Lions Lowdown

ALLEN PARK — In yet another move to bolster their run game, the Lions drafted fullback Nick Bawden in the seventh-round on Saturday.

The 6-3, 245-pound back out of San Diego State, had 15 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in 2017. He had zero carries.

Bawden cleared the way last two years for Donnel Pumphrey and Rashaad Penny, who both dominated the NCAA rushing leader charts.

The Lions’ run game in 2017 was the NFL’s worst. In three days of the draft, they drafted two offensive linemen (Frank Ragnow and Tyrell Crosby), a running back (Kerryon Johnson) and now a fullback.

Bawden said he first talked with Bob Quinn at the Senior Bowl along with running back coach David Walker.

“They want to get back to running the ball and be really successful. So we’re just going to do whatever we can to get it done,” Bawden said. “I’m so glad they took me. My pride and joy is my run blocking. I’m going to do absolutely everything I can to get it done and everything they need me to do — whether it’s playing fullback, H-back, tight end kind of role. I’m going to do everything  they need me to do.”

The Lions didn’t use a fullback last season.

(Photo courtesy of San Diego State)

Bawden started at San Diego State in 2014 as the backup quarterback,  stepping in to start two games for the injured starter. He was moved to fullback prior to the 2015 season.

“It was definitely something I wasn’t open to at first. I had no idea that I had it in me to be able to play fullback. I knew how hard the position was, I knew how tough you had to be,” Bawden said on a conference call. “At first I didn’t really didn’t believe I could do it but I wanted to stay at San Diego, I loved our coaches, I loved everything we were going for. I was willing to give it a chance, it definitely gave me an opportunity to be where I am today talking to you as a Detroit Lion which I’m so excited about.”

He had to bulk up to make the move. He learned to cook his own meals. Since he started lifting weights in seventh grade.

“It was incredibly hard at first. I’ve loved lifting from an early age, I started lifting when I was in seventh grade I wanted to be the strongest QB in the league I really took pride in my training. It wasn’t too hard of a transition from there but I definitely had to gain some weight. I was about 220 pounds as a quarterback, i had to get heavier. I gained 10 pounds a year through my junior and senior year.

He was up to 250 for his senior year. “I started cooking all my own meals,” Bawden said with some pride. Although he’d like to take cooking lessons to improve.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s overview for Bawden: “Quarterback turned fullback who has bought into the physicality of the fullback position and has the mangled nose to prove it. Bawden has good size and is a competent pass-catcher. The market for old-school fullbacks has shrunk, but he has the ability to find a roster home as a contributing lead blocker and pass catcher on play-action.”

Other Lions’ draft picks on Saturday were DE Da’Shawn Hand in the fourth round and Crosby in the fifth round.

 

 

 

 

ALLEN PARK — The Lions added another piece to the offensive line puzzle by drafting tackle Tyrell Crosby (Oregon) in the fifth round with the 153rd overall pick.

Crosby, who is 6-5 and 309 pounds, played all games at left tackle as a senior but could move to right tackle in the NFL.

Crosby did not allow a sack in 2017 after missing most of the previous season with a broken foot. NFLDraftScout.com had him as the sixth-best tackle and 58th best prospect.

“As an O-lineman, you never want your running back, quarterback or just anybody with the ball or teammate in general to get hit by anyone,” Crosby said in a conference call on Saturday. “To know that I kept our quarterback safe throughout the entire year is a tremendous achievement in my opinion. Getting named top PAC-12 lineman of the year voted by the defensive linemen, it’s humbling knowing that your peers think that highly of you.”

In 2017, he allowed only three QB hurries, according to Pro Football Focus — tied for the lowest pressure rate allowed by any offensive tackle at the Senior Bowl.

Pro Football Weekly had him rated as the 35th best prospect in the draft. He was all Pac-12 as a senior.

Most experts expected him to go higher than the fifth round.

“I didn’t expect (to wait), but honestly, at the end of the day I’m now a professional football player. So, things happen in life and you really just, at the end of the day you realize how grateful you are, especially looking back at how small of a percentage of college players make it to where I made it today,” Crosby said. “Things happen and I might have gone later than I expected. At the end of the day I’m excited to be a Lion.”

He tweeted that he celebrated by going to Chipotle. He’s not getting down on himself on falling to the fifth round.

