Under ex-general manager Bob Quinn, the Lions became the NFL's first team this century to draft a cornerback in the top three. Two years later, another former GM says they should be the first team ever to draft a cornerback in the top two -- the same GM who drafted one of the greatest cornerbacks ever in Darrelle Revis.
Former longtime NFL exec Mike Tannenbaum, who served as GM of the Jets from 2006-12, published a mock draft Wednesday on ESPN wherein he plays GM for each team with a first-round pick "based off my own evaluations and preferences, along with what I believe makes the most sense for every team on the board."
And Tannenbaum, who drafted Revis 14th overall in 2007, thinks Cincinnati corner and Detroit native Ahmad 'Sauce' Gardner makes the most sense for the Lions at No. 2, with Aidan Hutchinson gone to the Jags.
"And yes, I know the Lions used the No. 3 overall pick on cornerback Jeff Okudah just two years ago, but I also know he has ended up on injured reserve in both of his pro seasons and has been limited to 10 total games," Tannenbaum writes. "The Lions gave up the NFL's third-best opponent QBR last year and still need a corner. Gardner didn't surrender more than 13 yards in a game or a single TD all season in 2021."
Sure, the Lions could use another corner. In today's NFL, who couldn't? On top of that opponent QBR, Detroit allowed the third highest passer rating (101.1), the third most passing touchdowns (31) and the second most passing yards per attempt (8.0) last season. Their young secondary was shredded. But what this defense really needs is a game-breaker, and game-breakers rarely come in the form of cornerbacks.
Drafting Gardner second overall would be getting cute. The Lions are coming off a three-win season and entering the second year of a substantial rebuild. They can get cute once they're not so ugly. GM Brad Holmes acknowledged he eschewed the "sexy pick" last year when he took offensive tackle Penei Sewell seventh overall, and look at Sewell now. Look at that O-line. If Holmes can't trade down this year, he should stick to his guns at No. 2.
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Beyond that, the Lions are cautiously optimistic in the corners they have. Okudah is poised to return from a torn Achilles and remains full of potential,
Amani Oruwariye is coming off a breakout season in which he finished third in the NFL in picks, free agent acquisition Mike Hughes is coming off a breakout season himself, and Jerry Jacobs and AJ Parker, speaking of breakouts, were two of the league's best undrafted free agents last year. The Lions also bring back third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu. Fully healthy, they want to see what this group can do.
Gardner will likely be a very good player in the NFL. He was a flat-out stud at Cincinnati. But the Lions bucked conventional wisdom to draft a corner two years ago, and the old regime wound up paying for it. The new regime found a franchise cornerstone last year by doing the opposite. No need to change things now.
Tannenbaum, by the way, also says the Lions should draft Ole Miss QB Matt Corral when they're back on the clock at No. 32:
"Getting the fifth-year option is important for drafting a quarterback. ... The Lions have Jared Goff under contract, so there's no need to rush Corral into action, especially because he's still working his way all the way back from an ankle injury. But he's a quick prospect with a smooth release. I'm intrigued by the upside here."