Sunday, May 2, 2021

Morning Lions Links for Sunday 5-2-21

Penei Sewell Articles:


Lions draft pick Penei Sewell never will forget his humble beginnings:  https://lionslowdown.com/2021/05/02/lions-draft-pick-penei-sewell-never-will-forget-his-humble-beginnings/

Jermar Jefferson Articles:




Lions UDFAs:





Hog Rakeem Boyd signing with Detroit Lions as undrafted free agent:  https://www.4029tv.com/article/customer-pays-at-diner-months-after-dining-and-dashing/36306467

Lions Articles:


Detroit Lions prioritizing long-term extension for Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/05/detroit-lions-prioritizing-long-term-extension-for-pro-bowl-center-frank-ragnow.html

NFC North roundup: Winners, losers and favorite picks from the 2021 NFL draft:  https://www.mlive.com/lions/2021/05/nfc-north-roundup-winners-losers-and-favorite-picks-from-the-2021-nfl-draft.html 

Biggest surprises, questions of the 2021 NFL draft (Fact: The Detroit Lions had a fun draft.  Opinion: From their aggressive celebration after drafting Sewell to defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike's profanity-laced declaration about the way he hits people at the line of scrimmage, it was physically impossible for Lions fans to avoid smiling at some point over the course of the weekend. When viewed in the context of new coach Dan Campbell's stated desire to bite kneecaps, it's pretty clear that the Lions won't take themselves too seriously. They'll have some energy, which is always the first building block in improving a team. They're already ahead of where they were at the start of the Matt Patricia regime, which was cold and lifeless from the start.):  https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2021/story/_/id/31367177/nfl-draft-2021-takeaways-qb-rush-continues-plus-lingering-questions-top-surprises

Debrief: 1 thought for each team coming out of the draft (The Lions couldn't fill all their needs in one draft, and it wasn't a surprise they focused on finding linemen on both sides of the ball. It's worrying to see that Jared Goff's top wideouts are Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman and fourth-round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown. Still, while Goff is not exactly set up to succeed, the offensive line does look spicy.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/debrief-32-thoughts-for-32-teams-after-the-2021-nfl-draft

Brad Holmes added to Lions’ strength, addressed weaknesses:  https://www.wxyz.com/sports/brad-holmes-added-to-lions-strength-addressed-weaknesses-in-draft

2021 NFL Draft: Most and least improved team position units (5. DETROIT LIONS INTERIOR DEFENSE:  The Lions' interior defensive line was continually pushed around in the run game last season and didn't put up much of a fight when rushing the quarterback, either.  They lost Danny Shelton and added Michael Brockers this offseason, but that wasn’t going to move the needle much. In the draft, the Lions added both a nose tackle and a 3-technique with their second and third picks.  Washington product Levi Onwuzurike, their second-rounder, posted two really productive seasons in 2018 and 2019 before not playing in 2020. He’s the 3-technique who will compete with Brockers for starting reps. And there’s a good chance he wins the starting job by Week 1. He is an explosive player, although he needs to develop more pass-rushing moves.  To solidify their nose tackle position, the Lions took North Carolina State's Alim McNeill. He is the modern nose tackle, as teams don’t necessarily want their nose tackles to be big-bodied run stuffers. He stops the run with quickness and agility. He doesn’t have the pass-rush moves right now, but with the physical profile, you would think he can become an above-average pass rusher at the position to go along with being an elite run defender.):  https://www.pff.com/news/draft-most-least-improved-team-position-units-2021-nfl-draft

Detroit Lions 2021 NFL Draft Analysis From The College Perspective:  https://collegefootballnews.com/2021/05/detroit-lions-2021-nfl-draft-analysis-from-the-college-perspective

Overall Grades:

THOR'S NFC DRAFT GRADES (Lions Grade:  A.  Lions GM Brad Holmes took advantage of good fortune -- Miami’s audible to Jaylen Waddle when Cincy decided on WR J’Marr Chase over Sewell in what have been a bitterly-debated decision -- and a thrift-shopper’s eye for value throughout in bringing in one of the most impressive Lions drafts in years. In all seven picks, the Lions took a prospect in a slot that was lower than where I had him ranked on my board -- the ever-rare zero-reach draft with a full complement of picks. The Lions managed to do that while addressing all of their needs save arguably quarterback. This team’s gonna stink next year and will thus will give itself a shot to swap out Jared Goff. But with this class, that new hypothetical quarterback will be stepping into a situation with an intriguing young roster.):  https://www.nbcsports.com/edge/article/rankings/thors-nfc-draft-grades

PFN (Detroit Lions Overall Grade: A
The Lions knocked this mock draft out of the park. Six of their seven selections received A’s in some capacity. Ifeatu Melifonwu and Amon-Ra St. Brown were unfathomable value deals in the Round 3-4 range, and on Days 1 and 2, they locked down their trenches with Penei Sewell, Levi Onwuzurike, and Alim McNeil. The Lions attained optimal value at almost every juncture, earning them one of the best overall grades across the league.):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/detroit-lions-nfl-draft-picks-grades-2021/

