The NFL Scouting Combine is here, which means draft boards are about to be flipped upside down.

So we might as well get one more out before all that happens.

As I go through my draft prep each year, I like to track how the week-long stay in Indianapolis changes my perception of the targets. Mainly, what the drills (and sometimes the interviews) will do is raise questions or curiosities to solve with further watching of the tape.

The tape is the most important part in the end, and that's what this list is based on before we know the measurables.

It's a top 50 tailored specifically to the Lions' needs, schemes and culture. For example, Dwayne Haskins will be much higher on general big boards than he will be on this one, but there's a certain point where a team won't pass on a talented player either.

The Lions earned the No. 8 overall pick after a 6-10 season, and that means they have a shot at more players than normal this year but not everyone. They could trade up, though, which is why these players still remain relevant. The same goes for trading down, or for players slipping into the second round and beyond.

This is how I see them stacking up given what the Lions need to add:

Don't Edit

Marvin Fong | Cleveland.com

Don't Edit

1. Nick Bosa, EDGE, Ohio State

The Lions have ignored the edge position for years, and now that Ezekiel Ansah seems headed elsewhere, they're in a spot where they can't afford not to address it. That makes Nick Bosa the top player here, as he would be on many teams' boards. He's much like his older brother, Joey, as a prospect, which means his strength, tenacity and fierce hands make up for a lack of speed. He'd be a perfect next piece to a line with Damon "Snacks" Harrison and A'Shawn Robinson, but it's not going to happen.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

2. Josh Allen, EDGE, Kentucky

The Lions need edge players over interior ones, and given the importance of this position in the NFL, these prospects are naturally going to rise to the top some. But Josh Allen has also earned it with such steady progress as a player. He went from a productive pass rusher in the Southeastern Conference to a dominant one last year, when he jumped to 21.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks. At a listed 6 feet 5 inches and 260 pounds, he's not just an edge player either, as he racked up 88 total tackles with his toughness and pursuit to the ball. He has every characteristic Matt Patricia would want here, but he will go in the first few picks.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

3. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU

You've probably seen a number of mock drafts with Greedy Williams going to the Lions. The combine isn't likely to change that, unless he rises too high. At a listed 6 feet 1 inch and 182 pounds, Williams has the spider length Patricia likes in his No. 2 cornerback as well as a blend of speed and hops you don't often find at that size. I want to see a little more fluidity in his field drills, and he'll have to explain his disdain for run defense, but his vertical and 40 could are only going to boost his hype.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

4. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

Some will debate Quinnen Williams as potentially the best overall prospect. I don't see that, but he is going to be higher on the lists of other teams that need help on the interior and play more one-gapping concepts. Detroit has A'Shawn Robinson starting to come into his own alongside Snacks. It could certainly make it work with Williams, namely as a third-down pass rusher and perhaps as an end on other downs, such as it did with Da'Shawn Hand this year. Alabama players do appeal to this team, particularly on the defensive line.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

5. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

Cornerbacks get their own elevation on a Lions list, but Byron Murphy would be close to here for me with just about any team board. He is everything you'd want in a football player to work with, from his confidence to his run defense despite his size. He brings the ball skills Bob Quinn wants (6 INTs in two seasons) and the toughness Patricia wants to infuse his team with. He's not stylistically the best fit for Patricia's defense, which plays more man and calls for size on the outside. He won't blow you away with his athleticism, so he can probably help his cause best on the whiteboard.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

6. Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson

The Lions need some real quickness off the edge, and that's what Clelin Ferrell showed he can bring when he racked up 21 sacks and 38 tackles for loss combined over his final two seasons. I don't see him as a double-digit sack man in the NFL, when he's feasting on fewer single teams, and he fits a 4-3 concept better because of his quickness over speed. But this is a tough and productive player who checks lots of the boxes the Lions look for.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

