2015 NFL mock draft: Solidifying the Lions' offensive line

Depending on what happens in free agency, the Detroit Lions could be in desperate need for help on defense in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Defensive tackle in particular jumps out as a potentially pressing need, but that will really depend on what happens with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley.

Regardless of what happens at defensive tackle, let's consider a scenario where the Lions opt to go offense in the first round. Specifically, let's consider a scenario where they opt to give their offensive line some help after an extremely disappointing season from that unit in 2014. That's the projection in SB Nation's latest 2015 NFL mock draft, as the Lions are predicted to take South Carolina offensive guard A.J. Cann.

Cann is ranked as the top offensive guard in this year's draft, so getting a player like that would certainly be nice. He could step in for Rob Sims at left guard, and he would really help solidify the offensive line. There would still be some uncertainty at right tackle given the injury issues that existed at that position in 2014, but I could live with a starting five that looks something like this:

LT Riley Reiff
LG A.J. Cann
C Travis Swanson
RG Larry Warford
RT LaAdrian Waddle

Drafting Cann would give the Lions an interior offensive lineman from the SEC for the third straight year. They got Warford from Kentucky in the third round in 2013, and they added Swanson from Arkansas in the third round last year. Shoring up the left guard spot with Cann from South Carolina in 2015 would give a big boost to Matthew Stafford, the Lions' running backs and the offense in general.