2018 NFL Mock Draft: Josh Allen goes to the Jets
By Brad Weiss
. Edge. UTSA. Marcus Davenport. 20. player. 50
The Detroit Lions were very close to making the playoffs for the second straight year in 2017, though they fell just short of their goal of playing in January. Last season, the Lions were the class of the NFC North for most of the year, though they lost their grip on the division in Week 17. They came into the 2017 season with very high expectations, as they made starting quarterback Matthew Stafford the highest-paid player in the NFL in the offseason.
Stafford had a solid season, and showed why the team made such a huge commitment to him. On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions had spurts where they just could not get stops, and they should spend a first round pick to bolster the unit this April. The Lions made a great pick in the first round last year in linebacker Jarrad Davis, and they should add to the linebacking corps once again in 2018.
Marcus Davenport played for UTSA during his time in college, so he did not get a ton of publicity. However, he comes into the 2018 NFL Draft as one of the better linebacking prospects in the class, and should hear his name called in the first round. He has the talent to play sideline to sideline at the next level, and his football IQ is something that is going to make him a standout player in the pros. The Lions are a solid team, and will only get better this offseason.