DETROIT – With the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions selected Jarrad Davis, a linebacker from Florida.
The Lions had a desperate need at linebacker, and passed on other available linebackers, such as Reuben Foster and T.J. Watt, to draft Davis.
Recommended Videos
Here's what experts from around the league are saying about the pick:
Sports Illustrated: Grade: B: The Lions had arguably the worst linebacking group in the league during the 2016 season, and they were not in much better shape headed into Thursday. Enter Davis, a three-down defender who just needs to stay healthy. He was unable to do so at Florida, but Detroit obviously feels comfortable enough with him after all the headaches caused by DeAndre Levy’s injury issues in recent seasons. Davis shouldn’t leave the field much—his coverage skills will keep him out there in sub-packages. Davis’s career always will be compared with that of Reuben Foster, still on the board here.
CBS Sports: Grade: B- : This fills a need, and he will add speed to a unit that needs it.
USA Today: Grade: C: The Lions got themselves a true three-down linebacker in Davis. He’s stout against the run and can hold up in coverage. He’ll be a good player, but he’s not better than Reuben Foster, even with the injury concerns.
FOX Sports: Grade: C+ : Davis is a first-rate leader and Detroit will benefit from him being a Lion. Detroit also needed a linebacker from this draft. But Reuben Foster is a significantly better player than Davis, who had a second-round grade on my board, and he was available. Character matters, but this felt like a stretch.
Washington Post: Grade: C+: Davis is a legitimate first-rounder. But will the Lions end up regretting that they passed up fellow linebacker Reuben Foster?
NFL.com: Grade: A: The Lions were desperate for an upgrade at linebacker, and they got a very good one in Davis. His athleticism and toughness are evident. If he can stay healthy and be an instinctive leader in the middle, Detroit is set at the position for a while.