2020 Detroit Lions draft class

Given the sad state of the franchise with a so called win now edict from Martha, the Lions were placed in a box of what they could do in this draft. Obviously, Bob was not going take a QB in the first round. Both Tua and Herbert are far from sure things. Tua was his injury history and Herbert just might not be that good. Taking Okudah was the easy pick. Great kid with leadership skills.

The second round was frustrating to me. Running backs have little value until later in the draft. Taking a RB is a short term fix. Investing in a WR or Defensive Lineman is a long term foundational piece. D'Andre Swift is the best RB prospect the Lions have drafted since Kevin Jones in 2004. Ameer ran 4.6 in the 40 and was a KOR and 3rd down guy. Kerryon came out of Auburn with injury concerns. Hopefully the Lions can get a good three years out of Swift.

Drafting the Lineman in rounds 3 and 4 are good foundational pieces. The Lions were not going to pay $10 mil a year for a guard. Okwara should bolster the pass rush and maybe a starter down the line. Later round picks have specific roles to play. Cephus is a special teams guy and slot receiver. Huntley is a gadget guy and return man. He gives the Lions some speed. Penisini is a run stuffer.

1st Round (3)


Jeff Okudah CB Ohio State 6011 205 4.48 41"

Top rated CB in the draft. Adapt at playing press man. Excellent tackler. Should start day one opposite Trufant. At Ohio State he played 41 games with 3 int 18 PBU. Advanced stats from PFF showed 58 targets with 27 complete. 282 yards 1 TD. (Darrell Stewart of MSU). He played mostly outside with only 71 slot snaps.

Elite prospect, fits a need, great kid.

Rookie Review:

Looked overmatched. Did not show the speed needed to be a starting CB. Disappointed as a tackler.

9 games 6 starts 44 tackles 3 PBU 1 int

2nd round (35)


D'Andre Swift RB Georgia 5082 212 4.48 35.5" 1001
440/2885/20 rush 73/666/5 rec

Top rated RB in the draft. Good blend of speed, quickness and power. Ran mostly out of the zone scheme. Solid receiver and the a very good pass protector. Had 7 fumbles at Georgia. A better prospect than Kerryon or Ameer.

Top RB prospect, good kid, not a lot of mileage.

Rookie Review:

Showed good speed and quickness. Can catch the ball. Ball security is a major concern.

3rd Round (67)


Julian Okwara Edge Notre Dame  6042 252 27 reps
45 games 15.5 sacks 24 TFL 4 FF 2int

Pure edge rusher. Could drop once in while. Long with 34.3" arms and 10.25" hands. Broke his leg in November but should be healthy if the season ever starts. Probably will play a situational pass rush early in his career. Could develop into a end or Jack LB.  23% pass rush win rate in 2019.

Talent, Captain at ND, fills a need, impact position.

Rookie Review:

Hurt basically the whole season. Has the tools but not the production.

3rd Round (75)

Jonah Jackson 6034 306 5.23 28 26" 802 7.83 5.02

Strong player who played at the Senior Bowl for the Lions. 33.5 " arms with 10.5" hands. Lions traded up to draft at at # 75. Should be in the mix to start at guard. Played three years at Rutgers. Team captain. Grad transfer to Ohio State. PFF stats gave up 1 sack and 9 hurries in 2019.

Strong player, team captain, experience with the Lions.

Rookie Review:

Foundational piece. Really solid NFL guard.

4th Round (121)



Logan Stenberg 6061 317 5.3 26" 808

Big guy with a nasty play style. I had a third round grade him off of film and the Senior Bowl. Lowered because of a poor combine. 32.5" arms 10.25" Hands. was flagged 24 times the last 2 years.
Only surrendered 1 hurry in 2019. Kentucky was a run based offense. Will have a chance to develop  into a starter.

Nasty player, strong, good run blocker

Rookie review:

Could not get on the field. Practice guys dressed over him.

5th round (166)


Quintez Cephus Wisconsin 6007 202 4.73 4.62 23 38.5" 1004 7.2 4.33
38 g 93/1496/13

A very poor man's Anquan Boldin. Very strong player. Great hands. Played both outside (451 snaps) and the slot (110 snaps) at Wisconsin. Slow so will have to spend most of time running the short routes. Good blocker and will play special teams. Sat out 2018 with legal issues. He was found not guilty on sexual assault.

Strong player, slot receiver, special teams guy

Rookie Review:

Showed some potential. Inconsistent hands and lacks speed.

