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2017 NFL Draft analysis: Detroit Lions

By The Sports Xchange
View of the art museum steps prior to prospects walking the red carpet before the 2017 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater in Philadelphia, PA on April 27, 2017. Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI
View of the art museum steps prior to prospects walking the red carpet before the 2017 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater in Philadelphia, PA on April 27, 2017. Photo by Derik Hamilton/UPI | License Photo

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn said the Lions are comfortable with their current running back group of Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Zach Zenner and Dwayne Washington as they get ready for the start of Organized Team Activities next month.

The Lions did not take a running back with any of their nine draft picks, and Quinn said Abdullah, who's returning from season-ending foot surgery, will enter the season as the starter.

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"I feel pretty good about the position," Quinn said. "There were a couple running backs that we looked at in the middle part of the draft, but just no one felt that anyone was going to come in and really unseat any of the guys that we have on our roster, so I feel good about that spot."

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Abdullah is taking part in offseason workouts with the Lions, while Riddick still is rehabbing from double wrist surgery.

How the Lions drafted:

Round 1/21 - Jarrad Davis, LB, 6-1, 238, Florida

The Lions passed on Reuben Foster to take the high-character Davis in the first round. Davis, a team captain at Florida who's been unanimously praised for his work ethic, should start at middle or weak-side linebacker as a rookie and immediately upgrades the Lions' weakest position.

Round 2/53 - Teez Tabor, CB, 6-0, 199, Florida

Tabor fell to the second round after running slow 40-yard dash times at the Combine and his pro day, but general manager Bob Quinn said he values instincts and "reactionary athleticism" more than pure speed. Tabor was one of the best cover cornerbacks in college football the last two years, and the Lions are comfortable with character issues that led to his suspension in college. He'll have to earn a starting job, however, as the Lions return Darius Slay and Nevin Lawson and signed DJ Hayden in free agency.

Round 3/96 - Kenny Golladay, WR, 6-4, 218, Northern Illinois

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The Lions traded out of their original pick, No. 85, after a run on defensive players they liked earlier in the round. In Golladay, they took a big target who is still growing into his body after a late growth spurt and should be able to help in the red zone.

Round 4/124 - Jalen Reeves-Maybin, OLB, 6-0, 230, Tennessee

Quinn said the Lions had 10 to 15 players targeted at the start of Round 4 - they had the 18th pick in the round - including Reeves-Maybin. The cousin of MLB outfielder Cameron Maybin, Reeves-Maybin will play outside linebacker for the Lions and should be a core special-teams player as a rookie.

Round 4/127 - Michael Roberts, TE, 6-4, 270, Toledo

The Lions went into the draft knowing they had to add a tight end to complement starter Eric Ebron and they took one of the biggest bodies at the position in the draft. Roberts scored an amazing 17 touchdowns as a red-zone threat at Toledo last year. He's not a polished route-runner, but he has huge hands that make him a threat as a receiver.

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Round 5/165 - Jamal Agnew, CB, 5-10, 185, San Diego

Agnew is a slot-only cornerback because of his size, but he showed exceptional ball skills in college and convinced the Lions he had NFL potential with a solid workout at his pro day, where he twice ran sub-4.4-second 40s. Agnew also can return punts, though he has a lot of work to do in that area if he's going to win the job this fall.

Round 6/205 - Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT, 6-3, 280, Arkansas

Ledbetter played both end and tackle at Arkansas, but Quinn said the Lions will try him as an interior lineman when he gets to town. Ledbetter has good bloodlines - his father was a draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - but he lacks polish after spending two seasons in junior college.

Round 6/215 - Brad Kaaya, QB, 6-4, 214, Miami

The Lions drafted a quarterback in the sixth round for the second straight year, and Quinn said this was a case of Kaaya standing apart on their board with his draft grade when the Lions were on the clock. A three-year starter at Miami, Kaaya comes from a pro-style offense and was recruited by Lions tight ends coach Al Golden. He should compete for the No. 2 job behind Matthew Stafford with Jake Rudock.

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Round 7/250 - Pat O'Connor, DE, 6-4, 270, Eastern Michigan

O'Connor is an athletic pass rusher who missed the 2015 season with an injury. He'll have an uphill battle to earn a roster spot, but was an underappreciated playmaker in the Mid-American Conference, totaling 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles in his last two seasons on the field.

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