Michigan St Nebraska Football

Nebraska tailback Ameer Abdullah is projected as a second-round pick for this year's NFL draft.

(AP File Photo)

Reggie Bush is a soon-to-be 30-year-old tailback who is coming off an injury-plagued season that robbed him of his health and productivity.

All of which are reasons he could be looking for work this offseason.

The Detroit Lions are going to be looking to free up some cash to re-sign Ndamukong Suh. Bush is one of the top candidates to become a cap casualty.

And if Detroit is looking to replace him in the NFL draft, Mike Mayock says there are a couple logical options.

"There are two of them in the second round that make a ton of sense: Ameer Abdullah from Nebraska and Duke Johnson from Miami," the NFL Network analyst said Monday during a conference call with reporters.

Abdullah would be a good fit for Detroit's offense because of his diverse skill-set. The former Nebraska star is comfortable running between the tackles, or outside them. He has good burst, and he can catch the ball as well.

He racked up 1,611 yards on the ground last year, which ranked 14th in the nation, and had 19 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 269 yards and three more scores.

"Catches the football, real quick, make you miss," Mayock said.

Abdullah is the third-best tailback in the draft, according to Mayock, trailing only Georgia's Todd Gurley and Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon -- both of whom are first-round prospects. He is the "quintessential space player," Mayock said.

So why is he a second-round prospect?

"The knock on Abdullah, and it's significant, are fumbles," Mayock said. "He had (23) career fumbles, and he lost (16) of them, which is the worst I've seen in a while, and that's compiled with small hands.

"That's what bothers the scouts is not only the fumbles, but the fact that he's got small hands, which probably accounts for the fumbles."

Johnson, meantime, is of a similar ilk.

He rushed for 1,652 yards last season, which ranked 11th in the country, and also caught 38 passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. He finished his three-year career with 3,519 yards and 26 touchdowns.

"I really like Duke Johnson, and as you go down through the draft, you can even pick up some guys in later rounds," Mayock said. "But right now, I would say they're the two guys -- and you could get them in the second round -- that could replace a Reggie Bush."

The Lions ranked 28th in rushing last year with 1,422 yards, their worst output since the winless 2008 season. Team brass has said upgrading the rushing attack is a priority this offseason.

They are happy with Joique Bell, but there are question marks behind him. Bush battled multiple ankle injuries last year and managed just 297 yards. Theo Riddick, the No. 3, has a future as a pass-catcher but has yet to show anything on the ground.

If the Lions look to upgrade their personnel at the position, either Gurley or Gordon could be an option in the first round (23rd overall). But this tailback class is deep -- it's the deepest position in this draft, according to Mayock -- which means there should be talented alternatives available in the later rounds as well.

Abdullah and Johnson are good bets to draw a lot of attention from the Lions, starting this week at the combine.

Tailbacks arrive in Indianapolis on Wednesday to undergo orientation and some initial medical testing. They weigh in and speak with the media Thursday, then work out Friday and Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

-- Download the Detroit Lions MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Kyle Meinke on Twitter

-- Like MLive's Detroit Lions Facebook page