Our two biggest needs by consensus are Corner and Defensive Line. We will not have the capital for a blue chip player, but thats okay, because coming out of Ohio State and projected to go in the late 1st to late 2nd round are CB Denzel Burke and EDGE Jack Sawyer.

I’ve been watching Jack play for a longgg time now. Like back to when he first committed to OSU type of time. He is an incredibly frustrating player. He clearly has the tools and ability to be a top tier player at his position, but for some reason he lacks the ability to consistently beat the tackle. 6’4 and stocky, Sawyer has excellent vision, clearly knowing where he is going to go before the snap and he gets there in a straight line, I say straight because his lateral agility is another weakness of his. He is a project, flat out. You are banking on his continued refinement and his pedigree to translate into a more violent and toolsy weapon to move around the line, since due to his tweener frame, he has some versatility. He has even taken reps at backer, make of that what you will.

So why would the Lions target him? He does the dirty work on just about all of the plays that stand out on his tape. He sticks his nose in shit, to quote Hutch. And like Hutchinson, he has used unconventional moves to win at the point of attack. I think he does a lot of the little things right, and Holmes and Campbell really put a premium on guys who play with passion and character. Unconventional.

Burke is a bit more straightforward of an evaluation. Great in off coverage, eyes on the qb. Muchhhh less handsy than Okudah when he came out of OSU. He does like to wrap the hip though, a move that I see college corners get away with more frequently than in the league, even though they are likely just doing what they are coached to, but Id argue thats a no win situation these days for those poor young men. Hardest job in sports. Decent size and a tad lanky, he isnt a burner by any means but crucially, he is comfortable on the outside, which like it or not thanks to a shortage of true boundary corners, means he is a prime target despite some flaws.

If BH decides to double dip from Michigan’s biggest rival next Spring, Id be over the moon.