The Detroit Lions are pretty happy with Darius Slay and Rashean Mathis at the cornerback positions for the next two seasons and have several other, more pressing needs that need to be addressed in the NFL Draft. Despite this, it would be hard for the Lions to pass on this year's top cornerback prospect if the draft board broke their way.
"In the immediate, Detroit has to be concerned about its depth," Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. "The next three cornerbacks on the depth chart - Bill Bentley, Nevin Lawson and Josh Wilson - are all better equipped for the nickel. That's a precarious position to be in, with Mathis set to turn 35 during training camp.
"In the long term, Detroit must consider a succession plan for Mathis. Doing so cheaply will be difficult in free agency, which makes the draft an attractive option."
Meinke when on to linked the Lions with local Michigan State product Trae Waynes, the top CB in the draft. The only problem is that Waynes is expected to be off the board long before Detroit picks. "One thought to be a late first-round prospect, Waynes now is widely considered a top-15 pick, which means he could be out of Detroit's reach."
Both the Minnesota Vikings (No. 11) and the San Francisco 49ers (No. 15) have been connected to Waynes. The Lions don't pick until No. 23.
"Waynes is like any CB in that he's going to have growing pains, particularly in dealing with outstanding route runner who change direction without any wasted motion, but he has good length and can cover down the field, two things I put a premium on given the QBs and WRs I have to face six times a year in the NFC North," ESPN NFL Draft Insider Mel Kiper Jr. wrote.
The chances of Waynes going to the Lions are slim-to-none. But crazier things have happened.
The NFL Draft kicks off on April 30.
