Overall Grades and Anslysis

Grades:

NFL (B+:  Hey, did anybody know the Lions haven't had a 100-yard rusher since Thanksgiving day 2013?? [Ducks four-ton haymaker from Detroit's Joe Louis fist] Yeah, every single Lions supporter is sick and tired of this go-to statistical burn. Not because it's irrelevant -- Detroit's ground game has ranked 32nd, 30th and 32nd over the past three seasons -- but because it's the exact kind of humiliating, interminable ineptitude that routinely causes proud Detroiters to shake their heads and utter those three tortured words: Same old Lions. Well, Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia say enough is enough! Detroit devoted four of its six picks to solving this problem once and for all, starting with Ragnow, Pro Football Focus' top-rated college center in each of the past two years. He immediately slots into the starting lineup at either center or guard, depending on where the Lions want to put Graham Glasgow. (The guess here is that Ragnow mans the pivot.) In Round 2, the Lions added Johnson, a powerful, jump-cutting back with a Le'Veon Bell-like patience that rewards good blocking. On Day 3, Detroit scooped up two more punishing run blockers, including a fullback. (Yes, a fullback! That 100-yard drought is squarely in the crosshairs.) So, what about replenishments for the 27th-ranked defense? Well, you can only fill so many needs in one draft. But yes, the limited haul there is what keeps Detroit out of "A" territory. Will Walker or Hand make a significant impact? Both offer intriguing size and tools. Oh, and one huge bonus for those Lions fans who back the Wolverines on Saturdays: Finally got your guy!):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000931229/article/nfc-north-draft-grades-bears-advance-slick-offseason-makeover

Rotoworld Thor's Grades (B+:   In one sentence: Like what they did with their first two picks, and also the outstanding value on Hand and Crosby on Day 3.):  http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/79566/271/

SI (Detroit Lions:  Detroit’s ground game has ranked 26th or worst in yards per attempt each of the last four years—including ranking dead last in 2017—and GM Bob Quinn was determined to change that. Frank Ragnow, who boasts strength and aggression admired by many scouts, will start on Day 1, filling the hole created by Travis Swanson’s departure. Picking Ragnow and Kerryon Johnson reaffirms what e could surmise by the free-agent signing of LeGarrette Blount: the Lions want a bruising ground game. On the downside, the Lions didn’t find a pass-catching tight end to replace Eric Ebron—they simply didn’t have enough picks to address that need. The job now falls to ex-Seahawk Luke Willson, who is at least proficient going down the seams.  The rest of this draft served to start remaking Detroit’s defense in new head coach Matt Patricia’s image. Tracy Walker brings depth at safety, which is something Matt Patricia used smartly in New England. Da’Shawn Hand, whom the Lions traded up to get in Round 4, is a five-technique style defensive end, meaning he wins with strength and mechanics. Patricia’s Patriots always employed this type of D-lineman as opposed to the glitzier (and more expensive) edge-benders. Grade: B):  https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/28/nfl-draft-2018-team-grades-picks-analysis

CBS (Detroit Lions: B, The Lions need to run the ball better, and their first two picks show they know that all too well. They took interior lineman Frank Ragnow in the first round, and he will be a big part of that improvement up front. I love second-round running back Kerryon Johnson from Auburn. He will be their lead runner. Third-round safety Tracy Walker has good range, and fifth-round offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby could be a steal.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2018-nfl-draft-grades-for-all-32-teams-bears-bucs-ravens-panthers-get-top-marks/

NFL (Day 1 grade: A, Day 2 grade: C, Day 3 grade: B, Overall grade: B;  The skinny: Detroit got stronger in the middle by picking Ragnow, who could play guard for now, or move to center if needed. Either way, he'll move the line of scrimmage. Matthew Stafford feels better already. The Lions were so interested in Johnson that they gave up a fourth-round pick to move up eight spots. That's marginal value, though I expect Johnson will be a good back. Walker was picked two rounds earlier than expected, but he has the skills to become a starter in the league. Hand could end up a pretty good interior player, but he'll need to contribute right away to be worth giving up a 2019 third-rounder. Great value in Crosby, who should be a starter at guard or tackle very soon because of his strength. He has quick enough feet to handle pass protection duties.):   http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000930225/article/2018-nfl-draft-final-quicksnap-grades-for-all-32-teams

Mel Kiper grades Lions 2018 NFL Draft class a B-:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Bolt/Mel-Kiper-grades-Lions-2018-NFL-Draft-class-a-B--117820206

Draft grades: B from Birkett, C+ from Monarrez:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2018/04/28/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-picks-grades/561721002/

Draft Scout Rob Rang (The NFC North was long considered the NFL's so-called black and blue division, with physicality and toughness as primary characteristics. The Lions appear dedicated to regaining that image, adding a plug-and-play, lunch-stealing interior lineman in Arkansas' Frank Ragnow in the first round and the top blocker in the PAC-12 last year in tackle Tyrell Crosby (who fell due to medical red flags) in the fifth. Running back Kerryon Johnson is a classic slasher who runs hungry, also adding a physical element to a rushing attack that has been desperately in search of a bell-cow for years. He will be aided by the draft's best lead blocker in Nick Bawden, the club's seventh-round pick. Safety Tracy Walker and powerful defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand, both middle-round picks, look the part of NFL players but never proved to be the dominant prospects at their respective levels that their imposing frames suggest. Grade: C-plus):  https://www.themaven.net/nfldraftscout/news/rang-grading-the-nfc-ns8alu5hMEGh5f85MnoGkg/?full=1

