Detroit Lions: Late-round sleeper targets in 2020 NFL Draft
Offensive Linemen Sleepers
Kevin Dotson, IOL, Louisiana-Lafayette
Detroit needs to add quality depth along its offensive line and adding Dotson on day three gives them that immediately. It also provides them with a late-round guard who could eventually fill in as a quality starter once he spends a year or a two as a back-up. If the Lions end up coming out of this draft with Dotson on day three and a day one/two offensive guard (like Llyod Cushenberry or Cesar Ruiz) who can start right away they will have successfully rebuilt the interior of the offensive line.
Dotson’s calling card is his impressive strength. He rarely gets beat in a one-on-one battle that comes down to who is stronger than who. He also has great technique and hand placement, but can occasionally have lapses in concentration that leads him to struggle on those reps.
All in all, Dotson has the necessary traits to become a quality starter in the NFL. He just needs time and practice to overcome his occasional lapses in technique. Once he fixes that he will be fine.
Projected Draft Range: Round 4 – Round 5
Trey Adams, OT, Washington
The Detroit Lions currently have their 2020 starting offensive tackles on the roster. However, there are still questions remaining about who will start for them in the distant future. With that said, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them pick a tackle on day three that could develop into a starting-caliber tackle.
A player to watch once the later rounds get started is Washington tackle, Trey Adams. Once considered one of the top, young tackles in college football, Adams suffered back to back injuries in 2017 and 2018 that has greatly diminished his ability to anchor the edge of an offensive line at high levels.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Adams still possesses good movement skills and sets up nicely in pass sets. Unfortunately, it seems his injuries have robbed him of the power he once had and can no longer stand up to power rushers off the edge.
If Adams can stay healthy and fully rehab his injuries, then he might perhaps return to the elite prospect he once was. Even is he only returns to 80 or 90 percent of what he was at his peak, it might still be enough for him to become a solid starter or quality depth in the league.