Morning Lions Links for Tuesday 4-27-20

Articles:

O'HARA: What we learned from the 2020 NFL Draft:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/o-hara-what-we-learned-from-the-2020-nfl-draft-cephus-swift-jackson

Lions have to decide on Davis' fifth-year option:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-have-to-decide-on-davis-fifth-year-option

The Detroit Lions’ 4 biggest remaining post-draft needs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/04/the-detroit-lions-4-biggest-remaining-post-draft-needs.html

Lions’ Jeff Okudah, D’Andre Swift are both top-5 favorites for rookie of the year:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/04/lions-jeff-okudah-dandre-swift-are-both-top-five-favorites-for-rookie-of-the-year.html

Detroit Lions cut 4 players to make room for draft class, UDFAs:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/04/detroit-lions-cut-4-players-to-make-room-for-draft-class-udfas.html

Detroit Lions open virtual offseason program on Monday. Here’s what that means.:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2020/04/detroit-lions-open-virtual-offseason-program-on-monday-heres-what-that-means.html

What's ahead for Lions rookies? Perhaps the hardest NFL offseason ever:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/27/detroit-lions-rookies-offseason-training-2020/3030039001/

Lions kick off virtual offseason program with online classes:  https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/27/detroit-lions-kick-off-virtual-offseason-program-classroom/3034238001/

Lions over-unders: Three interceptions for Jeff Okudah, 625 yards for D’Andre Swift:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/27/detroit-lions-over-unders-three-interceptions-jeff-okudah-625-yards-for-dandre-swift/3032443001/

Justin Rogers' final thoughts on Lions' 2020 draft class:  https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/04/27/justin-rogers-final-thoughts-detroit-lions-2020-draft-class/3031828001/

Jason Huntley, Ty Johnson competing for the same role in crowded Lions backfield:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/jason-huntley-ty-johnson-competing-for-the-same-role-in-crowded-lions-backfield/

Free agent market changes on Monday, could push Lions to sign players:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/free-agent-market-comp-pick-formula-lions-targets/

Julian Okwara 'excited to get to work' with brother Romeo in Detroit:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/julian-okwara-excited-to-get-to-work-with-brother-romeo-in-detroit/

Quintez Cephus evaluations from 2020 NFL Draft guides:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/quintez-cephus-evaluations-from-2020-nfl-draft-guides/

WR Quintez Cephus Compared to Hall of Fame WR Michael Irvin:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/quintez-cephus-compared-to-michael-irvin

Examining Lions Rookie CB Jeff Okudah's Role in the Defense:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/jeff-okudahs-role-in-lions-defense

Lions 2020 Draft Class Ranked 11th in NFL:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/roster-update-detroit-lions-release-four-players

2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the top 15 undrafted free agent signings (1. TE HUNTER BRYANT TO THE DETROIT LIONS (PFF Big Board Rank: 79):  Bryant falling out of the draft is the clear-cut biggest head-scratcher on this list. He was 79th overall and the top-ranked tight end on our board, and it’s not as if we were significantly higher on him than most draft pundits. Bryant came in at 98th overall (TE3) on the consensus big board put together over at The Athletic. Barring red flags popping up related to several knee injuries he suffered in the past, Bryant falling out of the draft entirely is a shock.  That plays to the benefit of the Lions. He has arguably the best receiving chops of any tight end in this class, putting up a receiving grade of 91.7 since 2017 to go along with a class-high 2.90 yards per route run. The Lions are already pretty heavily invested at tight end between spending a first-round pick on TJ Hockenson last season and signing Jesse James to a decent-sized deal, but Bryant brings a different element to the group and has the potential to really benefit that offense.  15. S JALEN ELLIOTT TO THE DETROIT LIONS (PFF Big Board Rank: 183):  The Lions opened our list with Hunter Bryant, and they close it here with the 183rd-ranked player on our board. It’s hard not to imagine that his 4.8 time in the 40-yard dash did a number on his draft stock. That’s tough to get past when you’re talking about someone playing down the field with all the speed at the NFL level. We saw the high-end of what Elliott could do in 2018, though, with an 81.4 overall grade and an 87.6 grade in coverage. There’s a physicality to his game when paired with his length that can play in the NFL. The Lions must find where that plays best, because it’s not going to be at free safety with that speed.):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-ranking-the-top-15-undrafted-free-agent-signings

Biggest steals of the 2020 NFL Draft (PICK 67 — EDGE JULIAN OKWARA, DETROIT LIONS
PFF Big Board rank: 28 - Although he suffered a season-ending injury in Week 11 this past year, there’s no reason Okwara should have been available in the third round. With his explosiveness off the line, overall athleticism and long arms, Okwara was a first-round talent in this draft. Prior to getting hurt, Okwara was having one of the top seasons in college football at his position by owning an elite 90.4 pass-rush grade.  PICK 75 — IOL JONAH JACKSON, DETROIT LIONS (PFF Big Board rank: 40):  No one in this draft class has better pass sets than Jonah Jackson. He gets on defensive linemen rapidly and can play anywhere along the interior. While playing for Rutgers and Ohio State the past few years, Jackson logged snaps at every interior position and performed incredibly well in pass protection, recording a pass-blocking grade on true pass sets above the 90th percentile. He’s the best pass-protecting interior lineman in this class.):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-nfl-biggest-steals-2020-nfl-draft

Every 2020 NFL Draft class, ranked (from Miami to Pittsburgh) (10. Lions - I’m not crazy about the last few picks but the Lions nailed the first two days. Okudah is a blue-chip talent at a premium position. Swift may not play an important position but he is a factor in the passing game. Jackson and Stenberg are both potential starters. And the Okwara pick addresses the team’s biggest need by adding athleticism to the edge of the defense. Even Cephus can play, even if testing numbers may not be up to snuff. The Lions making good decisions is a bit unsettling. 2020 is weird.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/04/2020-nfl-draft-class-ranking-grades/3

Tony Pauline’s 2020 NFL Draft Evaluations: NFC edition (Detroit Lions - Steal: The Lions came away with several steals, none more than D’Andre Swift.  Reach: Few teams had a draftable grade on Jashon Cornell.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/2020-nfl-draft-evaluations-nfc-tony-pauline/

NFL Supplemental Draft looms large due to impact of COVID-19:  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/04/25/nfl-supplemental-draft-looms-large-due-to-impact-of-covid-19/

Video:

Watch: Matt Waldman breaks down WR Quintez Cephus game film:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/watch-matt-waldman-breaks-down-wr-quintez-cephus-game-film/

WATCH: Lions UDFA punter Arryn Siposs has an amazing Australian highlight:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2020/04/27/watch-lions-udfa-punter-arryn-siposs-afl-aussie-rules-highlight/

SportsWorks 4-26-19 -- NFL Draft dominates the talk between Dan, Wojo & Jamie:  https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/678077

Lomas Brown on the Detroit Lions’ 2020 NFL Draft picks: ‘I like what they did':  https://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/2020/04/27/lomas-brown-on-the-detroit-lions-2020-nfl-draft-picks/