All offseason, the Detroit Lions have set up contingency plans. If they can’t find a No. 1 tight end early in the draft, Jesse James has starter experience and enough promise to take over. If the offensive line market doesn’t fall their way, they have both Kenny Wiggins and Oday Aboushi to fill in at right guard.
Then there’s cornerback Rashaan Melvin. The 29-year-old cornerback is currently penciled in as the Lions’ No. 2 outside cornerback opposite Darius Slay. In Melvin’s eight-year career, he has started just 28 games, but 26 of those have come in the past three seasons.