The NFL scouting combine kicks off in Indianapolis this week and lasts through next Monday, Here are five narratives to watch involving the Detroit Lions this week:
QB shuffle
Alabama’s Bryce Young is the most polished quarterback in this year’s draft and the presumptive No. 1 overall pick. Young doesn’t have much to gain at the combine this week, so long as he measures 6 feet (or thereabouts). But the QB pecking order behind him is anyone’s guess.
Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Kentucky’s Will Levis also are probable top-10 picks, and Florida’s Anthony Richardson could cement himself in that same group with a strong combine workout. Richardson has the strongest arm of any quarterback in the class and if he runs a 40-yard dash in the 4.4-second range, he’ll leave Indianapolis with plenty of buzz about his name.
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NFC North news
Aaron Rodgers might or might not return to the Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears could be shopping QB Justin Fields (or just creating a smokescreen with the No. 1 pick). And the Minnesota Vikings need to overhaul their aging roster.
Rodgers’ future should be the first of those dominoes to fall as the Packers need to know before free agency what their plans are at quarterback. If Rodgers returns, the NFC North will be a tough division in 2023 — with the Bears potentially adding one or more young playmakers if they keep Fields and trade the No. 1 pick. The Vikings, with Brian Flores as their new defensive coordinator, are the defending division champs.
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Mazi fare
Michigan has nine players invited to the combine — only Alabama and Georgia have more — but no surefire first-rounders. Defensive lineman Mazi Smith is the Wolverines’ top prospect in this year’s draft, and he’s capable of putting on a show at the combine.
Smith reportedly benched 325 pounds 22 times at Michigan — at the combine, prospects do reps of 225 pounds in the bench — and should put up some of the most impressive shuttle times at 337 pounds. The Wolverines have other intriguing prospects, including tight end Luke Schoonmaker and cornerback DJ Turner, but Smith could leave town with first-round aspirations.
Cornering the market
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said in a conference call Friday he has 20 cornerbacks graded in Rounds 1-3. That’s an incredibly high number; for comparison, 11 cornerbacks went in the first three rounds last year. And it could hint at the Lions’ plans in the draft.
The Lions have two first-round picks, Nos. 6 and 18 overall, and a huge need at cornerback. At six, they’d likely have their pick of cover men, including Devon Witherspoon of Illinois and Joey Porter Jr. of Penn State. A great workout could push one or more of the cornerbacks up the board, or the Lions could be impressed enough with the talent at the position they decide to wait until 18 — or Day 2 — to address their need at the position.
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Trade show
Speaking of cornerbacks … NFL Network reported last week the Los Angeles Rams have had trade talks regarding Jalen Ramsey and that the All-Pro cornerback is likely to be dealt in the coming weeks. The Lions, given their need at the position and general manager Brad Holmes’ ties to the Rams, are an oft-mentioned suitor.
The Rams are reportedly seeking a first-round pick and perhaps more for Ramsey, and the Lions have an extra one to play with. Several Lions players have taken to social media to recruit Ramsey in recent weeks, including Jerry Jacobs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. If Ramsey is going to be dealt, expect trade talks to heat up in Indy.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.