The annual NFL Scouting Combine is set to start in two weeks, and the league has released the list of the 319 draft prospects to get invited.
Unlike the last couple of years, the Lions enter draft season with a top-20 pick. But they have only one other top-100 selection and no third-rounders after last year’s Isaac TeSlaa draft trade. The combine is a great chance to get to know prospects on a personal level and watch them take the field for some structured drills and athletic testing.
This year, the offensive line takes full focus for the Lions. Sure, they could use depth help at tight end and safety, and they always seem to be in need of another pass rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson. But with Taylor Decker considering retirement, they need to prepare for the short- and long-term future at offensive tackle. And they never recovered from Frank Ragnow’s retirement, with a starting center right there at the top of the wish list in the draft.
Holmes is always going to treat the draft as his main source of roster building. The Lions have drafted, developed and retained an impressive number of picks in their five drafts at the helm, and that’s always going to be the goal no matter where the team is at.
“ ... look, when me and Dan (Campbell) first started, we said we were going to take the path of draft developing and sign our own,“ Holmes said last month after the team’s 9-8 finish.
“And I do think that that has worked so far in terms of getting us to this point.”
Other than scouting and speaking to prospects, the combine also provides the opportunity to hear from coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes in a month-plus. It also usually serves as the time the local beat speaks with coordinators, including any new hires like Drew Petzing.
To check out the full list of invited prospects sorted by position groups, click here. There were eight players from the University of Michigan and two former Michigan State University players who got invited to the combine. Western Michigan defensive lineman Nadame Tucker was also invited to Indianapolis for the important draft showcase.
The depth at tight end in this year’s class is deep, with 27 players getting invited this year. That’s the most tight ends at the combine in the last five years. Texas A&M (13), Alabama (12), LSU (11), Georgia (10) and Oklahoma (10) led the way for colleges with the most invited players to Indy.
MLive will be at the combine from start to finish. Our combine position previews start next week, and we will have more throughout the month at MLive.com/Lions.
See below for the team’s full rundown of projected picks in April’s draft:
Round 1, No. 17
Round 2, No. 50
Round 4, No. 118
Round 5, No. 155
Round 5, No. 180
Round 6, No. 187
Round 6, No. 204
Round 7, No. 222