INDIANAPOLIS – Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said after the season he would keep the talent and depth along the offensive line "watered at all points." Detroit's strength upfront on offense is one of the key identities of this football team and keeping it stocked with talent and depth will always be at the forefront of Holmes' roster building.

The Lions have good talent and depth returning upfront, including All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell, All-Pro center Frank Ragnow, Pro-Bowl left tackle Taylor Decker and starting left guard Graham Glasgow. Detroit also returns a few young pieces they are high on, including guard Christian Mahogany and tackle Giovanni Manu.

But as Holmes said, he's never against adding talent and depth upfront. If the team doesn't re-sign Pro-Bowl alternate veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, who is an unrestricted free agent, there could be a need to add more depth along the interior of Detroit's offensive line.

This is one of the better interior offensive line groups to come into the NFL Draft in some time with teams in need of help being able to find starters well into Day 2. There are a number of players with tackle/guard versatility, too, something teams really value.

Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons is one of the better tackle prospects in the draft but said Saturday he had a meeting with a team and they asked him how he'd feel playing inside the first couple seasons.

Teams typically only take eight offensive linemen into game day on the active list so versatility is key.

"It's extremely critical in the NFL to be able to play multiple positions," North Dakota State's Grey Zabel said Saturday. "At the end of the day, I'm an offensive lineman. It just depends on what hand you put down, what set you take on the position you play and if you have to snap the football.

"This process is understanding you never know what position you're going to have to play on a given week and going out there and just being the best you can be is critical."

Zabel played four of the five positions upfront at North Dakota State and had a really good Senior Bowl.

Missouri's Armand Membou was an All-SEC right tackle, but his 6-foot-3 frame might project more inside at the NFL level. His athleticism and versatility is really his best asset in the pre-draft process.

"I think most teams think I have the ability to play tackle but still have flexibility and want to see if I can play guard," he said. "I just want to show them my athletic ability. If they do move me to guard, I think I'll be pretty athletic."

The Lions are in a good position picking at No. 28, a prime spot to have a run at some of the best interior offensive line talent in the draft, if they so choose.

"That's the engine for us," Holmes said of the offensive line after the season. "And so, I don't care how good we ever get on the offensive line, that one right there is too important for not only our team, our quarterback, everything, it's our identity, man. So, I think just that alone is just – it's always going to be at the forefront."

Ohio State's Donovan Jackson, Alabama's Tyler Booker, Georgia's Tate Ratledge, Purdue's Marcus Mbow, Zabel and Membou are some of the highly ranked interior linemen who could be available late in the first round and into Day 2 of the draft.

"I think it's pretty important being able to play multiple positions, especially if you want to be on the field," Mbow said Saturday. "Being able to work at all five positions during this process is definitely going to help me get on the field early."