Current hopeful targets for rd 1
1. Hasaan Reddick
Weakside playmaker that can take Levy's role and do everything: run, rush and cover. I think he is a pretty safe bet with the athletic skills to be an elite 4-3 LB.
2. Reuben Foster
MLB that can stuff the middle and get to the edges. Plays with an aggressive edge that people love in a LB, but also has an Ernie Sims downside (reckless abandon used against him, injuries).
3. Taco Charlton
Boring pick IMO, but he's a nice fit across from Ziggy. I don't see a big potential as pass rusher, but can play as a big end and set the edge against RTs and TEs on the strong side.
Against the grain pick
4. John Ross
The one glaring weakness on the Lions offense is speed. They don't have much. Ross would instantly change that. The stress he could put on opposing secondaries would create space in the middle of the field for our YAC guys like Tate, Ameer, and Theo. I think he could instantly transform the Lions offense from good to great. I know the Lions desperately need defense, but sometimes the way to get better is to build up strengths as much as it is to cover weakness. The big concern would be his extensive injury history. If they went with Ross, I don't know that I would be totally happy, but I would take it better than most Lions fans IMO.
2nd round
Quincy Wilson, Budda Baker or Desmond King. Lions need athletes all over defense, but secondary is an especially thin position for the modern NFL game. It's really important to get a good young player back there that can do something. Baker can do it all. King is a ballhawk and Wilson has the size/speed combo to deal with big strong NFL WRs.
Wildcard 2nd Rd is Curtis Samuel. The risk is he is a man without a clear NFL ready role but he has NFL ready athleticism. He can help provide the extra help the Lions need in the run game and be a field stretcher in the passing game.