National Football League

NFL Draft: 5 Potential Future Lions to Watch in CFB Week 1

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Leonard Fournette starts his NFL Draft audition tour. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions nation still buzzing from the 31-0 annihilation in the preseason finale. That can make it hard to focus on next year’s NFL Draft, but the Lions scouts will be out in full force checking out potential future Detroit Lions.

Here are five players who might fit what Detroit is looking for in next April’s NFL Draft, which will be held in Philadelphia after a two-year run in Chicago.

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

The Heisman Trophy finalist from a year ago returns as Stanford takes on Kansas State (Friday 9 PM on Fox Sports 1). McCaffrey is a dual-threat back, lethal as a slashing runner but also as a major weapon on screens, wheels and misdirection gadget plays. He would be somewhat redundant with Theo Riddick in Detroit, but McCaffrey has more dynamic speed and better vision as a runner from a standard offensive set.

This coming draft will be very deep at running back, and McCaffrey doesn’t fit Detroit’s current need as a between-the-tackles power back. Yet things do change over the course of an NFL season. If you’re like me and not a big believer in Ameer Abdullah as the No. 1 running back, McCaffrey has to be intriguing as a potential replacement.

Dante Barnett, S, Kansas State

From the same game, one of the guys charged with controlling McCaffrey is Dante Barnett. A hard-hitting safety who racked up tackles on a pretty strong 2014 Kansas State defense, Barnett missed 2015 with an injured shoulder.

For Barnett, my working comparison entering the season is former Detroit Lions safety Louis Delmas. He’s got that kind of coverage range and playmaking flair, but also the natural leadership and presence about him. Obviously Delmas struggled with staying on the field, and the hope here is Barnett can make it through his senior year without any setbacks. He would look great next to Glover Quin at what is currently the biggest hole on the Lions roster, strong safety. He currently projects as a middle-round pick, too.

Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU

I’m sure Detroit Lions fans are already keenly aware of Fournette, one of the most celebrated and hyped running backs in college football in recent times. He could be the inside runner and lead bellcow back the Lions just don’t have right now. Could be.

Fournette and the Tigers visit Lambeau Field to take on Wisconsin (3:30 PM Saturday on ABC), and this will be a nice test for Fournette. He’s not an instant acceleration back, so pay attention to how he runs when his designed hole isn’t there. Given Detroit’s offensive line, that’s something he would have to get used to should No. 7 become a Lion next spring.

I’m not a big buyer in the Fournette hype. He’s a great collegiate RB, but there are some eerie similarities in his game to prominent NFL busts Trent Richardson and (from the wayback machine) Cedric Benson. Be careful in going all-in on Fournette as a top running back, though he certainly offers that sort of potential. Detroit will have a scout in the stands in Green Bay.

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

Fans on the west side of the Mitten State, as well as #MACtion aficionados, already know all about Corey Davis. The wideout offers speed, length, strength and the ability to explode out of breaks in his routes. The NFL Draft community knows Davis well too, as many expected him to declare for the 2016 NFL Draft.

Davis and the Broncos will row the boat against Northwestern at noon ET on Saturday, a game the upstarts from Kalamazoo could very well win. Davis will be a key. He should shine taking on an inexperienced Northwestern secondary. The Lions have already sent a scout to Western Michigan over the summer and Davis is the headliner, though not the only future NFL player on the roster.

Anthony Walker, LB, Northwestern

I try and keep it simple. Watch Davis and Western Michigan but also focus on the man in the middle of the Wildcats defense. He’ll be easy to find…just look for the ball and you’ll see No. 18.

Here’s what I wrote about Walker on the weekend preview over at Draft Breakdown,

Northwestern has one of the most enjoyable players to watch in kinetic LB Anthony Walker. “The Franchise” makes plays all over the field, including 20.5 tackles for loss a year ago. He plays inside for the Wildcats but has the versatility to play any 4-3 LB spot in the NFL. Off-ball linebackers don’t typically get drafted highly, but Walker is arguably the best in class (he’s a junior) entering the season. He lost a lot of surrounding talent in front of him, notably Dean Lowry and Deonte Gibson, so much rides on Walker’s ability to make a younger supporting cast better.

Sounds like someone the Lions can use, huh? He would start right away as a rookie and has the ability to stay on the NFL field for all three downs. He handled the aforementioned McCaffrey better than anyone last year, throttling down the Stanford superstar in last season’s opener.