3 Players The Lions Need To Avoid In The 2015 NFL Draft

The Detroit Lions returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2011 last season, but their Super Bowl dreams were dashed in a controversial loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card round. This team still has championship expectations, and they’ll look to put themselves over the top with a stellar 2015 NFL Draft class. However, drafting the wrong players could very well send them spiraling in the opposite direction. Here’s 3 Players The Lions Need To Avoid In The 2015 NFL Draft.

WR Devin Funchess, Michigan

Funchess projects somewhere in the second round on most NFL draft pundits' boards, but we're not sold on Detroit drafting him even in the third round if he somehow dropped. While he has the size to create mismatches, his lacks the build, hands, and finishing grit that a true top-flight NFL receiver needs to succeed on this level. He might put it all together, but right now there's a lot of sizzle and not so much steak with the former Michigan Wolverine.

DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Goldman probably has the biggest upside of any lineman in the draft as he has the size, strength, and quickness to be disruptive in all phases of the game, but his inconsistency and lackluster work ethic mean that potential may never be realized. The Detroit Lions may be looking to find the heir apparent to Ndamukong Suh in the draft, but there's way too many question marks surrounding Goldman to target him in the first round.

RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

There’s two reasons to pass on Gurley if you’re Dallas — injury and draft projection.  The Lions could look to the draft to retool their backfield after cutting Reggie Bush, but spending a first-round pick on any running back — let alone one with the injury history that Gurley has — is dangerous business. Detroit would be better served doing work around the middle rounds, with names such as Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah and Alabama's TJ Yeldon likely to be lurking.

Follow our Detroit Lions team page for the latest Lions rumors!