5th round (172)


Jason Huntley RB New Mexico State 5084 190 4.4 21 39.5" 1011 7.25 4.25
46 games 374/2197/18 134/1119/7 rec 59/1521/5 KOR

Player with great speed. 5 KOR touchdowns. Will be a gadget guy. Had an excellent NFLPA game and blew up his pro day. The Lions lack speed on offense and he will bring some to the team.

Fast, Return guy, Gadget guy

Rookie Review:

Cut after training camp

6th round (197)



John Penisini DT Utah 6013 318 23 reps 25.5" 4.93
28 games  80t 15 TFL 5 sacks 2 FF

Run stopper. 90.6 run grade from pff. Had a strong Shrine game week. Played mostly the 3 technique at Utah but will play the nose in Detroit. Will compete with Atkins and Herron for a roster spot.

Strong run stuffer. Good value in the 6th.

Rookie Review:

Showed potential as a run stopper. Should be part of the interior rotation for the future.

7th round pick (235)



Jashon Cornell 6022 285
46 games 14 starts 63 t 7 sacks 13.5 TFl

Under the radar player. Did not go to the combine, all-star game nor have a pro day. I watched two films on him MSU and Indiana. Played the 3 technique. Appeared to have long arms. OSU slants their line a lot. He tried to cross the face of the guard. Has good quickness. Plays a little high. Probably will have try to play the Trey Flowers position. Not a run down 3 tech. Graduate degree from Ohio State. Will have to fight to make the roster.

Long arms, quick, smart.

Rookie Review:

Torn his Achilles in camp.

Free Agents


Hunter Bryant TE 6022 248 4.74 23 32.5 907 7.08 4.46
26 games 85/1394/5

Injury concerns dropped him from the draft. Is more like WR than TE. Very quick in his routes. Good hands. Can run after the catch. PFF had him as a 3rd round pick. Has a chance if healthy to make the roster. $60,000 guaranteed.

Rookie Review:

Hurt most the year. Showed potiential.

Jalen Elliott S Notre Dame 6004 205 4.8 15 34" 1005 6.87 4.3
51 games 172 tack 6 int 11 PBU

Played for the Lions at the Senior Bowl. Ran 4.8 at the combine dropping him out of the draft. Will battle for the 5th safety spot. Played mostly FS at Notre Dame. Does have some experience in the slot. Will have to make it on special teams and beat out CJ Moore and Dinson. Was on the practice squad for the entire 2020 season. Signed for 2021.



Jeremiah Dinson S Auburn 5111 189 4.71 13 33" 907 7.2 4.53
48 games 214 tackles 4 int 12 PBU

Fringe prospect. Neither great size nor speed. Played at the Shrine game. The Lions attended his pro day. Played mostly in the box at Auburn. Did match up in the slot for 143 snaps in 2019. Will have to make it on special teams. $80,000 guaranteed to sign.


Arryn Sippos P Auburn 6024 213 5.09
117/5150/44 ave

Australian. 27 years old. Came out as a junior. Will battle for the spot with Jack Fox.


Steven Wirtel LS Iowa State 6037 227 4.76 19 26" 1000 7.12 4.28
51 games 7 tackles

Snapped for the Lions at the Senior Bowl. Good athlete. Two long snappers on the roster. Was on the practice squad for all of 2020. Signed with the Chargers for 2021.


Bobby Price S Norfolk State 6030 205
42 games 229 tackles 7 int 30 PBU 4 FR

Long jumper at Norfolk Career best 25'10". Good size and speed. Reportedly ran 4.43 and jumped 43" 1100. Played in 2 games. Was signed for 2021 season.



Luke Sellers FB South Dakota State 6002 249 30.7" arms 9 " Hands

Blocking FB will compete with Nick Bawden. Plys in the Spring football league.

Detroit Lions Bob Quinn Free Agency Review

A review of the signings of Bob Quinn as the Lions GM:

2016:

Quinn stepped in having to replace Calvin. He signed Marvin Jones to a good deal.  Anquan helped the Lions reach the playoff with 8 touchdown catches. Andre Roberts was a solid return man.

Hits:



Tavon Wilson 56 g 39 st 275 t 3 int
Contract: 2 years $2.2 Mil
Extension: 2 year $ 5.8 Mil

Wilson has a solid contributor in his time in Detroit. Terrible in coverage but an excellent tackler in the box. Led the Lions in tackles in 2019.



