While it might not happen in the first round, or even on the second day, the Lions could certainly walk away from the draft with a quarterback. GM Brad Holmes has said he wants to add a developmental player to the room as insurance for Jared Goff, and there are some later-round options who could appeal to Detroit.
"There are a bunch of guys who are interesting in their own way," longtime draft analyst Greg Cosell of NFL Films told the Stoney & Jansen Show.
For one, Cosell said he loves Fresno State's Jake Haener, who threw 20 touchdowns to three picks and completed 72 percent of his passes last season.
"He’s under 6 foot, so I don’t know how the Lions would view him, but that kid is tough, he’s aggressive, he can make throws, he knows where to go with the football and he can run your offense," said Cosell.
On the other hand, Cosell isn't as interested in Clayton Tune from Houston. Tune has NFL size and piled up 70 touchdowns over the last two seasons, but Cosell "did not like his tape as much as others" did.
"He’s got the size you’re looking for, but I just didn't feel like he saw things really clearly for someone who’d been in the same offense for three years," said Cosell.
Likewise, Cosell has doubts about 6'6 Tanner McKee, whose production at Stanford paled in comparison to the aforementioned quarterbacks.
"I saw him up close at the combine, he’s got a really, really bad body. He’s a statue," said Cosell. "The question is, can he function in (the Lions') offense? Goff is obviously not a second-reaction, improvisation guy, but Goff can move a little bit. McKee really can’t and you just worry about that in today’s NFL."
On the flip side, UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson has the dual-threat ability that could translate to the NFL. He's another later-round option to watch for Detroit, even if its current offense is built around a clear pocket passer in Goff.
Of the top-ranked quarterbacks in the draft, Cosell says Alabama's Bryce Young is the "most advanced mentally," Ohio State's C.J. Stroud has the most dynamic arm and Florida's Anthony Richardson has the most explosive traits but "he’s going to have to become more consistent making the routine plays."
Cosell sounds particularly enamored with Stroud, who "has an ability that some guys have and some guys don’t and some guys never (will)."
"He has the ability to make all different kinds of throws with great accuracy," said Cosell. "Not many quarterbacks at this age can throw with pace and touch and make those throws that we call feather throws, layer throws where you have to take a little something off it yet there still has to be some firmness to it. He’s really, really good at those kinds of throws.
"His ball location at the intermediate and deeper levels is really outstanding. And he’s aggressive throwing the football. He’ll throw to one-on-ones. Obviously he had five-star receivers, but you still have to have that mentality of turning it loose and he’s got that mentality. I think he’s a really, really good prospect."
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