We conclude this week's insider's look at the Vikings' NFC North opponents with today's Q&A with the Detroit Lions' senior writer and insider Tim Twentyman:
Around the NFC North: An insider's look at the Lions
Lions new general manager Bob Quinn said task No. 1 was improving the "middle class" of this football team. That would be depth.
April 1, 2016 at 2:29PM
MC: Where do you think the Lions have improved themselves the most so far this offseason and where do you think the biggest holes remain?
TT: Lions new general manager Bob Quinn said task No. 1 was improving the "middle class" of this football team. In his initial analysis of the roster, he thought depth was a real issue for this club. So, he went out and signed players like offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, defensive tackle Stefan Charles, cornerback Johnson Bademosi, receiver Jeremy Kerley, cornerback Darrin Walls and safety Tavon Wilson. These are all veteran players with starting experience that improve the overall talent and depth of this football team.
Quinn was asked at the NFL League Meetings last month what he thought of the roster a few weeks into free agency and he commented that it was better all the way around.
I'm not so sure that's the case at receiver after the retirement of Calvin Johnson, but landing Marvin Jones early in free agency was a good get for Detroit.
Defensive end, defensive tackle and right tackle still remain the biggest positions of need.
Some might wonder why defensive tackle is still a need after re-signing Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker and signing Charles in free agency. Ngata is on a two-year deal, but he's 32 years old. Walker and Charles are both on one-year deals. The long-term future of the position needs to be addressed.
MC: What players and positions do you think the Lions are focusing on as possibilities for their first pick (16th overall) in the draft?
TT: The two biggest areas of need for the Lions right now are defensive end and offensive tackle, particularly right tackle.
Ziggy Ansah and Devin Taylor are the only defensive ends on the roster right now and Taylor is entering the final year of his rookie contract. The Lions need at least two more edge rushers via the second wave of free agency or the draft.
Players like Clemson's Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd or Oklahoma State's Emmanuel Ogbah could step right in and contribute as part of that rotation.
Detroit returns all five starters along their offensive line, and while they played better the second half of the season after some coaching and personnel shakeups, it's still a unit that ranked last in the NFL in rushing and contributed to quarterback Matthew Stafford getting sacked 44 times.
Riley Reiff is the left tackle as of now, but drafting an upgrade at left tackle and moving Reiff over to right tackle would kill two birds with one stone for Quinn and Co.
Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame), Jack Conklin (Michigan State), Taylor Decker (Ohio State) and Jason Spriggs (Indiana) all make sense at the tackle spot for Detroit.
As mentioned above, solidifying the interior of that defensive line with a player like Sheldon Rankins (Louisville), Jarran Reed (Alabama), A'Shawn Robinson (Alabama) or Robert Nkemdiche (Ole Miss) would also make sense.
MC: What do you think the Lions will have to accomplish by the end of all seven rounds for this to be considered a successful draft for them?
TT: The Lions have 10 picks, though six of those are in round five or later.
A successful draft in Detroit should yield three starting-caliber players, two rookie contributors and a few developmental players.
Former general manager Martin Mayhew had a "best player available" strategy, whereas Quinn says his draft philosophy is a mesh between best available and need.
The Lions still have some holes to fill on both lines. If they can come away with a starter or two upfront and a couple contributors, it'll be a successful three days.
Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
