Friday open thread: Will Detroit draft another offensive lineman in the first round?

With all the talk of cap casualties heading into this offseason, T.J. Lang was one of the most talked-about names the Lions might cut ties with in order to free up some additional cap space. Before the start of free agency, the Lions did just that, releasing Lang after two seasons in Detroit and putting the team in need of a right guard for the 2019 season.

Detroit spent the beginning of free agency bolstering their defense. Signing Trey Flowers and Justin Coleman to lucrative deals shored up some of their most pressing needs, but after the first two weeks of free agency, the Lions are still without a starting right guard.

The team did sign Oday Aboushi to a one-year deal, a player who has some experience playing in Darrell Bevell’s offense, but he should be looked at as a depth piece. Tyrell Crosby could be an option, however he didn’t play any snaps at guard when Lang missed time last season due to a concussion and a neck injury. The Lions chose instead to call on Kenny Wiggins, and, well, his play last year proved he shouldn’t be part of the plan moving forward—they could save about $2.75 million if they choose to cut him. Detroit also has Joe Dahl still on their roster, but going into his third season without much playing time last year, it’s not likely the Lions view Dahl as a viable solution to their hole at right guard.

So, with all that being said, today’s “Question of the Day” is:

Will the Lions draft an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft?

My answer: At eight? I would certainly hope not.

Earlier this week on #LionsTwitter, there was some talk of Detroit entertaining the idea of drafting Alabama’s Jonah Williams with the eighth overall pick. To be really clear, Detroit selecting Williams at No. 8 would be a nightmare born into reality. It’s a doomsday scenario. It’s the worst of all possible timelines. It literally could not get worse than that. Even if Detroit were to slip back into the teens and select Williams it would be a bad move.

With that being said, it could totally happen, and it’s easy to see why. Lions GM Bob Quinn has drafted an offensive lineman in the first round in two of his three drafts—taking Taylor Decker in 2016 and Frank Ragnow in 2018. He’s made improving the o-line one of his greatest priorities by investing ample draft capital as well as cap dollars in free agency. Quinn made Rick Wagner the highest paid right tackle in NFL history back in 2017 to the tune of $47.5 million over five years and then added T.J. Lang not long after.

Detroit does need to figure out a contingency plan at right guard, both in the long term and the short term, but there isn’t an offensive lineman in this draft worthy of using the eighth overall pick on.

Your turn.