It's nearly a given the Lions will take a running back in next week's draft, possibly as early as the second round.
Another Day 2 name to watch is Clyde Edwards-Helaire. According to NFL.com Analytics Expert Cynthia Frelund, the LSU product is the best fit for Detroit among the top five running backs on the board.
Edwards-Helaire had the second most receptions (55) and the third most receiving yards (453) in the country last season among running backs. He's the best pass-catching back in the draft, per Frelund's model.
That would conceivably fill a hole for Detroit, whose top pass-catching back last season, J.D. McKissic, departed via free agency. Kerryon Johnson, meanwhile, averaged just 1.3 receptions per game.
On top of that, Frelund says Edwards-Helaire's ability to break big plays on the ground would add another missing element to the Lions' offense.
"Lions running backs were not a source or threat of big plays last season, producing just 39 rushes (tied 24th) and 15 receptions (30th) of 10 or more yards, and averaging just 6.6 yards per reception (30th). Adding Edwards-Helaire would allow the Lions' offense to be more multiple and would drive overall efficiency," Frelund writes.
In terms of win shares, Frelund says Edwards-Helaire would add 0.44 wins for Detroit in 2020.
As for the other top running backs in the Detroit, Frelund pairs Georgia's D'Andre Swift with the Buccaneers (+0.51 wins), Utah's Zack Moss with the Falcons (+0.41 wins), Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor with the Eagles (+0.40 wins), and Dobbins with the Chiefs (+0.40 wins).