Afternoon Lions Links for Friday 5-1-15

Lions Articles:

National Media:

Five thoughts on Lions' first night of draft:  http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/16862/five-thoughts-on-the-detroit-lions-first-night-of-the-2015-nfl-draft
 
The Detroit Lions needed to add veteran lineman Manny Ramirez:  http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/16857/the-detroit-lions-needed-to-add-veteran-lineman-manny-ramirez

2015 NFL Draft Observations: RB run coming; Niners, Lions win with deals (The teams that were able to trade down did well. And, with Nelson Agholor gone, Detroit was able to trade down with Denver, get an immediate starter on the offensive line -- Manny Ramirez -- and then take another offensive lineman with its pick. Seeing how Dallas took the next step after rebuilding its line may have caught the Lions' attention.):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/25170248/nfl-draft-observations-rb-run-coming-niners-lions-win-with-deals

Local Media:

Analysis: Detroit Lions have stockpiled draft picks this year, and especially in 2016:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/05/analysis_detroit_lions_has_sto.html

Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew on Manny Ramirez: 'I don't know why we ever let him go':   http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/05/martin_mayhew_i_dont_know_why.html

Column: It might not have been sexy, but Detroit Lions had a good first day in NFL draft:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/05/column_it_might_not_have_been.html

Lions Draft: Good Day One, What About Day Two? Dream Scenario Requires A Trade:  http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/05/01/lions-draft-good-day-one-what-about-day-two-dream-scenario-requires-a-trade/

Rob Parker: Lions' draft pick, Tigers' big series:  http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/parkersconfidential/rob-parker-lions-draft-pick-tigers-big-series/32685900

Friday Lions Draft Thoughts:  http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2015/05/friday-lions-draft-thoughts/

Laken Tomlinson Articles:

Five facts: Laken Tomlinson:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/article-1/Five-facts-Laken-Tomlinson/e2382971-d405-4c54-9a9e-0af779456693

National opinion: Lions made a pretty good pick:  http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/05/01/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-grades/26694361/

Draft ticker: Lions' Tomlinson calls it 'a Disney movie':  http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/05/01/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-tomlinson/26682927/

Detroit Lions first-round pick Laken Tomlinson is one original dude:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/05/detroit_lions_first-round_pick.html

Draft captures long journey for Tomlinson, Duke:  http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/81735/draft-captures-long-journey-for-tomlinson-duke

PFF's  2015 Draft Reaction Blog, Day 1 (28: Detroit Lions - Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke: We had Tomlinson going in the first in our mock draft but even we’re a little surprised with this move. Detroit have really added some bodies to their offensive line today and potentially set themselves up for the long term at the guard spot. Tomlinson is an incredibly powerful blocker who just generates movement. That’s why he finished with the second highest grade of all Power-5 tackles, allowing just four pressures all year and demonstrating an ability to hurt linebackers and caved in defensive tackles. He’s going to have to deal with much tougher competition, but we’re excited to see how he handles it.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/04/30/2015-draft-reaction-blog-day-1/

2015 Draft Articles:

TWENTYMAN: Who fits the Lions on Day 2?:  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-insider/article-1/TWENTYMAN-Who-fits-the-Lions-on-Day-2/b711b86b-dcf1-4f8f-8099-05151f6b2ae9

Film review: RBs still available to Lions vary in style:  http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/05/01/nfl-draft-detroit-lions/26703271/
NFL draft: Day 2 possibilities for the Lions:  http://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/04/30/detroit-lions-day-2-draft/26683785/

Day 2 draft options for the Lions:  http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/05/01/nfl-lions-draft-day-two/26688583/

10 prospects to watch for Detroit Lions on Day 2 of the 2015 NFL draft:  http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2015/05/10_prospects_to_watch_for_detr.html

Six things to watch for Lions on Day 2:  http://espn.go.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/16867/six-things-to-watch-on-day-2-of-the-2015-nfl-draft-for-the-detroit-lions

Randy Gregory on falling out of first round: 'I let my family down':  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000489634/article/randy-gregory-on-falling-out-of-first-round-i-let-my-family-down

Greg Cosell's draft preview: 10 Day 2 and 3 prospects who provide good value:  http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/greg-cosell-s-draft-preview--10-day-2-and-3-prospects-who-provide-good-value-162227095.html

ESPN's NFL Draft ratings down 25 percent from last year:  http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-05-01/2015-nfl-draft-tv-ratings-down-25-percent-espn-jameis-winston-marcus-mariota

