Detroit Lions may target a kicker in 2014 NFL draft

The Lions replaced longtime kicker Jason Hanson with veteran David Akers (left), who missed five field goals and an extra point in 2013. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Icon

The Lions replaced longtime kicker Jason Hanson with veteran David Akers (left), who missed five field goals and an extra point in 2013. (Daniel Kucin Jr./Icon SMI)

At first glance, the most pressing areas of need on the Detroit Lions roster appear to be a No. 2 receiver opposite Calvin Johnson and depth in the defensive backfield. However, there is another glaring need that is being overlooked by nearly everyone outside of the organization: a kicker.

The current kickers on the roster are John Potter and Giorgio Tavecchio, and that doesn't seem to be enough for special teams coordinator John Bonamego, whose No. 1 priority this offseason is finding someone who can boot the ball through the uprights.

“The No. 1 thing we need to do is find a kicker,” Bonamego said at a recent town-hall meeting for season-ticket holders. “From a scouting standpoint, it’s our top priority in my department. We have two guys on the roster right now that both have some experience. We’ll evaluate those guys in this upcoming period and we’ll compare them to the guys that are coming up in the draft, the draft-eligible guys, and we’ll find one.”

Detroit had David Akers for just one up-and-down season in 2013, but prior to that they relied heavily on Jason Hanson from 1992-2012.