ALLEN PARK -- Ndamukong Suh was eligible to hit free agency the following year. So was Nick Fairley. That was a problem for the Lions, but they also had the perfect solution at their fingertips.
Sitting on the 10th overall pick in the 2014 draft, they had a shot to draft Aaron Donald. People in their building really liked the undersized but undeniably talented Pitt product, too. The thinking was they could draft Donald to play behind Suh and Fairley for a year, forming one of the most talented trios in the game.
Then if/when either Suh or Fairley walked in 2015, Donald would be there to step into the starting lineup and the Lions wouldn't miss a beat up front.