The most pressing questions for Day 2 of 2015 NFL Draft:  http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2015-05-01/nfl-draft-2015-day-2-preview-storyline-second-third-rounds-randy-gregory-dorial-green-beckham-bryce-petty-lael-collins

PFF's Top 10 Remaining:  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/01/top-10-still-on-the-board/

Mock Drafts:

CBS' Dane Brugler's Round 2 Mock Draft (54. Detroit Lions -- Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana: Running back isn't the team's top need, but adding Coleman to the backfield with Joique Bell and Theo Riddick only makes the offense stronger.):  http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25169755/nfl-draft-titans-address-wr-in-second-round-mock-draft

PFT's Second Round 2 Mock Draft (54. Lions: RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska):   http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/05/01/pfts-2015-second-round-mock-draft/

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein's Round 2 Mock Draft (54. Detroit Lions -- T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh: Long fall for Clemmings, but a good spot for him if he ends up this far down the second-round board.):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000489650/article/round-2-nfl-mock-draft-vikings-get-dorial-greenbeckham

SI's Don Banks Round 2 Mock Draft (Pick 54 DT Jordan Phillips: The Lions need more than just newly acquired veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata—who’s in the final year of his contract—to help replace the departed Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in the defensive interior.):  http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/05/01/2015-nfl-mock-draft-round-2

Detroit Lions Draft Second and Third Round Mock Draft (54. Detroit Lions: Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma: This would be a gigantic steal that would help ease the pain of the departure of Suh. 88. Detroit Lions: Jeremiah Poutasi, OT/G, Utah):  http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2015/05/2nd-and-3rd-round-mock-draft/

CFF's Second Round Mock Draft (54. Detroit Lions – Michael Bennett, DT, Ohio State: The Lions address the interior defensive line with one of the better pass rushers in the class. He’s a classic 3-tech, capable of getting upfield and disrupting the offense.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/05/01/cff-2nd-round-mock/

USA Today Round 2 Mock Draft (54. Detroit Lions — Florida State CB Ronald Darby: One way to compensate for the departure of irreplaceable DT Ndamukong Suh is to enlist more capable cover guys to give the new-look D-line more time to apply pressure. Darby owns excellent speed.):  http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2015/05/01/round-2-mock-draft-landon-collins/26692991/

Grades:

NBCChicago grades the NFC North (The Lions got the highest grade.  Detroit Lions: B+: The Lions had the best night out of anyone in the NFC North as they not only were able to bolster their offensive line with Manny Ramirez and Laken Tomlinson, but they also grabbed a couple more draft picks in the process as they made a swap with the Denver Broncos to move down five spots in the first round. Sure, the Lions have some holes that they still need to fill (defensive tackle immediately springs to mind), but giving Matthew Stafford more time in the pocket was worth the sacrifice. Ramirez is an excellent player that is sure to fit in well on that line, and Tomlinson is one of the smartest and most adaptable linemen in this draft class. The Lions could’ve potentially gone for Malcolm Brown instead in the draft, but Tomlinson also makes sense, so we won’t ding them for that choice.):  http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/grizzly-detail/NFL-Draft-Grading-the-NFC-North-After-Day-One--302147851.html

2015 NFL Draft Trade Grades (Lions get a B+, Broncos get a B+:  Lions trade No. 23 to Broncos for No. 28, 143 (5th), 2016 5th-rounder, Manny Ramirez - This seems like a lot to move up just five spots in the 20s, but unlike the Chargers, I can understand why the Broncos did it. There were just too many teams that could've taken Shane Ray - Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas - before the 28th-overall selection. Ray was a steal; he was once a projected top-10 selection, but character issues made him fall. The Broncos are desperate to win now, so it's understandable why they would not only take a risk, but move a lineman and two fifth-rounders just to get a talented prospect. The Lions, meanwhile, had their eye on improving the offensive line. They added Manny Ramirez via this trade and Laken Tomlinson five spots later. Tomlinson was still a slight reach at that point, but I like that Detroit moved down rather than take their guy extremely prematurely. I feel like both teams won this trade. It made sense to each franchise, and both the Lions and Broncos figure to benefit.):   http://walterfootball.com/draft2015tradegrades.php

Video:

National Media:

Charley Casserly discussed Laken Tomlinson as a potential pick in the second round for Seattle with the 63rd pick:   http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-path-to-the-draft/0ap3000000487826/Obvious-Choice-Laken-Tomlinson-potential-second-round-selection-for-Seahawks

Local Media:

Watch: Detroit Lions reporters react to team's first-round trade and draft pick:  http://videos.mlive.com/mlive/2015/05/detroit_lions_reporters_offer.html