During this week’s episode of the PODcast, Pro Football Focus’ Brett Whitefield nonchalantly dropped a bomb regarding the Detroit Lions’ first round pick. “I think Da’Ron Payne is high on their board,” Whitefield said. “If the cards fall right—there’s a lot of people saying he’s not even going to be there at 20 anymore—but if he is, I think the Lions are taking him.”
This comes as a bit of a surprise because Alabama’s Da’Ron Payne doesn’t exactly fit the profile of the Lions’ perceived need at defensive tackle. Though Detroit could always need some more big run-stuffers, their bigger need is for a pass-rushing three-tech, something which Payne has yet to show he’s fully capable of doing.