Round 5 – Donnel Pumphrey (RB) San Diego State
If all goes as planned, Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick will be 100% for the Lions in 2017 and improving the running back position will be a moot point. Though Zach Zenner filled in admirably towards the end of the season, he is not the long-term answer for Detroit.
IF and only IF Donnel Pumphrey happens to drop to the Lions in the 5th round, they should roll the dice on the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher. Pumphrey’s size (5-9, 180 lbs) worries me at the NFL level, but if he can put on a few pounds, he could prove the doubters wrong. At this point, I would not expect him to be an every-down back but will provide a team with a spark if he is given the opportunity.
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