Bob Quinn said they were talking about the range of maybe moving up tomorrow to make a deal to get a player earlier in the second round. Quinn has done that before, notably last year with Kerryon Johnson. That there's all day to think about it "provokes more conversation" to find out what it'll take to get a guy.
Bob Quinn on whether or not he'll bring up the fact that he'll likely be compared to Eric Ebron: Said he might eventually bring it up but it won't be a priority. Has other things to talk with him about first. Ebron, of course, was the last Top 10 tight end for the Lions -- the last time the Lions had a Top 10 pick.
Bob Quinn: "There's a transition to every position" but said he believes in T.J. Hockenson's intelligence. Said they feel comfortable that he'll be able to pick it up. Said there were a couple of trade conversations but nothing that stood out as something he had to do.
Matt Patricia on T.J. Hockenson during the Lions' draft party: Gives multiplicity on offense. Really high on his blocking. "There's a lot of plays on tape where you're watching this guy and he's blocking somebody and all of a sudden you can't see him anymore on the tape because he's got his guy over on the sideline dumping him on the bench." Also said he's difficult to tackle and "turns small plays into big plays."
New Lions TE T.J. Hockenson said "you never really are sure" when a team will take you. Said all of his talks were positive with the Lions. "It was awesome" getting the call from Detroit, which he called a great program. Had his 92-year-old grandfather with him.
T.J. Hockenson going to the Detroit Lions is a surprise -- only because Ed Oliver was unexpectedly still on the board. The pick makes sense for how Bob Quinn has drafted in the past -- high floor, high character players at positions of need. And Hockenson has the chance to be very, very good for quarterback Matthew Stafford. But if Oliver becomes a star and Hockenson is anything but, this will be a pick that many will question for a long time.
The Detroit Lions are on the clock and Ed Oliver is available. Have to think the Lions will think long and hard about taking the versatile defensive lineman here. T.J. Hockenson and Brian Burns could be other possibilities and don't rule out a trade, but the fact that Oliver is still here could make this easy.
Bob Quinn, before the draft, says they are testing all the speed dial lines an hour before to make sure that they all work. About 50 people are part of his draft operation.
An hour or so before the madness, inside the Detroit Lions draft party.
Duke never has had a QB drafted in the first round. The highest drafted Duke player is linebacker Mike Junkin in 1987 (No. 5 by Cleveland Browns). The only Duke first-round pick in the last 30 years is offensive lineman Laken Tomlinson (No. 28 pick in 2015 by Detroit Lions).
Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was at the team's facility on Monday morning, a day after his wife, Kelly, was released from the hospital following surgery to remove a brain tumor.