Last year, the Lions spent their first-round pick on a linebacker in Jarrad Davis to play all three downs, handle the communication and set a physical tone from the very middle of the defense.

It's possible they could do something similar again this year. That's at least what NFL.com's Lance Zierlein has them doing in his second version of a mock draft.

Zierlein mocked Alabama's Rashaan Evans to Detroit with the 21st overall pick.

"The Lions are a little light at LB outside of Jarrad Davis and Evans is an ascending talent," Zierlein wrote.

Evans checked in at the NFL Scouting Combine at 6 feet 3 inches and 234 pounds. His size allows him to hit with force and to clog the vision of quarterbacks on passing downs.

At least that's the theory with him. He had a very average workout all-around, neglecting to run in the 40-yard dash or do the bench press and failing to finish in the top 12 at his position in either of the jump categories. His production at Alabama was light, as he only became a full-time starter last season and finished with 74 total tackles, just a modest number. He did add 13 tackles for loss and six sacks to show his disruptive potential.

Detroit does still have needs at that spot even with Davis settling in. The team let Tahir Whitehead and Paul Worrilow head to free agency, potentially opening up two starting spots in base sets, depending on where last year's fourth-round pick, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, ascends in Matt Patricia's defense.

Patricia did say at the combine that it's his goal to build the defense from the middle out. That obviously starts with Davis. It's possible it could include more investments at the linebacker position, which was still not an overall strength for the Lions last season.

Evans isn't a headliner with production or combine measurables, but he did get to show off in front of Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn at the Tide's Pro Day on Wednesday. It was Davis' workout at Florida's Pro Day last year that shot him up draft boards and eventually made him the player the Lions wanted to draft in the first round.

However, his choice to not run the 40 at the Pro Day after not running at the combine is a question mark that makes projection more difficult.