The Detroit Lions are only a few weeks away from the NFL draft, and WalterFootball.com writer Charlie Campbell studies college prospects all year long.

Campbell addressed the top five questions facing Detroit heading into the draft for MLive.com:

1. Who do you see the Detroit Lions taking with their first-round pick?

I think the Lions first-round pick is going to come down to Central Michigan left tackle Eric Fisher, Oklahoma left tackle Lane Johnson and BYU defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. If all of them are available, I think Fisher will be the pick. Left tackle is the biggest short-term and long-term need on the Lions roster.

In back-to-back drafts Martin Mayhew took defensive tackles in the first round (2010 and 2011). Now I think he'll follow up at offensive tackle. With Jeff Backus retiring, the Lions have to find a good left tackle to protect their investment in Matthew Stafford. Keeping Stafford healthy is essential to the Lions having a bounce back season. Riley Reiff is a good replacement for Gosder Cherilus at right tackle. Reiff and Fisher could form a nice duo of bookend tackles. From a salary cap and draft pick allocation perspective, it makes sense for the Lions to use a top five pick on a left tackle and a pick in the 20s on a right tackle.

I think they would go with Fisher because he has more size and length than Johnson. In the ground game, Fisher is a lot better than Johnson. Fisher may not have as high of a ceiling as Johnson, but I think Fisher has a higher floor and is a safer pick. Fisher is more experienced at left tackle and more polished. He also is more physical than Johnson, and the Lions could use more physicality at the line of scrimmage.

Left tackle is the biggest hole on the Lions roster. If they can't block Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers and Jared Allen they are going to have a hard time winning in the NFC North. Plus, the Lions take on other dangerous pass rushers in 2013, like Eagles' Trent Cole, Cowboy's DeMarcus Ware, Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, Ravens' Elvis Dumervil, Bengals' Michael Johnson, Redskins' Brian Orakpo and Steelers' LaMarr Woodley. If the Lions have a weak link at left tackle, those defenses are going to match up those rushers on the Lions left tackle to exploit the mismatch. Stafford could take a pounding next year. Plus we all know that Mayhew takes the best player available. Fisher is in consideration for the first-overall pick, so he most likely would be the highest graded player on the board. I think Fisher is a good fit for the Lions offense and could be the long-term left tackle to protect Stafford throughout his career.

2. Why do you think he is a better option than Alabama CB Dee Milliner, Georgia LB Jarvis Jones, or Ansah?

Mayhew hasn't shown the inclination to draft linebackers early, so I don't think Jones is in serious contention. In the Lions scheme the defensive line is designed to get after the quarterback. They aren't a 3-4 team dependent on outside linebackers to get pressure on the quarterback. Thus, I don't think Jones would be worth taking and passing on a left tackle.

Milliner was an option for the Lions, but after re-signing Chris Houston, Milliner doesn't make as much sense. The Lions drafted three corners last year, and they were all developmental corners from smaller schools that have big upside. Jonte Green flashed some at the end of the year and Bill Bentley should be improved in year two. I doubt Mayhew and the coaching staff are giving up on the young 2012 picks after just one season. They also signed a good vet in Ron Bartell, assuming he can stay healthy, so I think the Lions can wait until the third day to add some cornerback competition.

As for Ansah, the Lions could definitely use him, but they aren't as desperate at end as they are at left tackle. They signed Jason Jones, and he is a good veteran. They also have Willie Young and Ronnell Lewis that are young players with some speed. Obviously, Detroit has two good interior pass rushers in Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. Lions president Tom Lewand said they need young players to step up next year. I think that is really pointed at the young defensive linemen they've already invested in.

Ansah has a great physical skill set, but he never produced a big season at the college level. A lot of Mayhew's early-round picks have been big college producers. That group includes: Stafford, Suh, Fairley, Mikel Leshoure, Ryan Broyles, Titus Young, etc. Ansah isn't as polished as the two left tackle prospects, especially Fisher. Ansah will need more development. Time is something that Mayhew and the coaching staff don't have a lot of. Fisher looks more likely to be a plug-and-play candidate. The Lions have more in-house options at defensive end than they do at offensive tackle.

Plus, the Lions could land some good pass rushers on the second day. Texas' Alex Okafor, Auburn's Corey Lemonier and SMU's Margus Hunt are likely to be there for the Lions second-round pick.

3. Are there any guards in the later rounds who could help Detroit?

Mayhew should be able to land a good guard on the second day. One of my favorite prospects in the draft is Kentucky guard Larry Warford (check out Justin Rogers' profile on him). He is a road-grading run blocker and an athletic pass protector. He fell under the radar because he played for a terrible team, but Warford got the better of his matchups against Florida's Sharrif Floyd, Missouri's Sheldon Richardson and Georgia's John Jenkins. Warford shut down their pass rush in impressive fashion. This is a guard class that has some rare, elite first-round talents in Chance Warmack and Jonathan Cooper. In a normal year Warford would be the first ranked guard and a potential first-round pick. He could be a great pick for the Lions at the top of round two. Oregon guard Kyle Long would also be a good guard target in round two. It isn't a surprise that Howie Long's son Kyle is a great athlete, is strong and physical. He also could develop into a tackle, so if the Lions feel Reiff would be better at guard in the long run they could possibly have a tackle in Long.

In the third-round, two good targets for Detroit are Tennessee guard Dallas Thomas and Alabama guard/center/tackle Barrett Jones. Thomas was a good pass protector at left tackle as a junior and guard as a senior. Jones could start out at guard before taking over as the long-term center to replace Dominic Raiola. I think Jones and Warford will be steals on the second day that will turn into excellent pros.

4. Detroit needs a receiver to start on the opposite side of Calvin Johnson. Can you give me some late-round steals at that position?

Oregon State wide receiver Markus Wheaton is a smaller deep threat receiver, and he would be a great complement to Johnson, but Wheaton is probably a second-day pick. Other good second day fits for Detroit include West Virginia's Stedman Bailey, Texas A&M's Ryan Swope and Tennessee Tech's Da'Rick Rogers. They all have some speed and toughness.

In the late rounds there could be some potential steals. Washington State wide out Marquess Wilson is a tall, lanky receiver that was very productive. However, Wilson had off the field issues and left the team in the middle of his final season. Kansas State wide receiver Chris Harper could be an interesting pick on the third day. Harper (6-0, 228) is built like a truck. He produced well in a running offense. Mississippi State's Chad Bumphis (5-10, 200) is a smaller speed receiver that can make plays downfield. Another late round target that could be a steal is Mount Union's Jasper Collins (click here for a profile on the receiver). He was getting separation from defensive backs all week at the East-West Shrine. He's quick, shifty and a dangerous slot receiver candidate.

5. Is there a kicker out there who could be this year's Blair Walsh (Minnesota Vikings)?

Florida State kicker Caleb Sturgis and Florida kicker Justin Hopkins were phenomenal college kickers. I think Sturgis is the better of the two, but it wouldn't surprise me Sturgis or Hopkins has a rookie season like Walsh did for the Vikings.

Sturgis was the kicker for a National Championship team as a freshman in 2008. He is extremely accurate with a strong leg.

Hopkins isn't as accurate as Sturgis, but could have a stronger leg. Either one would be a good pick for Detroit in the late rounds.