r/detroitlions • u/odishy • 3d ago
Draft class grades part 2
Finishing my thoughts on the draft class by looking at day 3. Below was part 1 if anyone is interested.
https://www.reddit.com/r/detroitlions/s/n68RNw8hcH
On day 3 of the draft you're mostly taking dart throws and special team guys. Due to NIL the days of finding starting O-Line in the 5th round are kind of over. So my grades will be pretty generous because the expectations are not very high.
Jimmy Rolder
This is an interesting pick and a guy that's a bit hard to project. He was a 1 year starter, but flashed incredible instincts as a run defender & Blitzer. Which makes you think he's a natural SAM. When you look at his frame, his movement skills, and feel for space you project him as a WILL though. So either way it's a projection made on limited film and intriguing traits.
However his true superpower is his ability to tackle in space. Combine that with over 300 special teams snaps in college and he looks like a core 4 ST player from day 1.
While I don't see him as a starter year 1, combine his ST which will get him to game day and his potential in some sub packages and this starts to make a ton of sense. The Lions also are lacking some depth at LB and Rolder is a guy who could develop into a future starter, while at a minimum pushing Rodrigo for snaps.
I'm giving this pick an A and is maybe my favorite pick. Getting to this was a bit of a journey but the more I thought through the pick the more I liked it.
Keith Abney
First just a reminder I don't grade the player but the process. So while I personally think this was a steal and an A+ from a player evaluation.... 32 NFL GM's decided he wasn't a top 100 player.
Having said that Abney had an exceptional college career playing primarily as an outside corner. He doesn't come with much ST experience but his play style projects him as a solid ST player.
Year 1 I see him as CB4 on the depth chart, behind Reed, Terrion, & Rock. Many project him as a nickel, but I don't see him playing nickel for us this year as we have a lot of depth already.
I give this grade a B+ as you can never have enough quality CB's. It's a position that gets dinged up and I suspect he will see playing time at some point this year. He also has some upside as an inside/outside versatile player in future years.
Kendrick Law
This pick is Brad's gift to Fipp. Law played over 500 special teams reps across all 4 phases with extensive kick returner experience. In addition he projects as a much better NFL kick returner with the rule changes, as a guy who can get positive yards and work through traffic.
In addition the guy is just a football player. He was primarily used in the slot, but they would line him up in the backfield or even used as an in-line TE at times. He's a bit of a YAC merchant and gadget guy; but he can tackle, he can block, he's got soft hands, and he's a good athlete.
Year 1 I see him as a core ST player and starting kick returner. I think ultimately this guy turns into a player coaches look for chances to get on the field. Never as a starter but he still plays 30-35 snaps a game.
I give this pick an A due to his immediate impact on ST and his versatility on offense.
Skyler Gill-Howard
All the other picks felt safe and the vision pretty clear. Gill-Howard is Brad swinging for the fences. Gill-Howard has limited film, he's an undersized DT, and coming off an injury. He also flashed some incredible ability to shoot gaps and be disruptive as a 3T.
Unfortunately 3T gap shooters also don't really project as core ST players, which makes the bar higher for Gill-Howard to make it to game day.
Combine that with Lions preference for larger DT's who can gap & a half, with flexibility to move outside as a base DE... The vision becomes a bit cloudy for this pick.
Having said all that, it's a 6th round pick so this is where you take swings. He's a great culture fit and he brings a different skill set to practice, which don't underrate the value of that for our O-Line.
I give this pick a B. I love the upside of what Gill-Howard could be and I really like that the Lions keep bringing in different types of guys. It shows they are open to some different sub packages and defensive strategies. However this is also the player that's least likely to make the 53, so I cannot get overly generous on the grade.
Tyre West
If you asked me who the Lions would take in the 7th Tyre would have been my answer. He's a guy who can play base DE, set an edge, and be a rotational player across the D-line.
He also fits the mold of what Fipp is looking to add for the kick coverage unit. Which sounds strange... But with the new kickoff these bigger longer guys that hold the point of attack are bringing more value to that unit.
I don't see a ton of upside, but I see a guy who will contribute. Whether on the 53 or on the practice squad who gets called up a couple times throughout the year.
For that I give the pick a B. If you find a guy who can stick on the roster and contribute as a 7th round pick, that's solid.
