Winning on NFL Draft weekend doesn’t always equate to winning in the regular season, but it’s much harder to win in November if the team doesn’t have a strong April. For the Detroit Lions and GM Bob Quinn, there are a few things they need to do to pull out a “W” from the 2020 NFL Draft weekend.
- Draft an NFL-ready cornerback
- Beef up the interior defensive line
- Add at least one wide receiver with long-term starting potential
- Inject a speed component to the pass rush
Check those four boxes in some fashion and Lions fans should be happy. Because of the style of defense coach Matt Patricia schemes, the cornerback is the most important position on the field and should be regarded as such. The means by which they check those boxes (order, trades, specific players) are not as critical as checking them.
How can Quinn and the Lions take a loss this weekend? Drafting a first-round quarterback ensures the team will not be appreciably better on the field than it was in 2019. Spending a pick before the fourth round on offensive guard, a position the regime clearly doesn’t value, would be a mixed message that proves there is no real plan. And drafting a specialist of any sort before the 200th pick, even though there is an underrated need to replace Sam Martin as both the punter and kickoff specialist.