Detroit Lions at the NFL Scouting Combine: What we took from Day 3

Detroit Lions-specific availability is over for the NFL Scouting Combine, but there was still plenty of Lions football to discuss.

Saturday was the first day defensive players were available to the media, most notably Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o, whose off-the-field experiences have drawn significant attention.

• Detroitlions.com columnist Mike O’Hara says Te’o was impressive, but probably won’t be a player of interest for the Lions, who have Stephen Tulloch at middle linebacker.
• Linebacker Jarvis Jones – who many analysts have Detroit taking with the No. 5-overall pick – still has health questions surrounding him.
• On a day filled with defensive ends, O’Hara says the Detroit Lions’ need for a pass rusher is so strong, it is screaming, “draft me.”
• Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew is on record as saying comparisons between small-school defensive end prospect Ziggy Ansah and current New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul are fair.
• Considered by many to be a top defensive end prospect, Florida State’s Bjoern Werner said there is nothing he’s “lacking of really bad” but “nothing that stands out really good.”
• Michigan’s Denard Robinson is working primarily at wide receiver, kick returner and punt returner. Mayhew believes teams targeting Robinson should have a specific role in mind for him.

Sunday is the final day of media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine, with defensive backs on the docket.