ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions rolled into the offseason needing a running back, and needing one badly. Some analysts believed they could even take one in the first round.

They haven't taken a running back in the first round since Jahvid Best (30th overall) in 2010, and haven't taken one in the top 20 since Barry Sanders (third overall) in 1989.

But then Detroit signed LeGarrette Blount, and even the typically-tight lipped Bob Quinn says that could affect the club's approach to the position in next week's draft.

"It could impact it a little bit," said Quinn, who is entering his third draft as Detroit's general manager. "I mean, I think if we had to go play a football game today, I think we have enough running backs to be competitive.

"Now is that saying I'm not going to take one? I don't know. Tell me who's going to be on the board in the second, third, fourth round. I mean, I don't know."

Quinn liked his running backs last year, too, and gave Ameer Abdullah a vote of confidence as the starter after standing pat at the position. And that proved to be a miscalculation.

Abdullah struggled with the role, eventually lost the starting job in the final month of the season and now faces an uncertain future. As a team, the Lions finished last in rushing for the second time in three years. They averaged the fewest yards per carry, too, and were last in the league in power situations. About 27 percent of their runs didn't even gain positive yardage, which was better than only Seattle.

Quinn said after the season one of his top objectives would be sparking the running game. And he's already done it by signing Blount in free agency.

Blount turns 32 next year, but remains a productive power back. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry last year, his best season since 2014, and averaged a whopping 3.6 yards after contact. That was third in the league, and more than what Abdullah averaged per carry overall.

"They're getting a big, physical guy," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "They're getting a guy who has quite a bit left in the tank. Just the way our situation is right now, it's just a little harder to keep that many guys. We've got some young players we like. But, yeah, they're getting a dynamic back."

The Lions also fired offensive line coach Ron Prince, who has been panned by multiple players and former players, and replaced him with Jeff Davidson, a longtime offensive line coach who is well regarded across the league. That should help too.

So the Lions' need for a running back, once among their top priorities, has been mitigated. Quinn didn't rule out the possibility of still taking one in the first round -- and LSU's Derrius Guice is projected for the back half of the first -- but given his philosophy of factoring need into his first-round picks, it now seems more likely he waits until at least Day 2.

Sony Michel (Georgia), Nick Chubb (Georgia), Ronald Jones (USC), Royce Freeman (Oregon) and Rashaad Penny (San Diego State) are among the top backs Detroit could consider.

"Going back when I was at New England, we took Laurence Maroney at the end of the first round," Quinn said. "Then we took a guy like James White, who was a really good player, I think in the fourth round. So, then we had a couple rookie free agents that played a lot of football for us back in the day. You know, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, to throw a name out there you guys probably don't even know, guys like that.

"So I think you can get them in all shapes and sizes. You can get them early, mid, late. I think it's my job and my staff's to kind of just get the best guy at the right time, and whenever that is, if it is this year, then great."