Eddie Goldman, Austin Hardin

The Detroit Lions will need to add a defensive tackle or three this offseason. Florida State's Eddie Goldman could be an option if he's still on the board when the Lions are on the clock in the first round of the NFL draft.

(AP File Photo)

Selecting late in the first round, there's plenty of room for variance when it comes to projecting who the Detroit Lions will take at No. 23 in the 2015 NFL draft. But while analysts understandably don't agree on a specific player, early expectations continue to have the team using its top pick to snag a defensive tackle.

Going simply by need, it makes sense. Even if the Lions are able to accomplish their top offseason priority by re-signing Ndamukong Suh to a long-term deal, Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley are also free agent this offseason.

ESPN's Todd McShay, who in his initial projection had Detroit taking talented but troubled cornerback Marcus Peters, has flipped in his second mock draft, aligning with colleague Mel Kiper Jr. Both ESPN personalities now have the Lions selecting Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown.

"Brown is a versatile D-lineman who has experience playing NT, DT and DE in a 4-3 defense, and NT and 5-technique in a 3-4," McShay wrote. "He's strong versus the run and showed more as a pass-rusher during his final season in Austin under head coach Charlie Strong."

Listed at 6-foot-2, 320 pounds, Brown recorded 72 tackles (15 for a loss) and 6.5 sacks in 13 starts as a junior last season.

CBS Sports analysts Pat Kirwin, Dane Brugler and Rob Rang all currently agree the Lions will address their roster need at defensive tackle in the draft, but none have Brown slotted to Detroit.

Rang and Brugler believe it will be Florida State's Eddie Goldman instead.

"The 6-4, 320-pound Goldman is powerful and surprisingly quick, making him a good fit and potentially much cheaper option in Detroit," Rang wrote.

Known more for his ability to stop the run, Goldman recorded a team-high four sacks in 2014.

Kirwin is predicting Brown and Goldman will be off the board when the Lions are on the clock, leaving the team to settle for Oklahoma's Jordan Phillips.

"Phillips is a wide body that can be plugged into a rotation," Kirwin wrote.

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement for a team that has consistently maintained a strategy of selecting the best player available, regardless of position.

Phillips is the biggest of the trio, listed at 6-foot-6, 334 pounds. He also had the least amount of production, recording just seven tackles for a loss and two sacks in his final season with the Sooners.

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