The third day of the NFL draft is all about value, and finding players with the kind of athletic traits that fit your scheme.
Selecting Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby in the fifth round seems to fit both categories for the Detroit Lions.
Crosby is a big-bodied tackle (6-5, 309) that most projected to be a second-day pick. Getting him in the fifth round looks to be terrific value.
In addition to value, the Lions are also getting a player who comes to Detroit with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
View photos of tackle Tyrell Crosby.
"It's frustrating just because my personal opinion, I think I'm the best, well, one of the best offensive tackles from the 2018 draft," Crosby said in a conference call after the pick.
"But, though it kind of sucks, at the same time it's just an awesome feeling to know that I'm a part of such a great organization with great history. Wherever I went, I ended up in Detroit and I'm so thankful for it."
Crosby played both right and left tackle at Oregon, and was the seventh lineman in Oregon history to be awarded the Morris Trophy as the Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Year this past season. He did not allow a quarterback sack or hit all of the 2017 season, according to Pro Football Focus statistics.
"As an o-lineman, you never want your running back, quarterback or just anybody with the ball or teammate in general to get hit by anyone," Crosby said. "To know that I kept our quarterback safe throughout the entire year is a tremendous achievement in my opinion.
"Getting named top PAC-12 lineman of the year voted by the defensive linemen, it's humbling knowing that your peers think that highly of you."
As a freshman in 2014, Crosby helped the Ducks win the Pac-12 championship, win the Rose Bowl and reach the national title game. That season he won the team's "Pancake Award."
"That award it was whoever got the most knockdown blocks," Crosby said. "Each game coaches and GAs and all the assistants watch over film, watch each play and just kind of pay attention to what's happening, who got a knockdown or any of that.
"At the end of the year sitting down I remember Coach (Steve) Greatwood started off reading his little intro to the award and then right before he announced it he said, 'I'm as surprised as everyone else in this room because I expected this kid to redshirt when he came in.'"
Crosby is the second offensive lineman selected by the Lions after they took Arkansas interior offensive lineman Frank Ragnow in the first round.
Detroit doesn't have an immediate need at tackle with starters Taylor Decker and Rick Wagner returning, but the Lions do utilize a third tackle in their schemes quite often in short yardage and goal line situations. The Lions could use the powerful Crosby as a swing tackle early on, and let him develop for the future. He's also got the kind of strength where he could potentially kick inside and play some guard moving forward too.
