Lions make trade; draft offensive guard Tomlinson in 1st round
The Lions drafted offensive guard Laken Tomlinson of Duke in the first round of the NFL draft and added veteran guard Manny Ramirez in a trade from Denver.
Originally picking at 23, a trade with the Broncos allowed them to swap picks at No. 28, get two fifth round picks and some offensive line help.
The Lions received a fifth round pick this year (No. 143), a fifth round pick in 2016 and offensive lineman Ramirez.
Tomlinson is 6-feet, 3 inches and weighs 323 pounds.
Ramirez was originally drafted by the Lions in 2007.
Defensive back and both offensive and defensive lines were considered needs.
With the first pick overall, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston.
Rounding out the top five were Oregon QB Marcus Mariota by the Titans second, Florida defensive end Dante Fowler by the Jaguars third, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper by the Raiders fourth and Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff by the Redskins.
Locally Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes was picked No. 11 by the division rival Vikings.
Possible targets for the Lions were offensive lineman Ereck Flowers from Miami and Andrus Peat of Stanford, both picked No. 9 by the Giants and No. 13 by the Saints, respectively.
The last time the Lions drafted at pick 23, offensive tackle Riley Reiff was picked in 2012.
Last year Detroit drafted North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron to mixed reviews and minimal production.