Provisional Notes from Detroit Lions 2019 NFL: Experts Draw Conclusions

Overall, not bad.

It's the consensus of the NFL analysts who ranked Sunday the Detroit Lions preliminary team class in 2019.

The Lions made nine selections in the draft: Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson (No. 8 overall); Linebacker Hawaii Jahlani Tavai (No. 43); The security of Boston College Will Harris (No. 81); Austin Bryant (No. 117), Clemson's defensive end; Penn State Corner, Amani Oruwariye (No. 146); Receiver Travis Fulgham (No. 184); Mary Johnson's No. 1 offensive half Ty Johnson (No. 186), Irish striker Isaac Nauta (# 224); and defensive tackle Arizona P.J. Johnson (No. 229).

And overall, it seems that Lions have a good mashup of tenacious players that fit the "Patriot Way" model that the franchise is trying to achieve. Have some players been overvalued? The consensus is yes. But that did not stop the Lions from getting a passing grade.

Here is how some analysts ranked the class:

Nate Davis, USA Today Sports

Quality: C

Analysis: "They have not managed to make it their eighth place, but TE TJ Hockenson may be the best kind of consolation prize, GM's Bob Quinn's CV project is pretty busy so far. hard to get too excited for the rest – although apparently, you can not go wrong with a Clemson D line player … even in the fourth round, Austin Bryant. "

Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

Quality: B-less

Analysis"The Patriots' influence is real in Detroit, General Manager Bob Quinn and his coach Matt Patricia have of course spent years working alongside Bill Belichick, and this season has seen Lions add players directly from Belichick's catalog … … The Lions took turn 1 with the tight end they were hoping to be their Rob Gronkowski to TJ Hockenson, one of the most professional close-ups I've spotted in the last decade. .. My companion for him is long-time Steeler Heath Miller Hockenson is the third tight leg that the Lions have formed in the first round since 2009, the record for all teams of this period.

"Elsewhere, you know that Belichick loves versatile defensemen, and those choices match the style that Patricia wants to play in Detroit." Jahlani Tavai (# 43) is an attacker and I had a fourth-round score of Will Harris (# 481) Austin Bryant (# 117) has been placed under the radar of Clemson's super-defensive line of defense, but it is solid and will end well in a 4-3.

"All in all, it's a solid class, even if it's not spectacular.In case of problems, it's about not tackling the other endpoint of the defense during the round. 2 with good players on the board. "

Carlos Monarrez, free press

Quality: C-more

Analysis"We had a taste of the Lions' willingness to recruit like last year's Patriots when they picked Louisiana defensive back in the third round, and this year they've been closely followed by Patriot Way and probably by too many players who fit their profile system, especially in defense. "

Chad Reuter, NFL.com

Global mark: B

Analysis: "I love Hockenson as a tight hope in both directions.He will be a solid target for Matthew Stafford and a good blocker in the game of the race … … Tavai was chosen earlier than expected, a little like Kyle Van Noy Many years ago, though NFL scouts think Tavai can become a starter … It was essential to take a big turn, so I'm here with the Oruwariye pick. could possibly replace Damon Harrison, who signed up in 2020. "

Dan Kadar, SB Nation

Global mark: B

Analysis: "We're discussing the interest of taking a tight end in the top 10. But if you want to do it – as the Lions did with TJ Hockenson at 8th – you have to take one thing for sure. Then turn the Lions into patriots of the rust belt. "" Really, that was the theme of the project. "Linebacker Jahlani Tavai was a target at 43rd rank, but a player the Patriots were supposed to want."

Andy Benoit, Sports Illustrated

Quality:B-more

Analysis: "Head coach Matt Patricia is determined to turn Lions into a patriot style offensive." Finding a tight end of five tools is obviously a decisive first step – it's too much to say that TJ Hockenson will be the next Rob Gronkowski, one of the most ambitious hopes of this century: his blockage is even more praised than his reception: an important note considering the efforts made by Detroit for two decades to improve his ground game … Jahlani The overwhelming size of Patricia, who also takes a patriotic approach to defense, Will Harris brings crucial depth, as Patricia enjoys playing with three, and sometimes four, backups on the field … A player to watch is Amani Oruwariye, an armed press corner that, thanks to the disconcerting incoherence of Teez Tabor, second in the second round of 2017, could be examined more closely than most fifth-choice tower. "

Chris Thomas is the sports editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. @bychristhomas.