7. Rashan Gary, DT, Michigan

The Lions are set to lose Ezekiel Ansah to free agency, but they could look at another power rusher to consider making a cornerstone on the edge. Rashan Gary was a good college player whose production never quite matched the hype, though it wasn't for a lack of effort. He's more unrefined, in need of some moves and a plan that goes beyond running people over, but the traits are there. He fits the kind of inside-outside mold the Lions like for their end spots.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

8. TJ Hockenson, TE, Iowa

The sight of a tight end so high might make some cringe after the experiments with Brandon Pettigrew and Eric Ebron. I get it. But it's the biggest weakness on the roster, and here lies a player who brings everything the Lions need. T.J. Hockenson's film is so fun, from the way he powers through run blocks into the end zone to how he shakes defenders in man coverage to how he'll leap a defender or carry a pile in the open field. I'm curious to see where his strength is, because the athleticism and tools are certainly there.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

9. Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

Patricia can be a creative coordinator, and this draft might test how creative he wants to be. Ed Oliver was one of the big names coming into his senior year before some size and health questions came into play, plus the classic dilemma of deciding what position he'll play. His athleticism is off the charts for a three-technique and fits where the league has moved there, but there's an argument to play him at inside linebacker as well. He's not going to fit how Patricia typically plays his defensive tackles, which are solid in Detroit anyhow, so this kind of pick would be in the search of a chess piece for a defense that wasn't explosive enough last year.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

10. Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Lions are figuring out what to do at right guard, and they've been unafraid to invest heavily when an opening does appear on the offensive line. Jonah Williams is yet another Alabama product they'll have some interest in because some believe he will be better at guard than at tackle at the next level. If he does play tackle, it's thought that he's more suited for the right side, where the future isn't totally locked in with Rick Wagner. Detroit will want to avoid picking a tweener in the first, so it would likely have to feel good about Williams as a right guard unless it wanted to be bold enough to move on from Wagner this early.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

11. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

This is no doubt the hardest player to rank for the Lions because he will intrigue them at some point, even if they have so many other needs and an apparent commitment to Matthew Stafford. From the baseball background to the quick legs creating throwing lanes for his unconventional height, Murray is so similar to Russell Wilson, whom new Lions offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell coached into the NFL's leader in touchdown passes. Picking Murray would likely mean developing him for a year and then dealing Stafford like the Ravens did with Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco. It's just not likely enough to think too much about, but he'll sneak onto the Lions' list somewhere.

Don't Edit

12. Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida

Patricia spent his first two draft picks getting the running game going, which has been a work in progress in Detroit. If he's interested in another step in that area, Jawaan Taylor will be high on the board. He has the look as a classic road-grading right tackle who can bring that size and strength to the right guard spot as well. Both are of intrigue in Detroit, with guard the more immediate concern. Taylor's interviews will matter as he's had some work ethic questions in his time in school.

Don't Edit

13. Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State

The Lions like players of need who produce in major conferences, and Montez Sweat fits that bill well. Over the past two seasons, Sweat has racked up a combined 30 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks. On film, he doesn't show up as well snap-to-snap, particularly against the run, as he needs to add strength. His play effort and progress at the Senior Bowl inspire hope that he'll develop into his lengthy frame, so how far along he is physically at the combine could help decide where in the first he winds up.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

14. Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

If the Lions find themselves drawn to untapped potential, they could fall in love with Brian Burns. He was a productive player at Florida State, totaling 23 sacks in three years, but he never topped out at more than 10 in a season. More than that, his frame might not be ready for the NFL as he might not even be 240 pounds. He has the length, and he shows explosion off the snap, but his game comes with lows when he's stuck on blockers. He's likely to be a swing-for-the-fences type of pick, but the combine will be critical for judging just where his frame is.

Don't Edit

15. Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

It's possible the Lions look for more of a balanced defensive end to replace Ansah, perhaps in free agency, freeing up their edge linebacker spots for some pass-rush specialists. If so, Jachai Polite will get a look. He broke out last year with 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, and pass rushing is what he offers with a frame that likely measures less than 250 pounds. He's not likely to become a great run defender, but how well he tests will show what his ceiling could be as a rusher.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

16. Devin White, LB, LSU

The Lions took a three-down linebacker in the first round just two years ago, but it's worth debating whether Jarrad Davis might be better off the ball, especially given his pass rushing success last year. Devin White is a classic do-it-all player who brings all kinds of production with 256 tackles and 25.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years in the Southeastern Conference. This would be a luxury pick in Detroit but could be one that helps elevate its 2017 first-round pick.

