The Detroit Lions are in a very unique positions going into the 2014 NFL Draft. They have the No. 10 overall pick and have shown in the past that they can be a playoff team. The question for them heading into the draft is what position is most needed and which player can help them the most. A great suggestion for the Lions would be to go after wide receiver Mike Evans if he is still on the board when Detroit makes their pick.
Evans had 69 catches for 1,394 yards last season at Texas A&M having Johnny Manziel throwing to him all the time. Many of those catches had to be great as well with the way Manziel would try to hit Evans while throwing off his back foot. Here is a look at some of those Manziel to Evans sort of plays.
The Lions are fully capable of putting points on the board obviously but their second leading receiver last season was a running back in Joique Bell. Evans is fast and at 6-5 brings the same height problems that Calvin Johnson is poising for teams right now. Any Detroit fan can just imagine Matthew Stafford having two huge receivers to throw to who can go up to get one of his many high passes.
The pass defense could use some help as well but if the Lions want to make the playoffs again in 2014 especially in a loaded NFC North, they need to get another receiver for Stafford to throw to. The final two games are at Chicago and Green Bay which aren’t going to be the easiest games probably to throw accurately in considering the normal winter weather. Evans can play alongside Johnson which would allow Golden Tate to be the slot receiver in the normal Lions offensive set with three wide receivers which would work even in bad weather.
The biggest problem is the potential that Evans is off the board when the Lions pick with the tenth pick. If that is the case, a secondary option must come on the defensive side of the ball with Oklahoma State cornerback Justin Gilbert or a safety like Calvin Pryor or Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The first option should be Evans however if he is there with the pick.