2017 NFL Mock Draft: Bears and Colts Shake Up Top 5

The Detroit Lions are a team that has lost some of its luster in the past two seasons. Ndamukong Suh left for Miami in 2015. Calvin Johnson retired this past off-season. Those losses are becoming more and more noticeable each day. Detroit is 1-2 with their only win coming from a last-second comeback. Matthew Stafford has survived offensively thanks to the emerged of free agent pickup Marvin Jones and able play calling of coordinator Jim Bob Cooter. <p>Such optimism is almost entirely absent from the defensive side of the ball. Already a unit that wasn’t overly great since last season, they’ve endured two more crippling blows. DeAndre Levy, their star linebacker is done for the year again and may be forced to retire. Also stud pass rusher Ezekiel Ansah is nursing an injury that will keep him out until mid-October. The front seven is wasting away before their eyes. Detroit must do something to stem the tide of collapse.</p> <p>A good way to help is finding a quality middle linebacker. Alabama is a program notorious for producing top end talent at that position. C.J. Mosley and Dont’a Hightower are two of their most recent shining examples. Reuben Foster has a chance to become another. Like them he’s a solid athlete with range who plays aggressive against the run. The speed is there for him to stay on the field for passing downs and he just has an inherent sense of where to be and make the play.</p>. ILB. Alabama. Reuben Foster . 15. player. 50