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          NFL Nation

          What late-round rookie could make biggest impact for Lions in 2018?

          • Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff WriterMay 14, 2018, 01:00 PM
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              Michael Rothstein is a reporter for NFL Nation at ESPN. Rothstein covers the Atlanta Falcons. You can follow him via Twitter @MikeRothstein.
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          Every Saturday (in this case, though, it’s Monday), we take some of your questions for a weekly Lions Mailbag. To ask a question for a future Mailbag, use the #LionsMailbag hashtag on Twitter, email me at michael.rothstein@espn.com or hit me up on Facebook.

          Now, on to your questions.

          Brent, it’s still pretty early overall to predict what might happen in the backfield. Rookie minicamp just concluded and the full team hasn’t even practiced together yet. But working with the premise that rookie Kerryon Johnson and veteran LeGarrette Blount get a good amount of work in Detroit’s backfield, predicting somewhere between 150-180 carries and 700-800 yards is a reasonable start for Johnson, especially if Blount and potentially Theo Riddick or Ameer Abdullah will take some work from them. Johnson has the potential for more. But until we know how the offense will really run and what the Lions’ plans are there, it’ll still be a question.

          Once again, a little too early to predict that and so much can change about undrafted rookies from now even until the start of training camp this summer. So I would look a little bit at positions and where there might be room on the roster. For instance, if the Lions would be OK with keeping four tight ends, DeAndre Goolsby could have a shot at sticking. Defensive linemen such as Josh Fatu and Michael Hill also could have a chance considering Detroit’s questions on the defensive line. And Detroit was intent on bringing in a lot of undrafted defensive backs, so some of them could have a shot. Three in particular -- Mike Ford, Chris Jones and Antwuan Davis – would be names to watch. But having not seen any of minicamp or these players at all on the field, it’s just a guessing game right now.

          Dan, I’d look across the defensive line. There are a couple of players out there who could make sense depending on how much they are looking to get paid. Ricky Jean-Francois fits into Matt Patricia’s defense and has played for him before in New England. Same with Alan Branch. They are likely names. Johnathan Hankins might be the most talented defensive lineman out there at this point. If they want to try and bolster the edge rushing situation, Michigan native Connor Barwin could be a fit, as could former Lions defensive end/linebacker Willie Young. It would be surprising if Detroit completely ignored the late free agent market, so one of those names could make sense. Or, as Bob Quinn has shown, he could look somewhere else entirely.

          No, not at all. My buddy Carlos is wrong here. Matthew Stafford is a better quarterback than Nick Foles, although Foles has proven himself when given the opportunity at times. But I’d take Stafford over Foles in that discussion every day. The only benefit to potentially having Foles would be if you were looking for a cheaper quarterback option to build resources elsewhere because Stafford costs a bunch of money. But even then, as we’ve seen with contracts given to Matt Ryan and Jimmy Garoppolo, Stafford’s deal continues to look better as more quarterbacks get paid.

          There isn’t an obvious answer here. Taking potential injuries out of it, offensive lineman Tyrell Crosby seems like more of a long-term pick in the fifth round. Tracy Walker should play some special teams, but tough to see him get much work as a safety as a rookie with Glover Quin, Quandre Diggs, Tavon Wilson and Miles Killebrew, as of now, there. So that leaves Da'Shawn Hand and Nick Bawden, and both of them could have some impact. If Bawden makes the team, he’d be their fullback and get on the field in short-yardage situations. If Detroit’s run game improves when he’s on the field, he could have the bigger impact without much by way of numbers. Hand has a chance to be a third-day splash, though. All of the potential is there – has been since high school – and he should have an opportunity to at least crack the defensive line rotation. What he does with those snaps remains to be seen, but if I had to pick one of Detroit’s rookies, it’d be Hand just based on the combination of opportunity and talent.