Draft Recap
The Lions might have reached a little on some of their picks, but got players that filled needs. BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is about as raw as a player can get, but has the tools to become a dominant pass rusher. Darius Slay was not the top CB on most draft boards when the Lions took him, but the team view Slay as a solid player that will be a good pro. The selection of Kentucky guard Larry Warford will help sure up Detroit’s suspect O-line.
Fantasy Impact
Don’t expect a huge immediate impact on the defense, as Ansah will take some time to fine tune his pass rush skills. Slay should step right into the lineup, but he’s not good enough to hide the other problems in the secondary.
Warford will be a boon on offense, helping to open up some rushing lanes for new tailback Reggie Bush in the run game. He can should also work to reduce some of the pounding which QB Matthew Stafford has been exposed to over the past few seasons. All told, the O-line gets a slight boost, but this offense begins and ends with the Stafford-to-Megatron connection.
Draft Results
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Ezekiel Ansah | DE | BYU |
| 2 | 36 | Darius Slay | CB | Mississippi St. |
| 3 | 65 | Larry Wardord | G | Kentucky |
| 4 | 132 | Devin Taylor | DE | South Carolina |
| 5 | 165 | Sam Martin | P | Appalachian St. |
| 6 | 171 | Corey Fuller | WR | Virginia Tech. |
| 6 | 199 | Theo Riddick | RB | Notre Dame |
| 7 | 211 | Michael Williams | TE | Alabama |
| 7 | 245 | Brandon Hepburn | LB | Florida A&M |