USA Today (C+:  Second rounder Kerryon Johnson will get the headlines, assuming he can break with recent tradition and hold up better than other highly drafted Lions tailbacks. Otherwise, new coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn were busy fortifying their lines, starting with first-round C Frank Ragnow.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2018/04/28/nfl-draft-grades-teams-2018-giants-patriots-cowboys-jets/562265002/

PFW (Detroit Lions — C+/C:  We believe 20 and 43 is just too high for Frank Ragnow and Kerryon Johnson, and had both James Daniels (39) and Billy Price (21) ranked ahead of Ragnow. But we love Tyrell Crosby, think he may actually be the best left tackle in this draft and can’t believe he was still there at 153. Da’Shawn Hand was a classic and chronic underachiever at Bama, but that’s in large part because he has Pro Bowl-level talent and natural gifts. He’s a great gamble at 114; now can the Lions get it out of him?):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/lists/2018/04/30/06254883/index.xml?page=7

Draftwire (DETROIT LIONS | C:  Frank Ragnow in the first may seem like a reach to some, but it really wasn’t. He would have gone quickly, maybe with the very next pick to the Bengals. Kerryon Johnson is solid, but there were better options at running back at that slot. Da’Shawn Hand is a solid player who fits this scheme, but trading a third-rounder in next year’s draft to get him was too steep. Tracy Walker is promising, but was taken a round or two early. Tyrell Crosby is my favorite pick in this group, with his versatility and upside. Where’s the edge rusher, or the off-ball linebacker? Still plenty of work to be done with this roster.): https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2018/04/28/nfl-draft-grades-2018-instant-analysis-every-team/2/

Walterfootball (C:  Goals Entering the 2018 NFL Draft: Despite the hiring of former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as head coach, the Lions absolutely have to bolster their defense. Help is needed at every level, especially on the defensive line, where there are multiple holes that must be plugged.  2018 NFL Draft Accomplishments: While their mentor spent lots of energy trading down in this class, Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn moved up on a couple of occasions. They did so in the second round, getting running back Kerryon Johnson at No. 43. They then gave New England a 2019 third-round pick to get Da'Shawn Hand in the fourth frame. Hand should help the defensive front, but using multiple resources to get him, including a second-day choice in next year's superior class, seems like a mistake. Speaking of errors, the Lions made a horrendous pick in the third round, reaching greatly for safety Tracy Walker, who may have been available in the fifth frame. This selection alone will weigh down Detroit's overall grade. There were plenty of safeties available - teams don't value that position very highly right now, which is why they all fell - so there was no reason to make a desperation grab for a mid-round prospect. The Lions did some nice things in this draft - they bolstered their offensive line with center Frank Ragnow, and they found a great bargain in tackle Tyrell Crosby in the fifth round - but their unnecessary trades and reaches, as well as their reluctance to address the defensive front beyond Hand, will ensure that they won't have a positive overall grade.):   http://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgradesteam.php

SN (C-: Bob Quinn vowed to fixed the running game, and Ragnow's interior blocking will help. Trading up for Johnson, however, was questionable for the backfield, and Walker was a reach for the secondary. The Lions ignoring linebacker and tight end was not good.)http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-2018-grades-winners-losers-best-worst-broncos-bills-seahawks/1wkh3jasql60m16rspf25mvqqd

Rotoworld Silva (Overview: GM Bob Quinn’s continued pass-rush avoidance is confusing. Ragnow addressed a need, but trading up for an ordinary running back in Johnson unnecessarily cost Detroit a top-120 pick. An upright runner who didn’t dominate in college, Johnson reminds of a less-explosive version of Darren McFadden stylistically. It was surprising to see Walker go in the third round after he managed third-team all-conference honors in the Sun Belt last year. Walker himself admitted after the draft he expected to go multiple rounds later. Moving up for college underachiever Hand cost Detroit its 2019 third-round pick in a trade with the Pats. Crosby is an intriguing project to develop at right tackle or guard. Bawden was the best blocking fullback in the nation the last two years. It doesn’t help that the Lions coughed up their sixth-round pick in last year’s trade for Greg Robinson, who is no longer on the team. Grade: D):  http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/79568/174/2018-nfc-draft-grades

Shutdown Corner (Analysis: Center Frank Ragnow is a good player, but it still feels the Lions needed to get premium pass rush help early on. Running back Kerryon Johnson didn’t seem like a good value with the 11th pick of the second round, and they gave up a fourth-round pick to move up eight spots to take him. You have to wonder if the Derrius Guice rumors scared them off the better player there. Safety Tracy Walker seemed like an even bigger reach in the third round. Alabama defensive lineman Da’shawn Hand and Oregon offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby were fine value picks, though Crosby’s reported concussion issues are an obvious concern. It’s an underwhelming class.  Grade: D):   https://sports.yahoo.com/final-2018-nfl-draft-grades-team-fare-dont-look-seattle-fans-184907310.html

