Prior to last years draft, the Detroit Free Press talked with former front office member Tony Softli and asked him to talk about three running backs and three wide receivers the Lions could target in the draft. According to Dave Birkett at the Freep, Mikel Leshoure and Titus Young were on that list and later drafted by the club.
Softli worked alongside offensive coordinator Scott Linehan when they were in St. Louis so it’s assumed he may have a good feel as to what type of players the players could be looking for. And with that said, Birkett asked Softli once again who the Lions may target as the 2012 draft looms closer.
At running back: Washington’s Chris Polk, Texas A&M’s Cyrus Gray and Oregon’s LaMichael James. At wide receiver: Appalachian St.’s Brian Quick, Arkansas’ Joe Adams and Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles.
If healthy the Lions could be deep at running back and very deep at the wide receiver so it’s probably safe to say the Lions won’t use a first round pick at either position.
Furthermore, here are some different draft scenario’s that ESPN’s Todd McShay highlight’s for the Lions…
“Scenario 1: Upgrade at corner if Stephon Gilmore and Dre Kirkpatrick are on the board.
Scenario 2: Take the best available pass-rusher, which in this case is DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw. The Lions could continue to build their defensive line as the strength of the team with Upshaw’s power and pass-rush ability.
Scenario 3: Detroit needs to keep Stafford upright, and Mike Adams has the size, agility and length teams look for in a left tackle. Consistency is a question, but Adams has top-15 talent, and having a veteran tackle such as Jeff Backus to learn from could help him maximize his talent.
Scenario 4: Fill a need at corner with Janoris Jenkins, who would be a gamble but is the second-best cover corner in the draft.”
Ref: ESPN, Detroit Free Press