Important takeaways: Lions meet with nine prospects at NFL Combine
The Detroit Lions met with nine of the top prospects competing at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell knew exactly what he was looking for at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In his media availability early in the week, Campbell mentioned how he values the meetings with the draft’s top prospects over what their workouts look like.
"I guess there is somewhat of a spectacle," Campbell said. "To me it's more, at this point, just to be able to sit with these guys. They get the medical during the week, but for us to be able to do these interviews is to me the biggest part of all this.
"It's not even the working out portion. To me, you grade them off the tape, you don't grade off somebody out here in pajamas, running the 40 with no defender around."
Dan Campbell truly is one of a kind.
Jokes aside, it’s evident that the Lions put an emphasis on these meetings. So let’s take a look at the nine players the team met with over the week.
- LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
- LB Trenton Simpson, Clemson
- S Jammie Robinson, Florida State
- QB Anthony Richardson, Florida
- OL Jordan McFadden, Clemson
- WR Quentin Johnston, Texas Christian
- WR Antoine Green, North Carolina
- WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State
- TE Sam LaPorta, Iowa
There are a couple of prospects that jump off the page.
Richardson is a player that generated the most buzz out of the combine. The six-foot-four gunslinger posted a 4.44 40-yards dash and made a handful of dazzling throws.
Detroit’s GM Brad Holmes made it known that the team is looking for depth behind Jared Goff at the quarterback position, so there could be something here.
Wide receiver Quentin Johnston out of TCU is another fascinating prospect. He made defensive backs look silly during the Horned Frogs’ National Championship Game run and would be a perfect replacement for D.J. Chark, who is an unrestricted free agent.
In total the Lions interviewed with six offensive players compared to just three defensive guys. With two picks in the first round (Nos. 6 & 18), Detroit must find two players who can create an instant impact, regardless of position.
Though the team has been geared towards building for the future, the Lions find themselves as a true contender for the NFC North title. This draft provides Campbell and Holmes another opportunity to remind teams around the league that the Lions are here to stay.
