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If the 2014 NFL Combine taught us anything, it's that this year's group of wide receivers is fast, talented and quite deep. The 40 times in particular were quite astonishing for this group of players, and it seems like the Detroit Lions could really upgrade their depth and talent at the position even if they don't select a wide receiver in the first round.
If the Lions do select a wide receiver in the first round, Texas A&M's Mike Evans appears to be the most likely pick at this point in time. It just doesn't look like Clemson's Sammy Watkins will fall to the 10th overall pick, especially after running a 4.43 40-yard dash. There's no guarantee that Evans will actually fall to the Lions, but he is their pick in SB Nation's latest 2014 NFL mock draft.
Going into the combine, one of the big question marks about Evans involved his speed. Considering he ran a 4.53 40-yard dash, there aren't really any questions anymore. That wasn't good enough to put him in the top tier of wide receivers from a speed standpoint, but we already knew that he's not a burner. However, this did at least confirm that he's not slow by any means.
Questions remain about Evans' ability to create separation, but from a physical standpoint, putting him on the same team as Calvin Johnson would be pretty awesome.
Mike Evans- 6'4 3/4, 231, 35 1/8 inch arms, 37 inch vertical jump. That is an insane catch radius!!
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 23, 2014
As we get closer and closer to the 2014 NFL Draft, I have a feeling that Evans is going to become the most popular pick for the Lions in mock drafts. Wide receiver is clearly their top need, and with Watkins unlikely to fall to the 10th pick, Evans just seems to make the most sense. Perhaps USC's Marqise Lee (he had a 4.52 40-yard dash) or even LSU's Odell Beckham Jr. (like Watkins, he ran a 4.43 40) could get into the conversation, but as of right now, Evans appears to be the second-best wide receiver in this draft class.