Lions Host Louisville Wide Receiver DeVante Parker On Pre-Draft Visit
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - The Detroit Lions hosted another wide receiver prospect Thursday, bringing in Louisville standout DeVante Parker for a pre-draft visit.
As a senior, Parker racked up 855 yards and five touchdowns in only six games. He had missed the first seven games of the season with a broken bone in his left foot. Parker ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
With Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate, the Lions have two excellent wide receivers already, but Johnson has battled injuries each of the last two seasons and will turn 30 this year.
Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi has said the team needs a third dependable option for quarterback Matthew Stafford, and while Lombardi expects tight end Eric Ebron - the team's first-round pick in 2014 - to fill that role, the Lions are certainly exploring the wide receiver options available in this year's draft.
In addition to hosting Parker, the Lions have brought in Breshad Perriman of Central Florida and J.J. Nelson of UAB. The Lions are also hosting Kansas State wide receiver Tyler Lockett next week, as CBS Detroit reported Tuesday.
In addition to wide receivers, the Lions have brought in a number of defensive tackle prospects, most recently Marcus Hardison of Arizona State. As a senior he had 15 tackles for loss for the Sun Devils, including 10 sacks, which led the team. Detroit's apparent interest in defense tackles makes perfect sense because the team saw its considerable depth at the position evaporate this offseason, with Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, C.J. Mosley and Andre Fluellen all hitting free agency.
