Morning Lions Links for Wednesday 3-13-19

Articles:

Lions add Oday Aboushi to the mix at right guard:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-add-oday-aboushi-to-the-mix-at-right-guard.html

With 2 trips on deck, Ezekiel Ansah’s exit from Detroit seems inevitable:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/with-2-trips-on-deck-ezekiel-ansahs-exit-from-detroit-seems-inevitable.html

The Detroit Lions are bringing Zach Zenner back yet again:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/the-detroit-lions-are-bringing-zach-zenner-back-yet-again.html

Lions make Trey Flowers second-highest paid DE with 5-year, $90 million deal:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-make-trey-flowers-second-highest-paid-de-with-5-year-90-million-deal.html

Lions pay going rate for Jesse James, who is just a start of a TE solution:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-pay-going-rate-for-jesse-james-who-is-just-a-start-of-a-te-solution.html

Agents say Matt Patricia, locker room ‘dysfunction’ make Detroit one of the worst destinations for players:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/agents-say-matt-patricia-locker-room-dysfunction-make-detroit-one-of-the-worst-destinations-for-players.html

Lions’ big splash into free agency gives them newfound freedom with top-10 draft pick:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/lions-big-splash-into-free-agency-gives-them-newfound-freedom-with-top-10-draft-pick.html

After pricey day, will Lions tap into a flowing safety market?:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/03/after-pricey-day-will-lions-tap-into-a-flowing-safety-market.html

Lions have room to spend after Jesse James' contract:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/12/detroit-lions-jesse-james-contract-team-has-room-spend/3143666002/

Lions free agency grades: Hard not to love the moves:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/12/detroit-lions-free-agency-grades/3134812002/

Pundits grade Lions' top FA signings. ESPN not really a fan:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/12/detroit-lions-free-agency-grades/3143435002/

NFL analysts: Lions' moves generally bring solid grades:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2019/03/12/nfl-analysts-detroit-lions-moves-generally-bring-solid-grades/3139239002/

How signing Justin Coleman impacts the Lions roster and offseason:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/how-signing-coleman-impacts-the-lions-roster-and-offseason/

First wave of free agent reports show Lions are focused on youth:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/first-wave-of-free-agent-reports-show-lions-are-focused-on-youth/

NFC North: keeping track of what the Lions division foes are doing in free agency:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/nfc-north-free-agency-tracker-bears-packers-vikings-lions/

Early winners from the 2019 NFL Free Agency blitz (DETROIT LIONS
The day started off with the Lions signing Danny Amendola to a 1-year contract as he fills a gap in the wide receiving corps and should occupy the slot for Matthew Stafford and Co. Albeit a lackluster quarterback situation in Miami a season ago, Amendola still did what he could from the slot, hauling in the league’s 14th-best catch rate on 54 targets from an inside alignment. He’s a proven receiver and a veteran presence for youngster Kenny Golladay, who should. be the team’s No. 1 receiver entering the season. Detroit also came to an agreement with tight end Jesse James, bolstering Stafford’s over-the-middle targets with a reliable receiving threat in addition to the tight ends already on the roster at the position.  Where the Lions really won the day was when they addressed their defense, and came to terms with Justin Coleman and Trey Flowers. Coleman is set to become the league’s richest slot cornerback after he spent 384 snaps in slot coverage a season ago for the Seahawks. Despite his large volume of snaps from the slot, he still allowed just 10.7 receptions per snap, a figure that ranked as the eighth-best in the league.  Flowers heads to Detroit and joins his former defensive coordinator in Matt Patricia a year after leading the Patriots in total QB pressures and finishing second in the league with 78 including the postseason. Flowers adds a pass-rushing piece to the Lions defensive front and despite coming at a steep price, but considering Flowers was the league’s third-highest graded edge defender, the deal is still a home run.):  https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-early-winners-from-2019-nfl-free-agency-blitz

