BRISTOL, Conn. -- Matthew Stafford spent the past two seasons on his back and running for his football life. He barely had time in the pocket. When he did receive protection, there were times he had no choice but to feel rushed because it happened so often.
It’s the area the Detroit Lions have to improve this offseason -- a known fact since the middle of last season. Yet Detroit barely addressed the position group during free agency, signing offensive tackle Lamar Holmes and guard Geoff Schwartz.
Both might end up being value signings, but the Lions have not addressed bolstering the line for the long term, particularly at tackle. And protecting Stafford has to be the top priority for Detroit, because if the franchise can’t keep the quarterback standing and therefore healthy, the chances of winning diminish greatly.
It’s why Taylor Decker, the offensive tackle from Ohio State, made perfect sense for Detroit in the NFL Nation mock draft. Decker was the best available offensive tackle left on the board and one of the best players overall left as well.
He has the height and length to potentially become a left tackle in the future -- something the Lions might need with Riley Reiff entering a contract year. He also has a toughness that should help running backs Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick and Stevan Ridley immediately.
Right tackle has been a rotation for Detroit the past two seasons because of injury and ineffectiveness -- at least until Michael Ola won the job in the second half of last season. And Ola would still compete for the job, but Decker would be a short-term upgrade at right tackle and a potential long-term one on the other side.
Decker also became the pick once Ronnie Stanley and Jack Conklin were off the board on the offensive line, figuring there is no way Laremy Tunsil falls to No. 16. Had Clemson’s Shaq Lawson or Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins still been on the board, I would have heavily considered them there, because both would have been high-value players at positions of need.
With both off the board, I also gave heavy consideration to Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee, Ole Miss receiver Laquon Treadwell, Alabama center Ryan Kelly and a pair of Alabama defensive tackles -- Jarran Reed and A'Shawn Robinson.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the Lions went any of these directions on draft night, but offensive line -- and the potential of landing a future left tackle -- was too much to pass up for the Lions.
