Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

Depending on whom you ask, the Detroit Lions’ shortcomings on the defensive line are glaring or overblown.

The Lions tied for 30th in the NFL with just 26 sacks last year, their lowest total since 2009, and a variety of analysts (here and here, among others) have pegged edge rusher as one of their biggest needs heading into this month’s NFL draft.

But general manager Bob Quinn, perhaps surprisingly, named the defensive front as one of his team’s biggest strengths in a recent interview on the MMQB podcast.

“I think the strengths would probably be the offensive and defensive lines,” Quinn said on the podcast. “I think we got a lot of depth on both levels. I think we have really great depth at corner and safety. I think we’re going to have great competition at both of those spots.”

The Lions bolstered their offensive line by signing Rick Wagner and T.J. Lang at the start of free agency, and most agree that the unit has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL this fall.

The secondary has more questions, but Darius Slay and Glover Quin are top-line starters, and Nevin Lawson, D.J. Hayden, Tavon Wilson and Miles Killebrew should provide quality depth.

The Lions have depth on the defensive line, as well, but also a glaring lack of playmakers that led to struggles against the run and pass last year. Ziggy Ansah is the only proven pass rusher on the roster, but he’s coming off of the worst season of his four-year career. And the Lions’ best interior defender is either an aging Haloti Ngata or second-year man A’Shawn Robinson.

Quinn’s faith in the Lions’ defensive line -- the group also includes Cornelius Washington, Kerry Hyder and Armonty Bryant at defensive end, and Akeem Spence and Khyri Thornton at defensive tackle -- could impact his draft strategy. The second-year general manager reiterated at the NFL owners meetings last month that “I’m really, when it comes down to it, a best-player-available type of guy.” But the Lions also envision themselves as contenders and have major needs that might need to be addressed at other positions on the roster.

Quinn declined to rank -- or even list -- the Lions’ weaknesses in his podcast interview, but he did acknowledge “there’s multiple positions that I’m going to look” to upgrade before the start of the season.

“I’m not going to tell you my needs in priority order here, but I think the draft is deep in a lot of positions that kind of match up to what we’re looking for, so hopefully, we can add some good players,” Quinn said.

At the NFL combine last month, Quinn called the draft “really deep” at positions such as running back, defensive line and the secondary.

The Lions, of course, have their top two running backs coming off of season-ending surgeries. But they don’t have a clear-cut No. 3 receiver on their roster, have their top two tight ends entering the final year of their contracts and are woefully thin at linebacker.

On the defensive line, Ansah is entering the final year of his contract, though the team is open to a long-term extension, and pass rushers such as Derek Barnett, Taco Charlton, Takk McKinley and Charles Harris could be available with the 21st pick of the draft.

“There’s a number of positions that you can get probably quality guys into the third round that, hopefully, will be starters for your team. Usually, it’s into that second, top of the third where you kind of make that cutoff,” Quinn said on the podcast. “But we’re looking forward to it. We’re looking forward to finishing up the last month of our preparations and get ready for draft weekend.”

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Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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