Biggest remaining needs for each NFC North team

Detroit Lions – 3-tech defensive tackle

I’ve been saying this for years now – Matthew Stafford has been shouldering the load for Detroit. He hasn’t had much help from his offensive line for quite some time and definitely not from the defense. The front office has made it a priority to completely rebuild the O-line over the last two offseasons.

While the Lions' D had a hot start to last year, leading the league in turnovers for the first quarter of the season or so, they once again fell off as the year went along, finishing 27th in yards allowed. With Matt Patricia taking over as head coach, expect a hybrid defensive scheme, designed to counter opposing offenses.

A’Shawn Robinson should be a fixture for them for the next few years, as he can play a true nose in a 3-4 as well as a 1-technique in a 4-3. Anthony Zettel will be moved along the defensive front and Ziggy Ansah should ball out, rushing the passer off the edge under the franchise tag.

The one element I simply can’t find on their roster is a penetrating 3-technique. Right now, second-year man Jeremiah Ledbetter seems to be the favorite to earn that spot. Detroit grabbed him in the sixth round last year and he saw limited action in all 16 games, but this is too crucial a spot to rely on him that heavily. They just drafted another Alabama D-lineman in Da’Shawn Hand, but he is more of a tweener between 3-4 and 4-3 defensive end. He can slide inside on sub-packages, but he’s not a refined pass-rusher yet. I need to see more aggressiveness and polish to believe that he is ready to improve on disappointing collegiate production, after being a top-ten recruit out of high school.