2019 NFL Draft: Top remaining Day 3 players for the Lions

Every year the draft shows us that we know nothing and Bob Quinn doesn’t care what media big boards look like. Yet we still expect him to pick the players we want anyway and get really upset when we’ve never heard of a guy that he takes as high as the second or third round. We’re all just along for the ride and we have to accept that.

The Lions did go out and address some big areas of need, whether you like the players or not. Let’s take a look at some of the top remaining players for the final day of the draft.

Cornerback

1. Amani Oruwariye
2. Julian Love
3. Iman Marshall
4. Jordan Brown
5. Jimmy Moreland

Oruwariye lasting this long is a shock to almost everyone. When a player is still there on Day 3 of the draft that some believed could have gone as early as the Lions’ second round pick, you have to wonder why a talented player is falling this far. I like Oruwariye’s fit and as long as there aren’t some serious concerns that the general public was not made aware of, I’d still love to see this match.

Love is another guy that has slid a little further than most expected and Iman Marshall offers the physicality and efficient tackling ability that Patricia will love to see. Both Jordan Brown and Jimmy Moreland are FCS prospects that put up plenty of production and are the type of playmakers in the secondary that Bob Quinn is looking for.

Also, look out for Isaiah Johnson who tested better than most corners have ever tested if the Lions are looking for a big, athletic CB to develop over the years.

Offensive Line

1. Dru Samia
2. Beau Benzschawel
3. Michael Jordan
4. David Edwards
5. Dennis Daley

The Lions could still use some help on the offensive line and there are some pretty solid guards left in Samia, Benzschawel and Jordan. If the Lions choose to go with the route of adding a tackle that can move inside if need be, then I really like both Edwards and Daley in that role.

Wide Receiver

1. Hakeem Butler
2. Emanuel Hall
3. Darius Slayton
4. Stanley Morgan
5. Kelvin Harmon

Some had Butler as high as a top-three or four wide receiver, so seeing him available on Day 3 is a bit of a surprise. Butler comes with drop issues, but is an elite athlete and is phenomenal at the catch point. Emanuel Hall tested out of this world, and if the Lions are looking to add speed at wide receiver, then look no further.

I really love Nebraska receiver Stanley Morgan Jr.’s fit as a slot receiver for the Lions as he is one of the quickest receivers out there and is a very good route runner. Harmon is another receiver with great route-running ability, but didn’t test great athletically and struggles to separate.

If the Lions are looking to add a receiver even later in the draft, I really like Keelan Doss’ fit for them as he can line up in the slot or on the outside and does a nice job of catching the ball in contested situations.

Edge Rusher

1. Anthony Nelson
2. Christian Miller
3. D’andre Walker
4. Maxx Crosby
5. Jalen Jelks

Nelson is one of my favorite edge rushers in the draft, and I would love to see him on the Lions. He tested very well at the combine and has some pretty solid tape to go with it. Nelson would make a nice fit as a down DE for the Lions. I am also a big fan of Christian Miller and profiled him a while back. I think he’s an underrated prospect who made the most of his limited snaps at Alabama. Miller has very good bend and impressive hands as an edge rusher and could fit the JACK LB role for the Lions.

Crosby tested extremely well at the combine and is a local prospect from Eastern Michigan that is pretty raw, but should hear his name called at some point and would be a nice project for some team looking for an athletic edge rusher with a high ceiling.

Best of the rest

S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
LB Blake Cashman
LB Mack Wilson
S Amani Hooker
S Dionte Thompson
DT Renell Wren
DT Armon Watts

Once you get to the final day of the draft, you tend to just go for the best player available, especially in the later rounds. I suppose teams may be looking for players to fill roles on special teams, but regardless, I’d expect the Lions to be looking at any and all positions.