Monday open thread: Do you have faith in Bob Quinn’s draft skills?

The Detroit Lions will have plenty of difficult decisions in the coming months, and perhaps the biggest challenge will be the NFL Draft. With the NFL Combine wrapping up, we have gotten plenty of looks at the top prospects in the draft, and there are choices aplenty.

The Lions certainly need impact players after a disappointing 2020 campaign, and those can be found with the third overall pick. On the defensive side of the ball, Jeffrey Okudah, Derrick Brown, and Isaiah Simmons are the biggest names available, and they are all positions of need for Detroit. The secondary could undergo an extreme makeover if Darius Slay is traded. The defensive line needs help with A’Shawn Robinson a free agent and Damon Harrison Sr. released. The linebackers could use some speed and coverage skills.

The Lions offense was arguably their strength last season, but that only came with a healthy Matthew Stafford and Kerryon Johnson. With question marks surrounding the future of the offense, Tua Tagovailoa has been a hotly controversial mock pick to the Lions. As well, despite Johnson’s talent, a running back could also be on the table. Coupled with some holes on the offensive line, and depth needed at wide receiver, the Lions could go many ways come draft time.

With all of these pressing draft needs, it does reflect negatively on general manager Bob Quinn. The 2019 draft class was incredibly disappointing in its first year, and it feels like the Lions are still missing some superstars to put them over the top. Kenny Golladay has been Quinn’s biggest success, but the rest of the team’s draft talent, especially on defense, has been lacking.

Now, with an incredibly strong draft class and valuable draft picks, we have to wonder: can the Lions capitalize on this opportunity?

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Do you have faith in Bob Quinn’s draft skills?

My answer: I do not, and it pains me to say that.

With the third overall pick in the draft, you would normally have a good understanding of which prospect your team will get. In 2020, I have zero clue which direction the Lions will go in. In my mind, drafting a defensive talent like Okudah is a no-brainer if he is available. However, based on recent drafts, I am not sure that Quinn will go in that direction.

Quinn has prioritized offense in recent years, having spent three of his four first-round picks on offensive players. While the offense has seen a boost, we have reached the point where the defense is a massive liability. Spending a valuable draft asset on a wide receiver, an offensive lineman, or a quarterback would be negligent.

I have been campaigning for a pass rusher for years now, yet Quinn has all but avoided that position in the draft. The Lions have drafted two pass rushers under Quinn: Pat O’Connor and Austin Bryant. O’Connor failed to make the team, while Bryant was injured this past season. An incredible edge prospect in Chase Young could be available if the Lions get lucky, but I do not have faith that the Lions would even take him.

In such a critical season for the future of the Lions, Bob Quinn and company have to make this draft class count. Can they? Perhaps. Will they? I’m not sure.