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With all of the talk about offensive tackles lately, things have been very quiet on the Ezekiel Ansah front. Before the top tackles vaulted into contention for the No. 5 overall pick, Ansah was one of the biggest favorites for the Detroit Lions. He played for Lions coaches in the Senior Bowl, and given their need at defensive end, he seems like an ideal fit.
With the 2013 NFL Draft only one day away, Ansah is once again coming into focus for the Lions. With rumors suggesting that the top three tackles will be off the board before the Lions even go on the clock, Ansah seems to once again be the favorite to be picked fifth overall. What's more, NFL Network's Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport both see Detroit as a likely landing spot for Ansah.
Ziggy Ansah's name is one that's being bandied about in the Top 5. The Lions like him and he could be a target for teams looking to move up.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2013
Detroit d-line coach Jim Washburn has taken a liking to Ansah, so clubs targeting Ansah below 5 could be looking for a deal with Philly at 4
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 24, 2013
. @albertbreer linked #Lions and Ziggy Ansah at 5. I hear they love him. So, how much contact has he had with them? "None," Ziggy said. Oh.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 24, 2013
The Lions likely haven't had any contact with Ansah because they got to coach him at the Senior Bowl. And even if that's not the case, a lack of contact doesn't mean the Lions aren't interested. (See Jahvid Best, who was picked after not being in contact with the team.)
If the top tackles are indeed off the board when the Lions make their pick on Thursday night, does Ansah make the most sense for them at No. 5?