WR Marvin Jones 53 g 51 st 213/3318/27 rec
Contract: 5 years $40 mil

Solid replacement for Calvin. Catches the ball in traffic. Good in the red zone. Only issue is with injuries. Ends his contract as the # 3 all-time in receiving touchdowns. 



WR Anquan Boldin 16 starts 67/584/8 rec
Contract: 1 year $2.75 mil

Played like a TE in the passing game. Moved the chains and scored 8 touchdowns.


WR Andre Roberts 16 g 1 st 14/188/1 rec 33/747 KR 20/246/2 PR
Contract: 1 year $760,000

Excellent return man and solid # 4 receiver. Made pro bowl after leaving Detroit.

Misses:



Stefan Charles 12 g 12 tackles
Contract: 1 year $1.75 mil

Signed to be a part of the 4-3 D line rotation. Did very little. Had a goalline stop vs. the Rams.



Johnson Bademosi 16 g 3 st 22t 1 int
Contract; 2 years 4.5 mil
Traded after year 1

Added for depth and special teams help. Really did not cover anybody. Got torched at Chicago when Slay was out. Traded to New England where he won a Super Bowl.

2017:

Quinn started off the 2017 offseason with a terrible free agent class. He compounded it with a terrible draft. This is a blueprint of to take a playoff team to a 3-13 team in two years.

Lang was good when healthy but played only 19 out of 36 games. . Wagner was complete bust. Spence and Washington were moved after one year. Hayden did not play well at all.

Decent



TJ Lang 19 starts
Contract: 3 years $28.5 mil
Retired in year 3 leaving $2.6 mil in dead money in 2019.
Played in only 19 out of 36 games. Was one of the most penalized lineman in 2017. Made the Pro Bowl on reputation. Only Lions guard to make the Pro Bowl since 1964 (John Gordy)

Misses:



Ricky Wagner 40 starts
Contract: 5 years $47.5 mil
Cut after three years leaving $5.8 mil in dead cap for 2020

Quinn made him the highest paid right tackle in the NFL. He struggled. Could not pass protect especially against the Vikings. Terrible run blocker.




Akeem Spence 16 g 11 st 39 t 3 sacks
Contract: 3 years $ 9 mil
Traded after year # 1

Signed to start at the 3 technique. Was ineffective. Traded to Miami after year # 1.




Cornelius Washington 15g 2 starts 24t 2.5 sacks
Contract: 2 years $5.825 mil

Signed to be part of the rotation at end. Never really added any pass rush. Cut after the season.



Dj Hayden 16 g 1 starts 44 tackles
Contract 1 year $3.75 mil

Ineffective as a cover guy. Did have a touchdown at Chicago.

2018:

Quinn was looking to switch to from 4-3 defense to the hybrid Patriots defense.
He did a horrible job. Grabbing two below average linebackers and a tackle that did not make it through the season. Blount was ineffective. When signing a back up guard is your best move that is not a good sign.

Decent:



Kenny Wiggins 30 games 13 starts
Contract: 2 years $ 5 mil
Extend 1 year $1.187 mil

Rotational guard who grades at below average. Cut during 2021



Levine Toilolo 15 g 10 st 21/263/1 rec
Contract: 1 year $1.5 mil

Started to play better late in the season. Had a good game vs. the Rams and caught a TD from Matt Prater.

The Misses:



Christian Jones 29 st 120 t 3 sacks
Contract: 2 years $6.35 Mil
Extend: 2 years $5.74 mil

Grades out as one of the worst LB in the NFL the first three years in Detroit. Signed an extension.



Devon Kennard 31g 30 st 102t 14 sacks
Contract: 3 years $17.25 mil
Cut after year 2 leaving $1.75 mil in dead money for 2020

Had a few big games and was a decent edge setter in the run game. Had the worst one on one pass rush win rate in the NFL in 2019.



LaGarette Blount 16 g 8 st 154/418/5 10/65 rec
Contract: 1 year $ 2 mil

One big game but struggled in the short yardage situation.




Sylvester Williams 6 g 4 st 6 tackles
Contract; 1 year $3.5 mil

Cut after 6 games.



Luke Willson 14g 8 st 13/87/0 rec
Contract: 1 year $2.5 mil

Didn't block or catch. Funny guy from Canada.

2019:

After terrible off seasons in 2017 & 2018, Quinn needed to add some players. Spent a lot money on Flowers, Coleman and James. Daniels was a late add, he did almost nothing.

Hits:




Trey Flowers 15 starts 52 t 7 sacks
Contract: 5 year $90 mil
Started slow due to injury. Played well when on the field. Committed a lot of penalties in crucial times.



