Lions' Martin Mayhew personally scouted Eric Fisher

If the Detroit Lions decide against using the fifth overall pick on a defensive end, there's a very good chance that they will instead select an offensive tackle. Based on how the top of the 2013 NFL Draft is shaping up, Texas A&M's Luke Joeckel and Central Michigan's Eric Fisher figure to be the top two tackles taken, and they both could actually be among the top players taken in general.

Joeckel isn't expected to be available when the Lions go on the clock at No. 5 overall, but Fisher should be there. When the college football season ended, Fisher wasn't projected to be a potential top-five pick, but a strong showing at the Senior Bowl has elevated his stock. He certainly is a player worth considering for the Lions, and general manager Martin Mayhew has gotten a good look at Fisher by personally scouting him.

4 NFL GMs personally scouted Eric Fisher this year: Martin Mayhew (Lions), Phil Emery (Chi) John Schneider(Sea) &A.J. Smith (ex-SD)

— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) February 21, 2013

With Reilly Reiff already waiting in the wings, the Lions don't necessarily have a pressing need at offensive tackle. However, with Gosder Cherilus potentially set to depart and Jeff Backus' career winding down, taking Fisher would make a lot of sense. An offensive tackle combination of Reiff and Fisher could give the Lions a pair of starters on the offensive line for the next decade, and that is a very intriguing possibility.

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