USA Today NFL draft grades: Which teams had best, worst hauls? (Detroit Lions - It wasn't sexy, but it didn't need to be given the state of this roster. The first three picks – OT Penei Sewell (Round 1), DT Levi Onwuzurike (Round 2) and DT Alim McNeill (Round 3) – replenished the trenches for an organization that wants to be tougher. New GM Brad Holmes waited until the fourth round for a receiver, but got a good one in Amon-Ra St. Brown. However the full tale won't be told until the Lions use the 2022 and 2023 first-rounders they acquired in the Matthew Stafford trade. Grade: A-):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2021/05/01/nfl-draft-grades-teams-bears-giants-jets-cowboys-raiders/4904079001/

Sporting News NFL Draft grades 2021: All 32 draft classes ranked from best (Dolphins) to worst (Raiders) (Grade: A-.  New GM Brad Holmes made an early splash trading Matthew Stafford to boost future draft considerations and he delivered while on the clock this year. Detroit made it a point to get better in both trenches early and got some good secondary and linebacker depth later. Sewell was an unbeatable way to come out swinging. St. Brown is the ideal tough slot receiver for them to playoff tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Lions didn’t address wide receiver multiple times, but that’s only real knock for an important class for their latest rebuild.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2021-best-worst-classes/el9pxr18ar921xbe3wg675rw8

Reuter's Overall  draft grades (Overall Grade:  B+.  Analysis: Sewell was an absolute no-brainer selection for the Lions when they were on the clock at No. 7. He’ll be a dominant blocker for years to come, whether staying on the right side or eventually moving to the left side. Selecting two defensive tackles after trading for Michael Brockers earlier this offseason seemed a little strange, especially considering the other areas of the team in need of support, but Onwuzurike and McNeill are very good players worthy of their draft slotting. If Melifonwu can become as good a football player as he is an athlete, watch out NFL receivers.  St. Brown was clearly one of the best receivers available in the early fourth round, lacking great speed but providing a reliable target. Barnes met the team’s need for a strong linebacker willing to pound running backs or quarterbacks in the backfield, though it was inadvisable to give up a future fourth-round selection to trade up for him.):  https://www.nfl.com/news/2021-nfl-draft-final-quick-snap-grades-for-all-32-teams

Draft Wire 2021 NFL draft: Instant grades for every team (Detroit Lions - When you’re a new regime trying to establish your identity, this is how you do it. Penei Sewell gave them a franchise left tackle and a huge steal at No. 7 overall, the defensive line got disruptive 1-2 punch with Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill, and Ifeatu Melifonwu went a round later than he should have. Speaking of value, landing Amon-Ra St. Brown and Derrick Barnes with back-to-back picks in the fourth round meant Day 3 was already a success, but Jermar Jefferson gave them a nice cherry on top in the seventh. Could have used some safety help, though.  GRADE: B+):  https://draftwire.usatoday.com/lists/2021-nfl-draft-grades-instant-analysis/

Touchdown Wire 2021 NFL draft: Final grades for all 32 teams (Detroit Lions: B.  New Lions general manager Brad Holmes appears to believe that football is won in the trenches, because Detroit went heavy with the big guys with their first three picks. Oregon’s Penei Sewell, the best offensive lineman in this class, fell into their laps with the seventh overall pick, and that was the ultimate no-brainer. Second-round defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike from Washington was undervalued in this class because the Huskies insisted on playing at nose tackle too often, but he’ll be a real asset if he’s allowed to one-gap at tackle and end. And third-round nose tackle Alim McNeill from North Carolina State reminds me of Falcons star Grady Jarrett, and he could do even more to fulfill that projection if he’s allowed to move to three-tech and get after the quarterback more often.  Where this draft gets questionable for the Lions is in their refusal to take a receiver for Jared Goff until the fourth round, where they picked up USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown is a very nice slot and outside receiver, but he’s not a WR1, and the Lions have a bunch of WR3s behind him. Not good for a quarterback in Goff who really needs his receivers to create.):  https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/lists/2021-nfl-draft-grades-32-nfl-teams/

Walter Football 2021 NFL Draft Team Grades ( Detroit Lions: C Grade.  Goals Entering the 2021 NFL Draft: The Lions could select a quarterback in the first round, but they're most likely to wait because they're willing to give Jared Goff a shot. Besides, no quarterback would be put in a position to win with this dreadful roster. The Lions have holes at almost every position, so it would be in their best interest to just obtain the best players available at each selection (save for running back and center.)  2021 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Lions' front office vigorously celebrated the Penei Sewell selection. Can you blame them? The Falcons, Bengals and Dolphins easily could have chosen Sewell without any complaints, yet a franchise left tackle fell into the Lions' lap.  Detroit needed to carry over that celebration to its other selections because none of their other picks scored above a "B" grade. Some choices were quite bad. Alim McNeill was a reach in the third round. Meanwhile, some like Derrick Barnes, but the Lions traded way up for him, expending way too many resources for a mediocre linebacker.  Sewell will certainly help the Lions improve, but I don't think many of their other picks will have much of an impact in that regard. Detroit will continue to be one of the worst teams in the NFL, which, I suppose, is for the best for 2022 NFL Draft tanking purposes.):  https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgradesteam.php

VIDEO:


Brooks, Zierlein highlight 'hidden gem' of Lions' 2021 draft class:   https://www.nfl.com/videos/brooks-zierlein-highlight-hidden-gem-of-lions-2021-draft-class


Posted by LionsFan at 7:29 AM

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