NFL Draft: Lions trade up to draft Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson

The Lions finally got their running back on day two of the NFL Draft, and it wasn’t Derrius Guice, Nick Chubb or Ronald Jones. After trading up with the New England Patriots — Detroit sent New England a fourth-round pick (No. 117 overall) — they selected Auburn running back Kerryon Johnson.

Kerryon Johnson

Pick: (43rd overall)

School: Auburn

Position: RB

Size: 6-foot, 213 lbs

Bob Quinn pulls off yet another trade with the Patriots, and the Lions appear to be fully invested in rebuilding a running game that hasn’t been the slightest bit of an offensive threat in recent years.

The team pulled the trigger on offensive lineman Frank Ragnow yesterday, and today they add a tough, physical guy that can run behind him. Johnson doesn’t have elite speed but he has a second gear that makes him fun to watch.

Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Johnson in his scouting profile.

“Johnson runs with good burst and is adept as both an inside and outside runner, but is more likely to become a grinder than a slasher on the next level. Johnson offers three-down value and could become an early starter,” writes Zierlein.

Check out some highlights of the play-making running back from Auburn.

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