Morning Lions Links for Thursday 3-7-19

Articles:

Highlights from Todd McShay's conference call:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/highlights-from-todd-mcshay-s-conference-call

Lions tender special teams standout Charles Washington:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-tender-special-teams-standout-charles-washington.html

Lions to host Patriots TE Dwayne Allen on free-agent visit:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-to-host-patriots-te-dwayne-allen-on-free-agent-visit.html

Lions defenders really want Landon Collins to sign with Detroit:  https://www.mlive.com/expo/sports/g66l-2019/03/f1f99356e56280/lions-defenders-really-want-landon-collins-to-sign-with-detroit.html

Don’t expect the Detroit Lions to be a contender for Antonio Brown:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/dont-expect-the-detroit-lions-to-be-a-contender-for-antonio-brown.html

Lions free agency preview: DB needs linger:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/06/detroit-lions-free-agency-preview-defensive-backs/3081141002/

Signing Landon Collins would be coup for Lions:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/06/detroit-lions-landon-collins-right-move/3078685002/

Detroit Lions free agency preview: Offense:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/05/detroit-lions-free-agency-preview-offense/3059488002/

Ziggy Ansah only Lions player to make ESPN's top 100 free agents:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/06/ziggy-ansah-only-detroit-lions-player-make-espns-top-100-free-agents/3082625002/

Breaking down Lions' pending free agents: Who stays, goes?:  http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/det/detroit-lions

Best Fits For NFL Free Agent Defensive Linemen: Where Will Trey Flowers, Za'Darius Smith, And Ezekiel Ansah End Up?:  https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2019/03/06/nfl-free-agency-defensive-linemen-trey-flowers-zadarius-smith-ezekiel-ansah/

Briean Boddy-Calhoun would be a nice free agent fit with the Lions:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/06/briean-boddy-calhoun-nfl-free-agency-detroit-lions/

Lions doing work on slot receiver market:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Lions-free-agent-interest-slot-wide-receiver-129784338/

Lions reportedly are the "assumed" choice for Hard Knocks:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Hard-Knocks-choice-Lions-HBO-129787919/

Analyst: Lions, Titans could bid for Trey Flowers:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Trey-Flowers-Lions-free-agency-bidding-Titans-129778771/

Seven teams with the most at stake in free agency (6. Detroit Lions (Projected cap space: $33.62 million (13th).):  I wouldn't think GM Bob Quinn or coach Matt Patricia should be worrying about their jobs one year into their five-year contracts, but there are expectations that strides will be made following 2018's 6-10 mess. The emergence of Kerryon Johnson finally gave this team a good running back to pair with stud QB Matthew Stafford. If the Lions are to avoid falling to the back of the competitive NFC North pack again and wasting another year of Stafford's prime, they must make some key roster additions this offseason. Tight end is a priority after the Lions released former first-round pick Eric Ebron last March, only to watch Ebron put together the most productive year of his NFL career in Indianapolis. While Detroit will likely address its edge-rushing needs in the draft (they pick eighth overall), it could be interesting for the Lions to make a run at Patriots free agents like DE Trey Flowers and DT Malcom Brown, especially in light of Patricia's familiarity with those players as New England's former defensive coordinator.):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021313/article/jets-raiders-among-teams-with-most-at-stake-in-free-agency

Wesseling: Free agency needs for each NFC team (Detroit Lions: Pass rusher, tight end, slot receiver - Losing oft-injured defensive end Ezekiel Ansah to free agency exacerbates an already existing dark hole at edge rusher. Coach Matt Patricia can't run his defense without importing multiple players capable of pressuring the passer. While frustrated Lions fans watched former first-round pick Eric Ebron set a franchise record for touchdowns by a tight end in Indianapolis, their own tandem of Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo combined for a meager 350 yards and one trip to pay dirt. Both tight ends are due to reach free agency next week. While deep threat Kenny Golladay made good on his potential with a breakout campaign, the rest of the receiving corps was a train wreck by Thanksgiving. Slot receiver is an obvious need following the late-October trade that sent Golden Tate to Philadelphia.):  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021274/article/2019-nfl-free-agency-biggest-needs-for-each-nfc-team

2019 Combine:

O'HARA: What we learned from the 2019 Combine:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-what-we-learned-from-the-2019-combine

The biggest winners from the 2019 Scouting Combine:  https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-biggest-winners-from-the-2019-scouting-combine

Fastest risers from the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/05/2019-nfl-draft-scouting-combine-fastest-rising-prospects/

Combine Confidential: 2019 All-Combine Team:  https://footballmaven.io/nfldraftscout/combine/combine-confidential-2019-all-combine-team-_HL5bvPglkuVYyTaZn9ERA/

Mind-boggling stats: 2019 NFL Scouting Combine performances:  http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000001021243

Kyler Murray’s Agent Unloads On Charley Casserly:  https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/03/06/kyler-murrays-agent-unloads-on-charley-casserly/

Video - Road to the Draft Combine Recap:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/road-to-the-draft-combine-recap

2019 Draft:

NFL draft 2019: Lions take Michigan’s Rashan Gary in Todd McShay’s latest mock:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/nfl-draft-2019-lions-take-michigans-rashan-gary-in-todd-mcshays-latest-mock.html

Late-round NFL draft gem: EMU DE Maxx Crosby:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/06/eastern-michigans-maxx-crosby-shines-combine/3070747002/

Pat Caputo - 5 ways Lions' NFL Draft shaping up:  https://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/pat-caputo---ways-lions-nfl-draft-shaping-up/article_3ec7bebe-4024-11e9-8cba-67d3796fbfc9.html

2019 Running Back Profiles:  https://www.rotoworld.com/article/evaluations/2019-running-back-profiles

Draft: Murray now NFL's consensus QB1:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-nfl-draft-resetting-the-quarterback-draft-class-after-the-nfl-combine-is-kyler-murray-now-no-1/

NFL Draft Big Board: The Post-Combine Top 100:  https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/03/06/draft-big-board-rankings-post-combine-nick-bosa-dwayne-haskins-kyler-murray-dk-metcalf

2019 NFL Draft prospects: Big board of top 100 players:  http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-prospects-big-board-of-top-100-players/11reeksv3zeht1nxouj5psd3s2

2019 NFL draft stock watch: Every first-round player’s draft position:   https://ftw.usatoday.com/gallery/2019-nfl-draft-stock-watch