Allen Park — When evaluating college prospects, there are three primary buckets general managers must weigh: College production, intangibles and physical traits.
The Lions put a heavy emphasis on the first two. They want players who have proven it on the field, but also have the intrinsic drive to constantly improve, one of the key component of high football character.
A recent example, at least from the latter rounds of the draft, would be linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez. He wasn't the biggest or fastest player, but his production at Oklahoma State and his passion for the game were undeniable, which helped last year's sixth-round pick quickly transition and produce as a rookie.