Detroit Lions: Regrets on passing up Aaron Donald in 2014?

With the tenth overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions selected tight end Eric Ebron. Should they regret not taking defensive tackle Aaron Donald?

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Donald was dominant in his first year as pro. His 47 tackles, nine sacks and 11 stuffs earned him the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, as well as place in the 2014 Pro Bowl and Pro Football Focus All-Rookie Team.

Before we go into more detail on Donald, it’s important to note that this is taking nothing away from Ebron. The tight end has a ton of potential and the Lions will be hoping he will breakout in 2015.

According to ESPN Stats, Ebron finished his rookie season with 25 receptions for 248 yards and one touchdown. They would have hoped for more production from him, but tight ends can start slowly in the NFL.

To put it in some perspective, Seattle’s Jimmy Graham finished his rookie campaign with 31 catches for 356 yards and five touchdowns; Chicago’s Martellus Bennett caught 20 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns in his first year (while a member of the Dallas Cowboys).

Ebron is an athletic player. His 6’4″ frame can cause size mismatches for opponents and his best years are certainly in front of him.

In hindsight however, maybe selecting Donald would have been the best move.

With Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley departing Detroit this offseason, the heart of the number-one ranked run defense of 2014 has been ripped out. They did a great job in bringing in former Baltimore Ravens five-time Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata to soften the blow. But the thought of Donald leading the line would have been an exciting prospect for the Lions.

Sep 14, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Mike James (25) during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. St. Louis Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

If you had said a year ago that Suh would leave the Lions and Donald would be lining up with Fairley in 2015, it wouldn’t have come as much of a surprise to many. But the two playing together in St. Louis wouldn’t have been expected.

The Lions have a talented roster that isn’t far from being a serious championship contender. The hole left by Suh is a tough blow for the team. To make matters worse, the Lions will be travelling to St. Louis next season to face the combination of Donald and Fairley.

This is of course a hypothetical situation, and maybe general manager Martin Mayhew believed the Lions would retain the services of Suh and Fairley, and with veteran C.J. Mosley (currently unsigned) behind them, the team had plenty of depth to succeed for years to come.

Nov 23, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham (13) makes a one handed catch for a touchdown in second quarter as he is defended by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) at Metlife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/NJ Advance Media for NJ.com via USA TODAY Sports

With that said, a pass-catcher wasn’t a bad move. But there was another player they passed on; he goes by the name of Odell Beckham Jr.

After missing the first four games of the 2014 season, Beckham would go onto catch 91 passes for 1,305 yards (10th-best in the NFL) and 12 touchdown receptions. His elite play throughout the season earned him the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award and a place in the Pro Bowl.

Star wide receiver Calvin Johnson isn’t getting any younger at 29 years old, and he has struggled with injuries. Johnson missed three games last year and hasn’t played a full season since 2012.

With Johnson lining up with Golden Tate and Beckham, the Lions could have boasted the best receiver corps in the NFL, and they almost certainly would have ranked higher than 12th in passing offense.

Nevertheless, the Lions have found themselves a talented tight end in Ebron, and he has a ton of upside. If he can breakout in 2015 like they hope, he may be able to justify the 10th overall pick of the 2014 draft.

For now, Mayhew needs to focus on maintaining a dominant defense while adding the right pieces to improve the offense that underachieved majorly in 2014. If the Lions can add the right players, they will be in a great position to return to the playoffs next season.

Next: Can the Detroit Lions replace Ndamukong Suh?

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