6. Rick Wagner, offensive tackle, Detroit Lions
A fifth-round pick out of Wisconsin back in 2013, Wagner has steadily morphed into one of the top right tackles in the game.
According to Pro Football Focus, this past season saw Wagner rank 18th-best among offensive tackles with a ranking in the top 10 in pass protection. That includes all tackles, even those tasked with protecting their quarterback’s blindside. This right here is where Wagner himself is an upgrade over Riley Reiff.
It also gives Detroit two tremendous book ends with 2016 first-round pick Taylor Decker tasked with holding down the fort at left tackle.
Both Lang and Wagner are seen as upgrades over the guys they replaced. Add in Decker, Laken Tomlinson and Travis Swanson, and it wouldn’t be a reach to conclude that Detroit boasts the best offensive line in the NFL outside of Dallas. That’s a pretty big coup for second-year Lions general manager Bob Quinn.
It also tells us a story of a front office that knows how to target specific needs and get who they want to fill those holes. This bodes well for Detroit moving into draft season and could very well lead to the team’s ascension up the ranks in the NFC North in 2017. The addition of a tremendous right tackle in Wagner magnified this to a T.