Heading into the 2014 NFL Draft, Michigan’s Taylor Lewan thought he was the best left tackle in the class. The two-time All-American and two-time Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year had the resume to prove it.
Then Auburn’s Greg Robinson went second overall to the Rams. Then Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews went sixth overall to the Falcons.
"I took a huge L that night,” Lewan told the Stoney & Jansen Show.
Lewan was still on the board when the Lions stepped to the plate with the 10th overall pick.
“When Detroit came up, that would have been an easy lock for me,” Lewan said. "It would have been awesome to go back where I’ve been for the last four and a half years.”
Instead, well, you know. The Lions took that tight end from UNC, the one who dropped a lot of passes and ruffled a lot of feathers, and the Titans took a three-time Pro Bowler in Lewan one pick later.
That would have been bad enough. Then the Giants took Offensive Rookie of the Year and three-time Pro Bowler Odell Beckham 12th overall, and the Rams took Defensive Rookie of the Year and five-time All Pro Aaron Donald 13th overall.
Lions fans will never forget it. And neither will Lewan, simply because he can’t escape it.
"I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been on Twitter and I see Eric Ebron tweets and people are like, ‘We could’ve got Lewan! We could’ve got Aaron Donald, Odell Beckham!’ all this different stuff," he laughed.
The Lions cut Ebron after his fourth season of unmet expectations, and he’s landed on his feet. He made a Pro Bowl with the Colts in 2018 when he caught 13 touchdowns and now he's a key offensive player for the Steelers where he ranks third on the team in receptions.
"Hindsight’s 20-20, man, and I think he’s had a good career,” Lewan said. "He’s been a Pro Bowler since he left Detroit. You never know how things do or don’t work out. I hope the Lions have all the success, except for this weekend.”
Detroit visits Tennessee on Sunday afternoon. Lewan won’t be out there, as he recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in October. But he hasn’t given up hope of returning this season.
"My knee’s better every single day,” he said. "I’m seven weeks out of surgery right now, no crutches, can fully stand weight-bearing, no problem. I tell you what, if there’s a Super Bowl I think I might be able to play."
The Titans might have to get past Ebron and the Steelers to get there.