Detroit Lions – Five things that may appear on Bob Quinn’s to-do list

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn speaks during a press conference at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

By Paula Pasche | The Oakland Press

PUBLISHED: March 27, 2017 at 3:54 p.m. | UPDATED: June 17, 2021 at 6:27 a.m.

While Lions general manager Bob Quinn seems to have made good moves in free agency, there is no time to rest.

The NFL draft is less than six weeks away, so he has plenty of time to visit with prospects and make decisions on the draft board.

Here are five items that might be found on Quinn’s to-do list:

1. Resolve the linebacker situation. After the release of DeAndre Levy, Tahir Whitehead is the only linebacker on the roster with extensive experience on the Lions defense. They did sign veteran free agent Paul Worrilow who was a full-time starter for the Atlanta Falcons (2013-2015) but started just one game in 2016. Antwione Williams is a guy to keep an eye on. With a rash of linebacker injuries last year, his rookie season, he was thrown into the fire early. His stock improved as the season wore on. Big things are expected. The Lions have not re-signed Josh Bynes who started 19 game for Detroit in 2015 and 2016. Also they have not brought back Jon Bostic who was on injured reserve in 2016. Other linebackers on the roster include Thurston Armbrister, Brandon Chubb and Steve Longa.

2. Find a starting defensive end. It’s possible there could be one already on the roster we just don’t know. Quinn signed free agent Cornelius Washington who wasn’t a regular starter for the Chicago Bears last season (he started two games), but he seems up to the challenge. Don’t sleep on Armonty Bryant who played five games for the Lions in 2016 and had three sacks in his first four games. Also Kerry Hyder, who had a team-high eight sacks last season, could be in the mix. Anthony Zettel played well as a rookie, rotating in at end and tackle, not sure how much of a load he will assume. It’d be shocking if Quinn doesn’t draft at least one defensive end although not sure how early in the draft.

3. Find a running back. The run game needs work and it has gotten some attention with the addition of right guard T.J. Lang and blocking tight end Darren Fells. If the current backs on the roster were guaranteed to stay healthy, it would be a decent group. However, this is the NFL and in the NFL running backs get injured. Adrian Peterson is the best free agent out there but speculation is that he want $8 million per year which is probably why he is still unemployed. Finding a new running back (or two) in the NFL draft is obviously the best option. Quinn has said he is open to drafting Joe Mixon who fell down the draft boards due to punching a woman in the face during his freshman year at Oklahoma. He’s not the only skilled prospect, it’s a good draft for running backs.

4. Draft cornerbacks. It’s something Quinn didn’t do last year even though he had an exemplary first draft. Nevin Lawson could use some competition and depth is needed at the position. They did sign free agent D.J. Hayden but he’s expected to compete at nickel. A few youngsters including Alex Carter, Adarius Barnes and Ian Wells could step up. This could be a make-or-break offseason for Carter, a third-round pick in 2015. He was on injured reserve as a rookie and spent most of last season on the practice squad.

5. Sign Matthew Stafford to an extension. In all likelihood this will get done when both parties sit down and talk. Quinn and the Lions have never wavered on the fact that Stafford is their quarterback. It will be the biggest contract that Quinn has negotiated and the most important.