Analysis:

Draft Analyst (Detroit Lions: Though they drafted no superstars, the Lions came away with a lot of talent that will produce at the next level. Frank Ragnow was steadily moving up draft boards and should quickly break into the starting lineup. Tyrell Crosby could be a bargain if his takes his game to the next level.Da'Shawn Hand will be a steal for the Lions.):  http://draftanalyst.com/18-nfl-draft-overview-nfc

Schefter: Lions have robbed other NFL teams with every pick so far:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2018/04/28/schefter-lions-have-robbed-other-nfl-teams-with-every-pick-so-far/

Arthur Arkush's 5 least favorite NFL draft classes (Bob Quinn cares not for style but substance, and doubling up at OL and RB sends a clear message that this offense is eschewing finesse for a more power-based approach. Tyrell Crosby might turn out to be one of the draft's bigger steals, but they had to trade up Johnson, albeit an underrated back who'll carry the mail often with an edge, and Hand is a talented wildcard. Pass rush remains a big concern, and where does the lesser-known Walker fit in an already talented secondary? Quinn has invested a lot in the offensive line without the desired returns; even as a fast riser, Ragnow is a bit rich there for my liking.):  http://www.profootballweekly.com/lists/2018/04/28/4089964b72714df2900eea83c429045b/index.xml?page=1

PFF (Day 1: The Lions selected one of the players that PFF has been championing as a potential dominant force throughout the pre-draft process in Arkansas C Frank Ragnow. With a new coaching staff in the building, the Lions are making a concerted effort to get better at the line of scrimmage, and become a more powerful team, and Ragnow achieves that. He was a dominant run-blocker and did not allow a sack in pass protection throughout his entire college career. He was one of a few players that have distanced themselves as the best player we have seen at their respective positions since we have been grading college football, and those players typically translate very well to the next level. Ragnow should plug in to the middle of that offensive line and anchor it immediately, but he has shown the ability to play guard as well, starting at right guard against Alabama in 2017 and still grading very well.  Day 2: The Lions shook up the draft board at the running back position by taking Kerryon Johnson out of Auburn over a couple of more celebrated prospects. Johnson only really has one excellent season of performance, with an overall grade of 87.8 in 2017, and he has an interesting style of running the ball, gliding to the hole and accelerating through it like Arian Foster. They also added Tracy Walker from Louisiana to the secondary. Walker is a safety who has covered the slot and has been a better run defender than he has been in coverage. Day 3: Tyrell Crosby’s slide was halted by the Lions who bring in a monstrous offensive lineman. At Oregon, he allowed only seven total pressures and no sacks in 2017 at left tackle, but has the size and power to move inside to guard and dominate. Completing their power-focus, they grabbed one of the few fullbacks in the draft with Nick Bawden in the seventh round. Bawden played the second-most snaps of any fullback in 2017 with 588, none of which were him carrying the ball.  Overall grade: Below average):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-all-32-nfl-teams-2018-nfl-draft-grades

2018 NFL Draft, Rules Of Thumb (Thumbs Twiddling - To the Detroit Lions. I love adding two offensive linemen, including landing my No. 2 tackle Tyrell Crosby in the fifth round. Frank Ragnow makes the Lions interior OL one of the best in football if everyone is healthy, and Crosby can play guard or tackle and gives the unit real depth for the first time I can remember. Kerryon Johnson is a great fit at running back, and Tracy Walker could eventually take over for Glover Quin at safety. But the thumbs are twiddling because the No. 1 need on the team is pass rush, and GM Bob Quinn ignored it almost completely. Trading next year’s third rounder for an enigmatic complementary DE in DaShawn Hand is a poor choice, and a fullback for the final pick seems wasteful. Even so, the Lions landed five players in my top 90 overall talents (Hand included) and have devoted major resources to fixing the league’s worst rushing offense.):  https://football.realgm.com/analysis/3047/2018-NFL-Draft-Rules-Of-Thumb

NFC NORTH: 2018 NFL Draft breakdown (Twentyman's take: It’s pretty clear from this draft that Quinn and Patricia value toughness and position versatility. Ragnow, Walker, Hand and even Crosby can play multiple positions. They all have a physical element to their games as well. I'd add Johnson to that list in terms of toughness. The Lions got tougher and more physical via this draft.) (5-1-18):  http://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-draft/article-1/NFC-NORTH-2018-NFL-Draft-breakdown/d3436e05-5b34-4eae-a197-268f94ac51b4

Ranking every team's 2018 NFL draft class - The Broncos nail it while the Patriots stumble (22. Detroit Lions:  The Lions reached for both Ragnow and Johnson, but Hand and Crosby were value picks who could make this ranking look foolish in a couple of years. We’ve ranked Detroit 23rd but would not be surprised if this is a top-15 class when all is said and done.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/04/2018-nfl-draft-grades-rankings-analysis-broncos-giants-raiders-packers-redskins