Dave Birkett

Detroit Free Press

MOBILE, Ala. -- This year’s NFL draft is shaping up to be deep at a position of need for the Detroit Lions: defensive tackle.

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranks 12 defensive tackles among his top 50 draft prospects, including five in the top 20. Colleague Mike Mayock said interior pass rushers have been one the standout groups at this year’s Senior Bowl practices.

“The best group of defensive tackles I’ve seen at this game in 10 years,” Mayock said. “Both teams have first-round picks on it. I’ve done two North practices so far here at the stadium, and the North defensive line has dominated. It didn’t matter which tackle group was in. … They’re loaded at defensive tackle in this game.”

As many as four Senior Bowl defensive tackles could end up in the first round of April’s draft, with Louisville’s Sheldon Rankins, Alabama’s Jarran Reed, Penn State’s Austin Johnson and Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler ranking as the best of the bunch.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s Joey Bosa and Oregon’s DeForest Buckner, both college defensive ends who could play tackle in the NFL, are potential top-10 picks.

The Lions are in the market for help in the middle of their defensive line for the second straight season.

Starters Haloti Ngata and Tyrunn Walker are free agents, with Ngata now 32 and Walker coming off of a broken leg. Caraun Reid, Gabe Wright and C.J. Wilson are the only tackles under contract.

The Lions have the 16th pick in the first round, which could be a sweet spot for the tackle position. But Mayock said there’s no need to force a pick at the position this year.

“You can get outstanding D-tackle talent through the third or fourth round,” Mayock said. “That’s how good it is this year.”

The Lions don’t have a third-round pick, because they traded it to move up and select Wright in the fourth round last spring, but they expect to get a compensatory pick at the end of the round for losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency.

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

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