Each year at Lions Wire we examine the athletic testing scores of the upcoming NFL draft class, looking for prospects who qualify for our Quinn Influenced Benchmarks (QIB) system. In a nutshell, QIB is designed to identify common athletic characteristics Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn has previously targeted at each position, with the focus on finding similarly athletic prospects that could be offseason targets for the Lions.
The Lions utilize three types of players on their interior defensive line, a nose tackle, a defensive tackle and a “big defensive end”.
The nose tackle (Damon Harrison) typically rotates between the traditional 0 and 1-technique, but will also line up at the 3-technique depending on the situation.
The defensive tackle (A’Shawn Robinson) primarily lines up at the 3-technique when rushing four, but will occasionally kick outside to the 5-technique if they only bring three pass rushers.
The big defensive end (Da’Shawn Hand) role is unique in that a player can lineup virtually anywhere along the defensive line. When the Lions use four down defensive linemen, the big defensive end lines up on the strong side in at the 7 or 5-technique. They will also rotate inside at the 3-technique and in obvious passing situations will even push all the way inside to 0-technique.
QIB Benchmarks
For this group of players, the QIB focuses on short area explosion (10-yard split and broad jump) as well and lateral quickness (short shuttle). Players can qualify in one of four ways:
- Full QIB: Elite athlete focuses on the players who can match or exceed Da’Shawn Hand’s size and measurables, while also projecting as capable of playing in the big defensive end role.
- Full QIB passes all benchmarks.
- Partial QIB passes all but one benchmark.
- Nose tackle QIB doesn’t have athletic benchmarks — frankly because almost everyone meets the standards — but instead focuses on players who project as capable of fitting into the Lions multi-gapping scheme.
Full QIB: Elite athlete
Lions example: Da’Shawn Hand (6-4, 297)
Ed Oliver (6-2, 287, Houston) landing at the top of this section shouldn’t surprise anyone, as he has been heavily discussed at Lions Wire for some time. Oliver is not only a Full QIB elite athlete qualifier along the defensive line but he actually a Full QIB qualifier at five different defensive positions, including JACK and off-the-ball linebacker. It’s not easy to find players with more positional range than Da’Shawn Hand, but Oliver is one of those guys. If he is available at pick No. 8, the Lions should grab him and deploy him everywhere.
Jerry Tillery (6-6.5, 295, Notre Dame) is flying under the radar right now, but his combination of length and athleticism should have him in the late first/early second round conversation. He’s not talked about more frequently because, he lacks consistency and plays a bit stiff, but the upside to develop into a dominator is there.
On Day 3, John Cominsky (6-5, 286, Charleston) is a developing prospect on the defensive line but when a player his size runs a 4.69 40-yard-dash, someone will take a flier on him. He’s the type of player Coach Matt Patricia has developed into a significant role player in the past.
Alec Heldrith (6-4, 283, Clarion) is a small school prospect who Damond Talbot of NFL Draft Diamonds wrote, “Has the powerful grab & go to get off blocks with surprising quickness against the pass & run.” He could be a priority free agent.
Side note: Quinnen Williams (6-3, 303, Alabama) is arguably the best player in this class and he was well on his way to landing in this category but he elected not to participate in agility drills and finished with an incomplete QIB score. Based on his game film and measured scores in the other categories, there is little doubt he would have qualified here. He shouldn’t be available at pick No. 8 for the Lions but if he is they should sprint to the podium.
Big defensive end, Full and Partial QIB
Lions example: Da’Shawn Hand (6-4, 297)
L.J. Collier (6-2. 283, TCU) recently met with the Lions in Allen Park and could be a sneaky target on Day 2. His game is drenched in power where he is stout in setting the edge and against the run, as well as deploying a dominant bull rush when pass rushing. He has the potential to back up both defensive end spots.
Charles Omenihu (6-5.5, 280, Texas), like Collier, is capable of backing up both Hand and Trey Flowers, but his game isn’t as polished and will need time to gain consistency. If he is there in the fourth round, the Lions could be tempted to grab him due to his length and upside.
Dre’Mont Jones (6-3, 281, Ohio State) is best suited as a one-gapping 3-technique which would limit his role in Detroit, and with a potential Day 2 price tag, I doubt he’s in the conversation.