Don't Edit

17. DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia

Patricia typically looks for bigger bodies to play the second cornerback spot, but he might be drawn to a player with the ball skills and toughness of DeAndre Baker. He finished his Georgia career with seven interceptions and has made some critical tackles, including four tackles for loss. He's a little light, but he has gotten the job done as a press cornerback the way Patricia looks for.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

18. Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama

Give me all the Alabama defenders on this list. The Lions did draft a safety last year in Tracy Walker, but they just cut Glover Quin and have a scheme that plays four with regularity, so there's some need here. Patricia will take a safety if he's that talented, and Thompson might be. He does a little of everything, including covering in the slot and blitzing, but that's spread him out a little mentally. He's going to miss the combine drills after wrist surgery, so this event will be about the measurements and notably the whiteboard sessions for him.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

19. Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

The Lions do need receiver help, as only Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay have solidified roles and Jones is coming off a season-ending knee injury. They could ideally use a slot man to work routes underneath those two, but smart teams work matchups in the slot and use dynamic players there. That's what Marquise "Hollywood" Brown shows he can be at times. He's smaller at 5 feet 10 inches and 168 pounds, but smaller receivers are winning when they can separate and catch the way he can. Durability is the question with Brown, who will miss combine drills with a LisFranc injury. Too many receivers have struggled after missing that kind of time in the offseason.

Don't Edit

20. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

The Lions typically play bigger linebackers so they can work with fewer on the field, but they will also take a joker type that they can play around with. If Jalen Reeves-Maybin isn't that player, someone like Devin Bush could be. He brings a mix of everything, including some thumping hits and successful blitzes. He needs some technical work in coverage, like many linebackers do. Detroit would have to get creative with him playing alongside Jarrad Davis.

Don't Edit

AP Photo

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

21. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

It's hard to see the Lions drafting another running back high, but then again, they are really serious about transforming the ground game and do want a complement to Kerryon Johnson. Josh Jacobs would be an excellent complement. He brings terrific vision like Johnson did and can finish runs with physicality in addition to catching and blocking well. He only carried the ball 251 times in college, but that just means he has fresh legs. He will likely not fall to a place where it'd be realistic for the Lions to take another back.

Don't Edit

22. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

The Lions need a slot receiver capable of breaking tackles with the ball in his hands, and that's what D.K. Metcalf can bring. A recent workout photo of him went viral and even brings concerns that he could be too muscled up. He's largely untapped potential, though he did score 12 touchdowns in 21 college games. His medical evaluation is going to mean so much as teams are wondering how he's recovered from his season-ending neck injury.

Don't Edit

23. Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama

The tight end class is loaded this year with some different options depending on what teams are looking for. The Lions will likely want a balanced one, making Irv Smith a really nice fit. He has great body control in the end zone, and he produced better than Alabama tight ends typically do with 710 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He's more of a safe option in this class but could help the Lions instantly.

Don't Edit

24. Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

If the Lions want some explosion out of the tight end spot for a change, Noah Fant will catch their attention. He filled that spot opposite T.J. Hockenson at Iowa, averaging nearly 14 yards per catch with 19 scores in his Iowa career. He needs some work in short and isn't a great blocker, which means he likely needs to be a complementary tight end on this team.

Don't Edit

25. Riley Ridley, WR, Georgia

Riley Ridley isn't as fast as his first-round brother, Calvin, but he runs just as nice of routes. That ability to create separation with technique and timing makes him a decent fit as a slot receiver and especially in an offense that wants to play somewhat like the Patriots do. Ridley isn't a first-round option but could rise to being a second-round player for the Lions.

Don't Edit