The college football season is at it's halfway point this week, and this means that the in-game scouting season is about halfway over. Half of the game tape has been created and recorded, and scouts have seen, or not seen, what they were looking for from several potential draft prospects.

Among those teams looking at draft prospects are the Detroit Lions. The Lions are currently the worst team record-wise in the NFL, and hold the potential number one overall draft pick. 

The top players at this point that the Lions might be looking at include Joey Bosa, a defensive end from Ohio State University, Laremy Tunsil, an offensive tackle from Ole Miss University, Robert Nkemdiche, a defensive tackle also from Ole Miss, Ronnie Stanley, an offensive tackle from Notre Dame University, Jalen Ramsey, a safety from Florida State University, Jared Goff, a Quarterback from the University of California, A'Shawn Robinson, a defensive lineman from the University of Georgia, Jaylon Smith, a linebacker from Notre Dame, Vernon Hargreaves, a Florida University cornerback, and even Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell could end up on the Lions next year, and the combine is still many months away.

There's also one more candidate for the Lions draft selection that might entice some people, Connor Cook, the Michigan State University Quarterback. While it seems most likely the Lions would go with a defensive or offensive lineman in this years class, they could elect to go with Matthew Stafford's replacement as well. Cook has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NCAA this season, including a solid game passing vs. the Michigan Wolverines and a top notch pass defense.

Most draft guru's currently project Joey Bosa to the Lions, however this writer believes that the Lions might be better off looking on the offensive side of the line, as the defensive side has the potential to improve when they are fully healthy.

This writer believes that as of this point in the season, after looking at all the different Lions options listed above and their biggest needs, the Lions will likely look towards Ronnie Stanley out of Notre Dame judging by how the offensive line has performed so far this season.

There is a reason why the offensive line coaches got fired, and the quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter got promoted to offensive coordinator; frankly, Stafford given time to throw can be one of the best quarterbacks in the league yard-wise, is still young, and knows coach Jim Caldwell's system and the talent around him.

Stafford is still this team's franchise quarterback, but he can only be a good quarterback when he can throw the football. Stafford has not had sufficient time in the pocket to throw, and this alone has been the downfall of the Lions for the majority of this season. If the Lions make the right decision in April, regardless of where they end up selecting in the draft, they should definitely consider taking an offensive lineman, preferably the best one available regardless of scheme fit.

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About the author
Chris Robbins
Mostly cover Detroit Sports (Red Wings, Tigers, Lions, Pistons), Michigan and Michigan State athletics, as well as NCAA, National and International Gymnastics.