From A To D: Grades Vary For Lions' Draft Class

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Locally, the Lions received pretty high marks in the draft. They added some top-notch talent and addressed several needs. Bob Quinn's fifth draft class -- knock on wood -- feels like it could be his best. 

“I don’t know if I’m going to say that right now," Quinn said Saturday night as he wrapped up the weekend. "I appreciate that you mentioned that, but we’ll see how these guys play. We’re excited about it, as you said. It’s a class that we put a lot of hard work in to. I think we have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and probably on special teams with a couple of these guys as well. So yes, I hope it is. I hope to improve every year."

Nationally, opinions varied. Some analysts, like Andy Benoit of MMQB, loved Detroit's haul. Others, like Pete Prisco of CBS Sports, weren't so enthused. Here's a breakdown of the national grades for Detroit's 2020 draft class. 

Andy Benoit, MMQB: APro Football Focus: ALuke Easterling, The Draft Wire: AChad Reuter, NFL.com: A-

Ryan Dunleavy, New York Post: B+Darryl Slater, NJ.com: B+Mel Kiper, ESPN: BNate Davis, USA Today: BMark Maske, Washington Post: BDan Kadar, SB Nation: BDoug Farrar, TD Wire: BVinnie Iyer, Sporting News: B-

Petr Prisco, CBS Sports: C+

Thor Nystrom, Rotoworld: D

-- 2020 NFL Draft | Team GradesI combined the grades of these guys for GPA:Chad ReuterVinnie IyerPFFLuke EasterlingAndy BenoitDaryl SlaterDoug FarrarDan KadarMark MaskeRyan DunleavyMel Kiper JrNate DavisThor NystromThanks for your work - much appreciated ---- pic.twitter.com/2CJDaYYtBJ

— René Bugner (@RNBWCV) April 26, 2020

Collectively, that puts the Lions in the middle of the pack. Of course, Nystrom's grade skews the average. If you remove it, Detroit would be just outside the top 10. 

So, what's Nystrom's deal?

"The Okudah pick made sense, of course, and I loved the Okwara and Cephus selections," he writes. "Outside of that, I didn’t get it. The Lions had too many holes to use a premium pick like 2.35 on a running back … and then they turn around and use a fifth-rounder on (another) receiving back? And then there were the reaches."
On the positive side, here's what Reuter had to say:

"On the first two days of the draft, the Lions secured a shutdown cornerback, explosive running back, much-needed interior offensive line help and brought together two family members in a literal sense. They hit the offensive line again with Stenberg, who has exactly the type of nastiness and strength you want up front -- at times it got the best of him during his collegiate career, though, so maturity will be a factor in how fast he can contribute. Cephus was a third-round talent with a seventh-round 40 time (4.73). He'll be a factor in the Lions' offense sooner than later. Huntley can be a special teams ace. Penisini meets the team's need for a backup nose tackle." 

All in all, reactions to Detroit's class were pretty favorable. Unless you're the Vikings, you can't please everyone. And hey, at least you're not a fan of the Packers. 

Just feel the burn from Nystrom: "The Jordan Love pick was bizarre, organizationally – but at least the value was there. The issue with the rest of the class is that the Packers reached time and time again – curiously, not once for a receiver, an acute need amid the deepest receiver class in memory."