All Lions: Combine Buzz, Draft Hypotheticals

News and notes from NFL Combine week.

With the NFL Scouting Combine officially in the books, the next nearly two months will be filled with anticipation as the draft draws near. 

For the Detroit Lions, picking outside the top 10 for the first time since Brad Holmes took over as general manager in 2021 presents a new challenge. There are plenty of directions that the organization can go moving forward, including adding young talent to the defense. 

The Athletic's Colton Pouncy discussed his thoughts and takeaways in a column posted Monday. He detailed that the Lions have met with Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan “Johnny” Newton, and shared a note from a conversation that he had with the prospect. 

"I loved hearing from Illinois DT Johnny Newton. He comes off as extremely personable, witty, down to earth and someone who’d fit right in with this Lions locker room as an easygoing dude who’s also about his business," Pouncy wrote. "Now, it’s generally frowned upon to take up podium time asking if X player met with X team, but I was curious if Newton had met with the Lions, so I asked him one-on-one when his session was over. He confirmed he did. When I asked his impression of Detroit’s brass, he leaned in, smiled and said: “They f–k with me, and I f–k with them.”

Pouncy had a number of takeaways from the Combine, including an interesting note about the Lions' plans in the 2023 draft. Though many believed the organization liked Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon, the writer explained that Holmes and company had plans to select him at No. 6 last year had he been available. 

When Witherspoon was drafted one pick earlier by the Seahawks, Detroit traded back to No. 12. That decision netted them Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta, which wound up working out extremely well. 

"For all the talk about the Lions not selecting an outside corner in three years, it’s not for a lack of trying," Pouncy wrote. "Based on some conversations I had in Indianapolis, I was able to confirm something most could probably assume: The Lions loved Devon Witherspoon. I heard he was their guy at No. 6, until the Seahawks took him. He would’ve answered much of the questions at corner that we still have a year later.

"Now, it all worked out. The Lions prepared for the possibility, traded down to No. 12 and picked up No. 34 in the process. Those selections led to RB Jahmyr Gibbs and TE Sam LaPorta — two rookie Pro Bowlers. With all the information we have now, would you rather have those two or just Witherspoon? Always fascinating to look back."

Under the Radar Free Agents Lions Could Target

Here are other storylines surrounding the Detroit Lions on March 4.

• With the Lions expected to be in the market for a cornerback, the Detroit Free Press listed six potential options that the organization could acquire in free agency or via trade. 
• Detroit News beat writer Justin Rogers ranked and predicted contracts for each of the top 50 free agents.
• Lions Wire conducted a full seven-round mock draft for the organization, following the conclusion of the NFL Scouting Combine.