This was the range for him. Some people had him as the #1 DT at the beginning of the process. I think he was only at the Senior Bowl for 1 day and didn't look very good, and people knocked him down a bit after that. Based on everything I've read there's some decent upside there, and he's the type of DT Patricia/Quinn never drafted. We have no one with his skill set.
In terms of rankings, people were all over the board with DTs this year. There isn't anyone that everyone really liked. Brugler liked him, though. I think Jeremiah did, too.
I think this is a very good pick, mainly because he is versatile enough to play across the line.I think there is actual upside with him.
Brugler 41. Detroit Lions: Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington My second-ranked defensive tackle, Onwuzurike is a disruptive player. He didn’t have great production in college (he was out of position as a nose), but his motor never shut down. As more of a one-gap penetrator, Onwuzurike will be a better pro in Detroit than college player due to his quickness, energy and play violence.
So Iove Nico in the 3rd, but the Lions need somebody who can play in the slot more than somebody who can get underthrown deep.
But hat tip to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who slotted Tavai fourth among all linebackers. Brugler is the only major analyst I can find who had Tavai sniffing Day 2.
He thought he could go in the second. If I recall he thought he had some talent but didn’t view him nearly as highly as we clearly did.
Well I'm out on Brugler, because nobody should have thought that fat, slow Tavai was ever going to be an NFL contributor.
Current best guess for who they like on the board for round 3... Dyami Brown Amari Rodgers Nick Bolton Baron Browning Jamar Johnson
We need LB and WR but I’m guessing we won’t reach for either position. This is definitely a multiple year process to get the roster functional, so I really think we are just going to keep taking the best players available and figure it out over time.
I have no clue what we're looking for at LB, but from what I've read Bolton is the kind of guy Campbell and Holmes probably loved the hell out of if they talked to him. I also think Browning could be a multi-use pick for them at LB, because some people think his best position is 3-4 OLB/edge rusher, while others think he can play MLB. Seems like the kind of guy they could mess around with for a year while Collins is here figuring out what he is down the road and then move from there.
I think I posted this in the draft thread earlier today. John Dorsey apparently has called Ballard, who used to work with him in KC, when the Colts are on the clock every year to fuck with him.
To send better players to us and to keep us from drafting one. Although I could maybe talk myself into Mond or Mills. Trask absolutely not and I'm glad he's gone.
I don’t want any QB at this point, but Trask would be the worst. I would rather watch a replay of us drafting Tabor.
Mond and Mills as least have a few starter traits where you can dream a bit. I don't get it with Trask at all.