NFL draft grades: ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. assesses Detroit Lions picks

It seems Detroit is sticking to that, using the first-round pick on Blake Miller, a 54-game starter at right tackle in college. It's tough to beat Miller, no matter the pass-rush move. His pressure allowed rate improved every single season, from 4.0% as a rookie to 1.8% last season. That's key for the Lions; Jared Goff has real problems when he's seeing constant pressure. And Miller should become Jahmyr Gibbs' new best friend in the run game -- he can get downfield to spring breakaway runs for his backs. - Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

And, of course, the Lions traded up and took Michigan EDGE Derrick Moore with its second selection at No. 44 overall.

Kiper commented on that pick and the Lions' Jimmy Rolder (fourth round) and Keith Abney II (fifth round) draft picks:

The other big area of need was the No. 2 edge rusher hole opposite Aidan Hutchinson. This might sound familiar -- along with most analysts, I wanted the Lions to address this last year, too. They didn't take an edge rusher until Round 6 with Ahmed Hassanein. Detroit got 11 sacks out of Al-Quadin Muhammad in a wild 30-year-old breakout season, but he signed with Tampa Bay; the Lions really only signed DJ Wonnum to replace him.

Will a second-round pick in Derrick Moore get the job done? I might have gone with Zion Young, who went one pick later, but I think there's upside for an eventual all-Michigan edge combo of Hutchinson and Moore (who had 10 sacks last season).

Jimmy Rolder (another Michigan player) and Keith Abney II were solid additions on defense, too. Rolder is versatile and has some burst as a blitzer. But where he really stands out is his ability to diagnose. He's a smart football player. Abney is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, but he gets his hands on the ball. Abney had 20 pass breakups and five picks over the past two years. He should be a good backup. - Mel Kiper Jr., ESPN

Whether or not the Lions knocked this draft out of the park remains to be seen, but Detroit certainly made it a point to look for answers to some of its rosters primary holes.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL draft grades: ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. assesses Detroit Lions picks