BBAO: Amukamara and Jordan visit Lions
March, 16, 2011 Mar 167:45AM ET
By Kevin Seifert

We're Black and Blue All Over:

As draft preparations continue around the NFL, the Detroit Lions hosted Nebraska cornerback Prince Amukamara and Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan at their workout facility Tuesday. According to the team's website, it was the first team visit for both players

The Lions have traditionally hosted a number of top prospects heading into the draft, and each team is allowed a total of 30 individual visits. It's tricky to read much into them; sometimes they can be for matters as simple as a medical re-check. The Lions were also reported to have hosted Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith on a visit last week.

Cornerback is probably the Lions' top need this offseason, and Amukamara is arguably the second-best cornerback in the draft. Will he be available at the Lions' No. 13 overall pick? Doubtful, but you never know.

Meanwhile, Scouts Inc. ranks Jordan as the No. 15 overall prospect in the draft.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... isit-lions

University of Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling visited the Detroit Lions today, the team announced.

Dowling ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, but hurt his hamstring during the event.

Dowling is a big, imposing Cover 2 style cornerback, but durability is a concern.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder was limited to five games last season due to injuries.

"It was frustrating, but I feel like things are going to happen," Dowling told the Lions' official website. "You’re not going to go out and play football and not get injured. Everyone’s going to deal with injuries. ..

"I feel I can do a lot more things than a lot of what other corners can do. Just being physical, especially as a tackler. I do a lot of things well.”

Auburn's standout defensive lineman Nick Fairley visits Lions
Tim Twentyman / The Detroit News

Allen Park-- Pittsburgh receiver Jonathan Baldwin and Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley visited with Lions coaches and front-office personnel in pre-draft visits Wednesday.

The Lions are looking for a third receiver to pair with Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson and Baldwin feels he'd be a good addition.

"I'm a down the field (receiver)," he told detroitlions.com. "I have big play-making ability that can add that extra spark to the offense and I'll do whatever is necessary to win ball games."

Baldwin, 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, had 128 receptions for 2,337 yards and 16 touchdowns in three years at Pitt.

Fairley is considered by most scouts to be a top-10 pick.

Fairley (6-4, 291) spent most of his time with Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and said he'd feel right at home with the Lions.

"I'm feeling great here because the defensive scheme is kind of similar to what I played at Auburn — rush the passer, go right to the ball," he said. "The way he (Kocurek) talks about the guys that he has in the room, as far as the D-linemen, I think it would be a great fit to come in as a rookie and be under those guys' wings. With how they took (Ndamukong) Suh in last year, how Suh produced and everything, I think it would be a good place to be developed."

The 2010 Lombardi Award winner (best college lineman) had 88 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, three fumble recovers and an interception for the national champion Tigers this season.

"I think I accomplished a lot throughout my two years there and I was just ready to take my skills to the next level," he said.

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110420/SPO ... 425/Auburn’s-standout-defensive-lineman-Nick-Fairley-visits-Lions#ixzz1KAHGHqnI

South Carolina cornerback-safety Chris Culliver had visits with the Miami Dolphins and the Detroit Lions late in the draft process, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

He had private workoutswith the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs.

He also had visits with the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans.

Originally projected as a fourth-round draft pick, Culliver has also drawn second-round and third-round grades from several teams.

A 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback who has also played safety, Culliver ran the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He registered a 1.50 10-yard split and a 38 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-03 broad jump. He also posted a 4.08 20-yard shuttle and a 6.08 three-cone drill.

Culliver is the Gamecocks' all-time kick return leader with 2,476 yards.

Culliver dealt with a torn pectoral last season, but has recovered from his injury.

He was moved from safety to cornerback prior to last season.

As a junior, Culliver was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection when he recorded 52 tackles and returned 26 kickoffs for 585 yards.

As a sophomore, he intercepted three passes with 60 tackles and forced two fumbles.

Culliver signed with South Carolina as a wide receiver before moving to free safety.