5 Goals Lions Must Accomplish at 2024 Combine
The 2024 NFL scouting combine kicks off Monday, February 26, from the site of Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the Indianapolis Colts.
The annual pre-draft event will run until March 4, and could feature as many as 321 prospects (the total number of players that were invited by the NFL).
With that said, here are five things the Detroit Lions must accomplish during the week-long combine.
Closely examine the cornerbacks
There's no doubt that the Lions have a dire need at cornerback headed into the 2024 NFL Draft.
Cam Sutton, Kindle Vildor, Will Harris, Jerry Jacobs and the rest of Detroit's cornerbacks group were thrashed all season long by opposing receivers. Subsequently, addressing the position should be a top priority of Holmes – if not priority No. 1 - going into this April's draft.
Luckily for Holmes & Co., it appears that this year's draft class features a deep crop of corners. Detroit, with the 29th overall pick, likely will have the likes of Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Kool-Aid McKinstry at its disposal – all of whom are expected to participate in the combine.
If I were Holmes, I'd be keeping a close eye on those three cornerbacks, plus the rest of the position group, in Indianapolis.
Scout all the draft's top defensive linemen, EDGE defenders
On the defensive side of the ball, the Lions don't just need help at cornerback. They could also use a boost at EDGE and along the interior of the defensive line.
Specifically, Detroit should be looking to upgrade its pass-rushing department via this year's draft, and the organization should have numerous options to help it accomplish just that.
If it goes the pass-rusher route in the first round, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Lions select Missouri EDGE Darius Robinson or Penn State EDGE Chop Robinson.
And there's also a chance Holmes & Co. could grab some defensive line help in the second round, via a lineman such as Florida State's Braden Fiske or Texas’ T'Vondre Sweat.
Any way you slice it, Detroit needs to upgrade its pass-rushing unit, and should be closely examining all of the combine's defensive linemen and EDGE rushers.
Keep a close eye on the mid-to-late-round receivers
Detroit has many more needs on the defensive side than the offensive side of the ball. But, it could still use another receiver, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Josh Reynolds’ future in the Motor City.
It's why I'd be targeting a wideout in the mid-rounds of this April's draft. The Lions are presently equipped with two third-round picks – at No. 73 and No. 92 - and this is where I could see the organization address its need for another pass-catcher. I think USC's Brenden Rice, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, would be a perfect target with one of those two picks.
If I were Holmes, I'd be closely watching Rice and all of the combine's wideouts that could be drafted between the third and fifth rounds this April.
Scour the combine for interior offensive line depth
Along with receiver help, Detroit could also use additional depth along the interior of the offensive line.
Graham Glasgow and Jonah Jackson, the Lions’ starters at right guard and left guard, respectively, this past season, are both unrestricted free agents this offseason, and there's no guarantee that either of them will be brought back.
It makes it even more vital that Holmes adds depth to the team's offensive line via this April's draft.
There are plenty of solid mid-to-late-round options that the Lions could target, from Kansas State's Cooper Beebe to N.C. State's Dylan McMahon.
If I were Holmes, I'd have my scouts keeping a close eye on the aforementioned position group during the combine.
Find a couple of kickers that would be worth taking a late-round flyer on
Undoubtedly, Detroit needs to provide Michael Badgley with some competition for the starting placekicker job.
The verdict is still out on Badgley, and I get the vibe that Holmes & Co. aren't completely sold on him being the right man for the job.
To me, it's why the organization must place an emphasis on addressing the position this offseason, and I could see the Lions using Day 3 of the draft to do so.
Joshua Karty, from Stanford, and Will Reichard, from Alabama, are both intriguing late-round options, and I could envision Holmes nabbing one of them with the team's seventh-round pick (No. 246 overall).