“It’s frustrating just because my personal opinion, I think I’m the best, well, one of the best offensive tackles from the 2018 draft. But, though it kind of sucks, at the same time it’s just an awesome feeling to know that I’m a part of such a great organization with great history,” Crosby said. “Wherever I went, I ended up in Detroit and I’m so thankful for it.”

(Photo courtesy of Oregon)

Lance Zierlein’s prospect overview on NFL.com: “Evaluators may stick with Crosby at right tackle in the pros, but his issues with hip tightness and gaining enough ground to the edge in pass protection may force a move inside to guard sooner rather than later. Crosby has technical issues to smooth out, but he will appeal to teams who covet size, length and strength as he puts big checkmarks in those boxes. Crosby is a bulldozer who can generate good movement in the run game, but he lacks the body control for desired consistency at tackle or guard. He has NFL starting talent but he may have a limited ceiling.”

Zierlein projected him as a second- or third-round pick.

He’s from Henderson, Nev., the same hometown as Lions safety Miles Killebrew but they went to different high schools.

“Tremendous amount of respect for him and what he’s done, especially going to high school a 10-minute drive from him,” Crosby said. “When he got drafted, him coming from a small school like SUU (Southern Utah), honestly it was awesome for me to see just because he’s a public school kid from this area.”

Inside offensive lineman Frank Ragnow was the Lions’ first-round pick. Other draft picks so far: Running back Kerryon Johnson in second round, S Tracy Walker in third round and DE Da’Shawn Hand in fourth round.

 

 

 

 

The Lions traded the New England Patriots their 2019 third-round pick for a fourth-round pick in Saturday’s final round of the NFL draft.

They used it to address the defensive line needs by selecting Alabama defensive end Da’Shawn Hand with the 114th overall pick.

He’s got two connections with the Lions. He played with defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson at Alabama and Bo Davis, the Lions’ new defensive line coach, was Hand’s line coach at Alabama in his first two seasons.

“He helped develop me to the player that I am. I’m just excited to be reunited with those guys,” Hand said on a conference call on Saturday.

He sounds excited about heading to Detroit. “You know, with Coach Bo (Davis) there, I know they’ve got a kind of similar scheme like Alabama did. It’s just a whole bunch of dogs, so I’m just ready to be a part of that unit,” Hand said.

Hand said getting the phone call was like the best feeling in the world.

“You just work for so long to get to a goal. I mean, it was a childhood dream. And now it’s a dream come true. Now, I’m just ready to work hard and fulfill what I’ve got to do,” Hand said.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein’s prospect overview on Hand: “In 2014, he was considered the top-rated recruit in the nation but failed to find the production and accolades that were expected of him. While he possesses NFL size and ability, he hasn’t always played with the fire or urgency we have come to expect from Alabama defenders. Hand is a versatile defender who could be targeted as a base end who reduces inside on passing downs. He’ll likely be drafted on Day 2 based on the traits, but he’s hardly a lock to match the production to the talent as a pro.’

Hand, who is 6-4 and 297 pounds, started nine of 11 games that he played in 2017 recording 27 tackles, 3.5 for loss with three sacks.

He was arrested for driving under the influence in July 2017, though he was actually found sleeping behind the wheel of the car while it was parked.

(Photo courtesy of Alabama)

Per NFL.com: “At Alabama, Hand played in nine games as a true freshman, making seven stops including two sacks. Hand played in every game as a reserve in Alabama’s deep defensive line rotation in their 2015 national championship season (16 stops, 6.5 for loss, three sacks), making an impact in the title game with two tackles for loss against Clemson. That depth kept him from starting again in 2016, but he was a regular contributor (21 tackles, 3.5 for loss, two sacks) using his length, strength, and athleticism to factor in plays where he didn’t collect a stat.”

The two-time first-team USA Today All-American was also a state high school wrestling champion.

Going into today’s final rounds, the Lions had only two picks — fifth round and seventh round. Quinn had traded the fourth round pick to the Patriots on Friday to move up to take running back Kerryon Johnson.

Saturday’s move was the third draft pick that GM Bob Quinn has made with the Patriots, his former team. He said on Friday night that’s it’s easier and more efficient to make trades with people he knows.

Inside offensive lineman Frank Ragnow was the Lions’ first-round pick. Other draft picks so far: Running back Kerryon Johnson in second round, S Tracy Walker in third round and tackle Tyrell Crosby in the fifth round.