2017 NFL Draft: Detroit Lions meeting tracker

Now that the NFL Combine is coming to a close and only team Pro Days remain in between now and the NFL Draft in April, it’s time to take a closer look at the players the Detroit Lions have been looking at.

The Lions have now had opportunities to meet with prospects at the Senior Bowl, the East-West Shrine game and the NFL Combine. Through beat writer reports, we can gather who the Lions have met with so far and get an idea of which players and what positions they may be targeting in the draft.

We will continue to update this list as more information comes in, but it’s also important to note this:

Though Rogers is being a little facetious here—he clarified later that the Lions haven’t met with Zach Cunningham, for example—the truth is the Lions have likely met with a lot more than the players listed below. Still, it’s important to note which players have gone public with their meeting with the Lions. Take a look:

[Editor’s note: Thanks to @ProCentral101 for some additions to our original list.]

Last updated: 3/23/17

Offense

QB Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee) - Senior Bowl (Source)
QB Brad Kaaya (Miami (FL)) - Combine (Source)
QB Alek Torgersen (Penn) - Pro Day (Source)
QB Zach Terrell (Western Mich) - Pro Day (Source)
QB Tyler O’Connor (Michigan State) - Local day (Source)
RB Alvin Kamara (Tennessee) - Combine (Source)
RB Samaje Perine (Oklahoma) Combine (informal) (Source)
RB D’Onta Foreman (Texas) - Combine (Source)
RB Kareem Hunt (Toledo) - Combine (Source)
RB Donnel Pumphrey (SD State) - Combine (Source)
RB Joe Mixon (Oklahoma) - Pro Day (Source)
RB Corey Clement (Wisconsin) - Pro Day (Source)
RB Dare Ogunbowale (Wisconsin) - Pro Day (Source)
RB De’Veon Smith (Michigan) - Local Day (Source)
RB Donnel Pumphrey (San Diego State) - Pro Day (Source)
RB/KR Bradley Mitchell (Mount Union) - Pro Day (Source)
TE Michael Roberts (Toledo) - Senior Bowl (Source); Pro Day (Source)
TE Cole Hikutini (Louisville) - Combine (Source)
TE Jordan Leggett (Clemson) - Combine (Source)
TE Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech) - Combine (Source)
TE Jake Butt (Michigan) - Combine (Source)
TE Adam Shaheen (Ashland) - Combine (Source)
TE O.J. Howard (Alabama) - Combine (Source)
TE Mason Schreck (Buffalo) - Pro Day (Source)
WR Deangelo Yancey (Purdue) - Shrine Game (informal) (Source)
WR John Ross (Washington) - Combine (Source)
WR Mike Williams (Clemson) - Combine (informal) (Source)
WR Ryan Switzer (UNC) - Combine (Source)
WR Isaiah Ford (Virginia Tech) - Combine (informal) (Source)
WR Kenneth Golladay (Tulsa) - Pro Day (Source)
WR Carlos Henderson (LA Tech) - Pro Day (Source)
WR Trent Taylor (LA Tech) - Pro Day drills (Source)
G Jordan Morgan (Kutztown) - Senior Bowl (Source)
G Dan Feeney (Indiana) - Senior Bowl (Source)
G Dion Dawkins (Temple) - Senior Bowl (Source)
G Adam Pankey (WVU) - Shrine Game (informal) (Source)
G Jake Eldrenkamp (Washington) - Pro day (Source)
G/C D’Andre Banks (Kansas) - Pro Day (Source)
G/C Cam Keizur (Portland State) - Pro Day (Source)
OT Dion Dawkins (Temple) - Senior Bowl (Source)
OT Sam Tevi (Utah) - Shrine Game (informal) (Source)

Defense

DE Chris Wormley (UM) - Senior Bowl (Source)
DE Daeshon Hall (Texas A&M) - Senior Bowl (Source)
DE Solomon Thomas (Stanford) - Combine (Source)
DE Davon Godchaux (LSU) - Combine (Source)
DE Charles Harris (Missouri) - Combine (Source); Pro Day (Source)
DE Taco Charlton (Michigan) - Combine (Source)
DE Tarell Basham (Ohio) - Combine (Source)
DE Jordan Willis (Kansas State) - Combine (Source)
DE Jeremiah Valoaga (UNLV) - Pro Day (Source)
DE Keion Adams (Western Michigan) - Pro Day (POD sources)
DE/OLB Derek Rivers (Youngstown St.) - Combine (Source); Pro Day (Source)
DE/OLB Tim Williams (Alabama) - Combine (Source)
DE/OLB Takkarist McKinley (UCLA) - Combine (Source); Private visit (Source)
DT Ryan Glasgow (Michigan) - Senior Bowl (Source)
DT Caleb Brantley (Florida) - Combine (Source)
DT Malik McDowell (Michigan State) - Combine (Source)
DT Larry Ogunjobi (NC Charlotte) - Combine (Source)
DT Carlos Watkins (Clemson) - Pro Day (Source)
DT Rashaad Coward (Old Dominion) - Pro Day (Source)
LB Haason Reddick (Temple) - Combine (Source)
LB Anthony Walker (Northwestern) - Combine (Source)
LB Jayon Brown (UCLA) - Combine (Source)
LB Carroll Phillips (Illinois) - Senior Bowl (Source)
LB Jimmie Gilbert (Colorado) - Pro Day (Source)
LB Elijah Lee (Kansas State) Pro Day (Source)
CB Rasul Douglas (WVU) - Senior Bowl (Source)
CB Kevin King (Washington) - Combine (Source); Pro Day (Source)
CB Marlon Humphrey (Alabama) - Combine (Source)
CB Gareon Conley (Ohio State) - Combine (Source)
CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Colorado) - Combine (Source); Pro Day (Source)
CB Fabian Moreau (UCLA) - Pro Day (Source)
S Obi Melifonwu (UCONN) - Senior Bowl (Source); Pro Day (Source)
S Justin Evans (Texas A&M) - Senior Bowl (Source)
S Damarius Travis (Minnesota) - Pro Day (Source)

What clearly stands out so far are the sheer numbers of tight ends, edge rushers and defensive backs they have interviewed. All of those positions are pretty big needs, but seven tight ends is easily the most surprising. Granted the Lions don’t have a player besides Eric Ebron who is guaranteed a spot on the 2017 roster, it’s still interesting to see how aggressively they are attacking that position.

On the other side of the coin, there hasn’t been a lot of talk with running backs. That’s pretty noteworthy considering many draft experts not only have the Lions selecting a back early in the draft, but consider this RB class one of the best in recent memory.

We’ll update this list as it continues to grow.