DETROIT — The evaluation process has barely begun and Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci isn’t sure if Charles Rogers plans on working out at the NFL scouting combine next week, but the Michigan State wide receiver is already on his mind.
Rogers, who gave up his final year of eligibility at MSU to play in the NFL, is considered one of the top prospects in the April 26-27 draft.
And with the Lions’ need for a big-play receiver for former Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington, there has been speculation that Rogers would be a quality choice with the No. 2 pick overall.
“We’re going to take a good look at Charles,” Mariucci said Wednesday.
Mariucci met Rogers, from Saginaw, briefly during the NFL playoffs at Tampa Bay last month when Rogers visited San Francisco linebacker Julian Peterson, a former MSU teammate. And Lions assistant coach Bobby Williams, the former MSU head coach, has had nothing but good things to say about Rogers.
NFL teams have been notoriously reluctant to take even the most highly regarded wide receivers that high in the draft, however, and Mariucci is not likely to make a quick decision.
Jerry Rice, the NFL’s all-time leading receiver, was selected 16th in the 1985 draft, Marvin Harrison was the 19th pick in the 1996 draft and Terrell Owens of San Francisco went in the third round in 1996.
“You’ve got to take a lot of things into consideration,” Mariucci said. “Are there other receivers that will fall to you in the second pick? Somebody that’s going to start or be an impact player, because we do need to add to our receiver group.
“What other needs do you have? If we had starters returning at the receiver spot, then you may say, `Well, we need another position.’ But right now we may need a starter at the wide receiver spot as we work through this.”
The Lions invested heavily in wide receivers a year ago. They committed $22 million — including $7.75 million in signing bonuses — over the next five years to Az-Zahir Hakim and Bill Schroeder, but received minimal production.
In addition to wide receivers, Mariucci said the Lions must address needs at cornerback, safety, linebacker and offensive line before training camp in July.