Bob Quinn came back to Allen Park Friday morning after round one Thursday night, and targeted Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson as a player he wanted early in Day 2, so he moved up in round two to get him.
Quinn has done the same thing early on Day 3, trading a third-round pick in next year's draft to move up with New England to select Alabama defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand in the fourth round. The Lions entered Saturday without a fourth-round pick after trading it to New England to move up to get Johnson Friday night.
Hand has terrific size (6-4, 297) and position versatility. He can play outside on the edge and kick inside on third down and play the three technique to provide some rush from the interior.
His selection by Detroit reunites him with former Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis, who holds the same role with the Lions. He'll also get to play with former Alabama teammate A'Shawn Robinson.
"It's going to be a great thing," Hand said of playing for Davis and alongside Robinson. "I'm just happy that I'm a part of the Detroit Lions and that I know somebody, actually. Bo Davis, me and him, we go way back. He helped develop me to the player that I am. He's just a high intensity, high energy, and he's going to get the best out of you.
"Man, you know, with Coach Bo (Davis) there, I know they've got a kind of similar scheme like Alabama did. It's just a whole bunch of dogs, so I'm just ready to be a part of that unit."
Hand's addition gives the Lions more depth along their front four. He joins Ziggy Ansah, Kerry Hyder Jr., Anthony Zettel and Cornelius Washington as Detroit's primary pass rushers along the edge, but can really play all four spots upfront based on his size and skillset.
"I feel I did a great job," Hand said at the Combine of his Alabama career that totaled 71 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
"I was a team player. I was playing an end position. Coming in here I wanted to be a 3-tech so I just wanted to show I'm versatile and everything so I just did what I had to do for the team."
He said in the conference call Saturday that playing for a program like Alabama has prepared him for the NFL.
"You've got to use your hands," he said. "You've got to know your assignment and when your name is called, when the play comes, you've got to make it."
Hand started nine of the 11 games he played in 2017, missing time with a minor knee injury. He had 27 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks this past season.
Hand was asked about playing against Lions first-round pick, Arkansas interior offensive lineman Frank Ragnow, while in college. Hand seemed impressed by him.
"He's a dog," Hand said. "He got selected first for a reason. You put on the tape, you can see it."
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