Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

The Detroit Lions and the rest of NFL will descend upon Indianapolis this week for the league's annual combine.

More than 300 players will be poked and prodded, weighed and measured as teams look to cross check the evaluations of prospects that are largely in the books.

Beyond that, teams will spend the week meeting with agents as they try to get a sense of what the free-agent market will hold when the new league year opens next month.

On Sunday, we presented 5 players to watch at the combine. Here are 5 story lines that bear watching with the Lions:

• Mighty Quinn: Bob Quinn has maintained a low profile since he was hired as general manager last month, but he'll step to the podium for a 15-minute news conference Wednesday in which he'll surely be asked about (and provide little insight on) his philosophies when it comes to the draft and free agency. Even if Quinn reveals little, as everyone expects, he'll begin to show his hand some as he meets with people across the league.

• Bait and tackle: Lions president Rod Wood confirmed what everyone with two eyes can see: The Lions need help on their offensive line. It's illegal for teams to talk free agency now, but everyone does it in Indy and the Lions should come away from the week with a better sense of what the offensive line market will hold next month. No matter how plentiful the market is there (and it won't be too robust), the Lions will spend plenty of time getting to know offensive tackle prospects in Indy.

• Slay me: Darius Slay wants a new contract. The Lions seem open to giving him an extension. Drew Rosenhaus, Slay's agent, is expected to meet with the Lions about doing just such a deal this week. There's no rush to get a contract done, but the Lions have plenty of available cap space. Quinn also is expected to meet with the reps for other members of the Lions' 2013 draft class, including Theo Riddick and Devin Taylor.

• Ngata lot: Haloti Ngata is arguably the Lions' top unrestricted free agent, and there's a mutual desire for him to return to Detroit. Look for the Lions to lay the groundwork on re-signing Ngata to a new contract this week. If talks aren't productive, they'll need to pivot to address the position through other means, including a draft that ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said is as deep as he's ever seen at defensive line.

• Watch this: The Calvin Johnson Watch is going on its seventh week, and while most everyone still expects him to retire, he hasn't given the Lions final word. No matter what Johnson decides, the Lions need to address the receiver position, likely both in free agency and the draft. The free-agent market is thin, and there aren't many lock first-round picks at the position. But keep on the receiver 40-yard dashes Saturday, especially if top prospect Laquan Treadwell decides to run.

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

Download our free Lions Xtra app on your Apple and Android devices.

Mel Kiper: NFL draft pickings slim at middle linebacker

Five players to watch at NFL Scouting Combine