Kingsley Keke (6-2.5, 288, Texas A&M) and Daniel Wise (6-2.5, 281, Kansas) are more pass rushers than run defenders, but both have the upside to draw interest from the Lions if they can improve their strength and consistency. Wise’s bloodlines could draw added interest as his brother Deatrich played for Patricia in New England.
Jonathan Ledbetter (6-4, 280, Georgia) will draw the Lions attention because of his ability to anchor, his success against the run and as a two-gapper. Ledbetter is a bit lighter than Hand and lacks the same level of explosiveness, but he would fit the bill if the Lions are looking for a Hand-like player they can acquire on mid/late-Day 3 who can be impactful as a rotational player.
If the Lions wait until late Day 3 (rounds 6-7) there are a few more intriguing prospects who don’t quite have a positional home in the NFL but have the athleticism to warrant attention. Michael Dodge (6-3, 286, Temple) and Kevin Givens (6-1, 285, Penn State) are interior pass rushing specialists, while Cortez Broughton (6-2, 291, Cincinnati) has the desired positional range.
Defensive tackle, Full and Partial QIB
Lions example: A’Shawn Robinson (6-4, 307)
Christian Wilkins (6-3, 315, Clemson) is a player who checks off a lot of the boxes for the Lions. A two-time team captain, he has intelligence, winning the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy (also called the academic Heisman), incredibly high character, is stout against the run, as well as a capable up-field pass rusher. If the Lions still ran Teryl Austin’s attacking scheme — and they weren’t loaded on the defensive line — Wilkins and the Lions would make a lot of sense. He won’t be there in the second round.
Renell Wren (6-5, 318, Arizona State) could be listed in the nose tackles section due to his size and that being his college position, but he has the athletic range to expand beyond that only being his role. General manager Bob Quinn got an up-close look at Wren at his pro day and if he is willing to gamble on high-upside traits over production, Wren could be in play at pick No. 88 or 111 in the fourth round.
Trysten Hill (6-3, 308, Central Florida) is another freaky athlete where the college production doesn’t match the NFL upside. Maturity issues complicated playing time and he only has one career start because of it, which could be a major red flag for Quinn.
Kevin Wilkins (6-2.5, 305, Rutgers) played at the 5-technique in the Scarlet Knights 34 scheme and flashed during Senior Bowl practices. He is a fringe draftable prospect, as he has the potential to shift inside in an even front.
Nose tackle QIB
Lions example: Damon Harrison (6-3, 340), John Atkins (6-3, 321)
Dexter Lawrence (6-4.5, 332, Clemson) should be an instant starter in the NFL and while it’s rare for true nose tackles to get drafted on Day 1, his combination of size and athleticism warrants a top-32 selection. That’s likely too rich a price tag for the Lions with Harrison under contract for the next two seasons.
Khalen Saunders (6-0, 324, Western Illinois) is strong against the run and a capable two-gapper, who can line up at the 0, 1 and 3-technique spots. Among the players in this section, Saunders is the most athletic and is a partial QIB qualifier at defensive tackle. The Lions could target him early on Day 3 and utilize him in a rotation at both the nose tackle and defensive tackle spots.
Daylon Mack (6-1, 336, Texas A&M) is as close a Harrison clone as you will find in this draft class. With a squatty frame and a powerful anchor, Mack will draw attention from both even and odd front defensive teams, and will likely hear his name called early on Day 3. The Lions met with Mack during the East-West Shrine week.
Dontavius Russell (6-3, 319, Auburn) is a bit of sleeper at the nose tackle position and if the Lions are looking for a late-round option to use in a rotation with Harrison, he fits the bill.
Greg Gaines (6-1, 312, Washington) is a stout run defender who is comfortable and impactful as a two-gapping plug in the middle of the defensive line. There’s not much there as a pass rusher but there is a role for his style of play in the Lions scheme.
Albert Huggins (6-3, 307, Clemson) doesn’t get much recognition as the third wheel on the Clemson interior defensive line (Wilkins and Lawrence are both first-round talents) but he sets a solid anchor and has the upside to sneak his way into the later rounds.
