Updated - My column on Lions draft after three rounds: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150502/pat-caputo-ameer-abdullah-could-make-or-break-2015-nfl-draft-for-detroit-lions

Don't get me wrong. I love Ameer Abdullah and his competitiveness. By all accounts he is a great kid. But I don't see him as an explosive back, who is going to take the ball to the house with any level of consistency in NFL. He was often banged up at Nebraska and he fumbled a lot. His 40-yard dash time is 4.6. He's just 5-foot-9 200 pounds. He's a slightly faster Theo Riddick, but without the proven hands in the receiving game.
I think the Lions would have been better served with Duke Johnson, Tevin Coleman or Jay Ajayi.
As you've heard a million times, Abdullah has small hands and is prone to fumbling the football. Nebraska's offense was something from the Big Ten in the 1970s. It was not sophisticated by current college standards, let alone the NFL. I see him as third- or fourth- round player. And it's like, honestly, the Lions have gotten third-round talent in both the first and second rounds. It doesn't mean the Lions aren't right, but it's difficult to look at the upside of this draft being that promising at this point.

My column. The Lions may have reached by taking Duke guard Laken Tomlinson in first round: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150501/pat-caputo-right-idea-but-did-detroit-lions-reach-taking-guard-laken-tomlinson-in-first-round