Danny Amendola 15 g 10 st 62/678/1 rec
Contract: 1 year $4.5 mil
Extend 1 year $ 5 mil

Good signing. Can play the slot. Good work ethic guy for the youngsters. Made the cases to return in 2021

Misses:



Justin Coleman 16g 11 st 55t 1 int 13 PBU 3 FF
Contract: 4 years $36 mil

Started well but his lack of speed in evident. Cannot keep up with WR down field. Did force 3 fumbles.

One of the worst CB in the NFL.




Jesse James 16g 11 st 16/142/0
Contract: 4 years $22.6 mil

Almost non-extent in first two seasons. 



Rashaan Melvin 13g 12 st 66t 11 PBU
Contract: 1 year $2.15 mil

Below average corner. Did not get beat deep but could not cover the medium route.



Mike Daniels 9 g 2 st 9 tackles 1 sack
Contract: 1 year $8.1 mil

Injured twice during the season. Looks to be finished.



CJ Anderson  2 games 16/43/0
Contract: 1 Year $1.325

Lasted 2 games.

2020:

After being given a win now mandate, Quinn spent money on defense and OT. The Defensive Line actually looks worse on paper. Shelton, Williams had little impact. Vaitai will go down as one of the worst free agent signings in Lions history.

Danny Shelton
Contract 2 years $ 8 mil

Nick Williams
Contract 2 years $10 mil

Made little impact. Battled injury. Likely cap cut in 2021

Jamie Collins
Contract 3 years $ 30 mil

Lions only NFL level Linebacker. 

Desmond Trufant
Contract 2 years $ 20 mil
Played 6 games, finished 4. Struggled.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Contract 5 years $ 45 mil

One of the worst players in the NFL in 2020.

Jayron Kearse
Contract 1 year $ 2 mil

Did not make through the season. Suspended first 3 games.

Darryl Roberts
Contract 1 year $ 2 mil

Struggled with injury and coverage.

Chase Daniel
Contract 3 year $13 mil

Played poorly when he called upon. possible cap cut in 2021

Detroit Lions Bob Quinn trade review

Here are the results of the trades made by Lions GM Bob Quinn:

2017:

Traded Laken Tomlinson to the 49ers for a 5th round pick that used to get Damon Harrison.



Tomlinson 1st round pick in 2015. He played 32 games starting 24 in Detroit.



Snacks played 25 games in Detroit. 49 tackles 5.5 sacks

Tomlinson has been effective guard for the 49ers. Harrison played really well in 2018. Completely fell off in 2019 and was released.

Traded CB Jon Bademosi to the Patriots for a 6th round pick in 2019. That pick was used to trade up for S Will Harris in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft.


Bademosi played 16 games in Detroit. Starting 3 22 tackles 1 int

Bademosi won a super bowl.

Traded Kyle Van Noy for a swap of 6th round picks to the Patriots. Lions chose QB Brad Kaaya.




Van Noy played 30 games 7 starts 16 tackles 1 sack

Kaaya never played for the Lions. Van Noy became one of the better LBs in the NFL winning two Super Bowls.

2018

Traded DT Akeem Spence to the Dolphins for a 2019 7th round pick. Lions chose DT PJ Johnson


Spence played 16 games starting 11 39 tackles 3 sacks

Johnson never played for the Lions and Spence lasted one year in Miami.

Traded a 2020 7th round pick to the 49ers for LB Eli Harold. The pick became WR Jajuan Jennings



Harold played 13 games in Detroit in 2018. 10 tackles 4 sacks

Harold lasted one year in Detroit. Out of the league

2019

Lions trade a swap of 7th round picks in 2021 for QB David Blough. 



Blough started 5 games and lost them all.

Lions trade Quandre Diggs to the Seahawks for a 5th round pick in 2020. The Lions chose RB Jason Huntley. Diggs made the Por Bowl in 2020. Huntley was cut in training camp. 



Diggs played 65 games in Detroit starting 40. 215 tackles 6 int

Had 3 picks in 5 games in Seattle.


2020

Lions trade a 5th round pick to the Patriots for S Duron Harmon and 7th round pick.
Lions Chose DT Jason Cornell. Patriots traded pick which eventually ended up back to Lions.

Lions trade CB Darius Slay for 2020 3rd & 5th Round pick. The Lions took OG Jonah Jackson and WR Quintez Cephus.



Slay played 103 games in Detroit. Starting 94. 345 tackles 19 int 104 PBU