Lions sign CB Justin Coleman to a four-year deal, adding to a talented secondary: https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-lions-sign-cb-justin-coleman-to-a-four-year-deal-adding-to-a-talented-secondary

2019 NFL free agency pricing guide: Grading every major signing so far (Amendola - This is the perfect deal for a professional receiver like Danny Amendola. He’ll give the Lions 80% of what Golden Tate gave them at a third of the price.  GRADE: A.  Coleman - Justin Coleman is coming off two solid seasons in Seattle. He’ll be a solid contributor as a slot corner, where the Lions really struggled last season, but is solid nickel corner play really worth $9 million a season? The market says no.  GRADE: C.  What would Belichick do? Well, I can tell you what he wouldn’t do: Give Trey Flowers $18 mil per year, because he just declined to pay that exact price to franchise the 25-year-old. Look, Flowers definitely improves the Lions defense, and he’s obviously a great fit for Matt Patricia’s scheme, but this is an overpay.  GRADE: C-):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/nfl-free-agency-grades-nick-foles-landon-collins-malik-jackson

2019 Draft:

Lions in attendance for Vanderbilt's pro day:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/lions-in-attendance-for-vanderbilts-pro-day/

Troy CB Blace Brown draws the Lions interest at Trojans pro day:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/troy-cb-blace-brown-draws-the-lions-interest-at-trojans-pro-day/

Pro Day Report - Troy and Illinois (Blace Brown improved his 40 time by more than one-tenth after he timed 4.75 at the combine, running from 4.65 to as low as 4.54 in the rain during Troy's pro day. He also touched 37.5 inches in the vertical jump.  Brown looked good in position drills, which were run by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent significant time with the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans, and all three teams have shown interest in the corner. Brown also met with the Detroit Lions.):  http://draftanalyst.com/pro-day-report-troy-illinois

Draft them or sign them? How the Lions will address linebacker:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/draft-them-or-sign-them-how-the-lions-will-address-linebacker/

Lions, Packers and Ravens 'in the mix' for Mark Ingram:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Mark-Ingram-free-agent-interest-Lions-Packers-Ravens-129995162/

Lions have plenty of cap money left to spend:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Lions-cap-space-left-free-agency-130006080/

Analyst: Lions 'overpaying' and not similar to Patriots:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Lions-free-agency-approach-overpaying-analyst-says-129979242/

Joe Thomas loves Lions move to add Trey Flowers:  https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Trey-Flowers-Lions-Joe-Thomas-comments-129978791/

NFL teams commend Boise State running back’s balanced skillset, versatility:  https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-nfl-teams-commend-boise-state-running-backs-balanced-skillset-versatility

Meet Ben Banogu, TCU's versatile pass-rushing prospect:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-interview-ben-banogu-tcu/

Meet Jesper Horsted, the Ivy League's next stud NFL prospect:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/12/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-interview-jesper-horsted-princeton/

Meet Justin Sumpter, Kennesaw State's gem of a WR prospect:  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/2019/03/11/2019-nfl-draft-prospect-interview-justin-sumpter-kennesaw-state/

Draft: NFL comparisons for top QBs:  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/nfl-draft-2019-why-kyler-murray-is-like-steve-young-dwayne-haskins-is-like-drew-bledsoe-and-more-qb-comparisons/

The Countdown with L.J. Collier:  http://www.draftcountdown.com/2019/the-countdown-with-l-j-collier/

Bucky Brooks' top 5 draft prospects by position: Quick risers after combine:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001022213/article/bucky-brooks-top-5-2019-nfl-draft-prospects-by-position-20

Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft 3.0:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001021874/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2019-nfl-draft-30

PROSPECT COMPARISONS:  https://www.rotoworld.com/article/prospect-comparisons/fun-comps

Video:

Draft prospects on current Lions and former teammates:  https://www.detroitlions.com/video/draft-prospects-on-current-lions-and-former-teammates