#1 Draft Pick (2007) [Archive]

racosun

12-06-2006, 07:23 AM

Okay, we know the Lions still suck. They are currently sitting on a 2-10 record with four game left. Their best chance at a late-season victory would be against Green Bay, at Lambeau Field. They most likely lose that one. That means that more than likely, we'll also have the top overall selection in next spring's NFL draft. Yeah, we usually do pull off an upset late in the year, causing us to fall a few spots. Last season a Jason Hanson field goal cost us a chance to draft Reggie Bush. But I really don't think this year's squad has that in them. For now, let's assume that top pick is ours.

All that said, who do YOU select with the top pick? Name any player you think will be reasonably qualified for the pick. Maybe Ohio State's Troy Smith? Notre Dame's Brady Quinn? A top offensive lineman? Anyone else? Please share your opinion, you never know who may be watching (Matt Millen?).

ATLFalcons

12-06-2006, 07:40 AM

I say the Lions take a new President with the 1st overall pick. The team has some on-field holes, but the off-field problems really affect this team. I can't really pinpoint some this team needs. After all they looked pretty good against the Falcons. They should trade the pick for a disgruntled veteran player or just trade out of the 1st pick.

racosun

12-06-2006, 12:42 PM

The Lions biggest on-field needs are probably: 1) Offensive line, 2) Defensive line, 3) believe it or not, Wide Receiver, 4) Cornerback, and 5) Quarterback. We may even need a more sturdy running back, since Jones seems to always be nicked up, but then again that might be fixed by shoring up the O-line. We've got good interior D-lineman in Shaun Cody and Shaun Rogers, but they too are usually beat up. We probably need a decent back-up or two for that position. The thing about that line that needs to be adressed the most is the end position. Kalimba Edwards is a perennial underachiever, even though he's now pretty well-paid. We need a strong speedburner than can get to the QB consistently (but who doesn't need one, lol). WR and CB can be switched, but they both have big holes. Obviously Roy Williams is a star, regardless of his ever-flapping lips and occasional stonehands. Mike Furrey has been a nice surprise with his good hands and toughness. Mike Williams could (and should) be the guy we need, but he's too far into the coach's doghouse to pan out for Detroit. Dre Bly has really fallen off at CB, and Fernando Bryant is always injured and mainly ineffective when he's playing. We're going to need a strong #1 corner within a year or two. Do corner's go #1 overall? Probably not. The Quarterback situation isn't dire, but it isn't a problem-free zone either. Kitna is decent, but makes too many mistakes to carry a team to glory. He's also pretty old to be a franchise QB. Nobody's sure how good Josh McCown is, but he's not the answer at either QB or WR right now. Dan Orlovsky had a nice pre-season, but he won't get a shot to lead this team, although many think he should since there's nothing to lose at this point.

Believe me, there's way more holes than those, but that's all I've got time for now.

ATLFalcons

12-06-2006, 02:55 PM

Now that I can see the team needs from a guy who follows the team every week it shows that this team is in dire need. There is really no need to draft an O-lineman or d-lineman at the #1 spot and with the recent history of drafting wide recievers I'd doubt they'd take a chance at picking a guy like Calvin Johnson. Trading down probably will be the best option.

Snake

12-06-2006, 07:01 PM

racosun

12-06-2006, 08:13 PM

I wouldn't be so sure you guys will have the #1 pick. My beloved Raiders are also 2-10. Our best chance for a win was not realized when we held Houston to -5 passing yds and still couldn't win. We have one of the best defenses in the league, but we are crippled by almost the worst offense league.

To answer your question though, I can definately see you guys taking Quinn if he is there for ya. You will be to high to draft a WR or lineman. To me your RB situation is better then your QB situation.

If things hold as-is, the Lions would get the #1 pick over the Raiders due to strength-of-schedule tie-breakers. Sadly for us, both of our teams can easily lose the rest of their games. At least you can say you were in a Super Bowl not all that long ago. We've never been in a Super Bowl, not once. We won a couple of NFL championships way back in the '50s, before the merger with the AFL. Those don't count nowadays.

About Quinn: I didn't watch the U-of-M vs. Notre Dame game this year (:eek:), and I've never seen the guy play. Is he better than Troy Smith? How does he compare to last year's crop of QB's (Young, Leinart, Cutler)? I agree, Kevin Jones is a much stronger player and makes his position much stronger than what we've currently got to man the QB spot. Although we're fresh off of the Joey Harrington fiasco, I wouldn't be opposed to drafting another QB. Too bad we missed out on Vince Young. He's a Detroit-kind of guy (blue-collar, never say die).

Snake

12-06-2006, 11:53 PM

Quinn is also a blue collar, never say die guy. He had to be, being Charlie Weiss's QB. I personally prefer him to Smith, but you couldn't go wrong with either. Quinn has played for an NFL coach and is in that NFL coach's Pro Style Offense. Smith also plays in a somewhat Pro Style Offense, but Quinn has been put through a much worse mental ordeal, and has come out on top. I actually prefer Quinn to any of last years guys, but I am probably biased there. Looks down at sig.

Hehe, btw, I would rather forget that whole superbowl deal we were in. I would rather not make the super bowl, then to get the stomp johnson put to ya when you get there.

football junkie

12-07-2006, 11:13 PM

Whichever team gets the top pick, the Raiders or Lions, the team should trade down for a package of picks. Both teams have way too many holes to fix with one top pick.

The last thing Detroit needs is another Andre Ware/Joey Harrington.

And Oakland has so many holes, I'm beginning to think the team is trying to do a swiss cheese imitation -- because they sure do stink.

BTW...what kind of wine would go with swiss cheese? I'm thinking Chianti, or maybe a nice 2003 Château du Glana from Bordeaux?

ATLFalcons

12-08-2006, 03:09 AM

Both teams have many holes, but the Lions can't fulfill any of their holes with a first overall pick. The Raiders can get the top pick and take a quarterback.

racosun

12-08-2006, 02:37 PM

BTW...what kind of wine would go with swiss cheese? I'm thinking Chianti, or maybe a nice 2003 Château du Glana from Bordeaux?

If you're talking Detroit swiss cheese, try something from the Boone's Farm catalog.

Canseco

12-08-2006, 08:11 PM

racosun

12-08-2006, 10:36 PM

Hey racosun, I reconize you from the Tiger's forum. I think the Lions should just take Troy Smith. Last season I think they should have took Leinhart when they had the chance, but it wasn't a bad move because Ernie Simm is contributing.

Simms is and will be a very good player. He's the real deal, and was probably the best pick Millen's made in...well, forever.

The QB situation is a bit more sticky for the Lions. We signed Kitna and McCown, and have Dan Orlovsky on the bench. Coach Marinelli has already said Kitna will be our starting QB for next season (oh, great). The question is this: will Kitna get one last year to start, while grooming another young #1 pick? He helped mentor the Bengals' Carson Palmer for a year before he was forced out of the way. Kitna is no MVP candidate, and never will be, but he isn't exactly a Ryan Leaf either. If given proper help, he can lead a team to a load of wins. Of course he's too old now to be surrounded by younger, better-skilled players.

I guess it depends on who's doing the drafting. Will Millen still be trusted to make the selection? Hindsight says he shouldn't. If he does, will he be brave enough to select another QB? Is there a defensive player that'll be available that can take over a game, ala Julius Peppers? After such big busts on the offensive side of the ball, is Millen finally smart enough to go after defensive players? What a headache. Someday they'll be winners, and won't draft until the bottom third of the round, and the draft won't be such a big deal. But as of today, this pick is most likely the single-most important decision that the Lions have ever had to make.

Not knowing much about the players entering the '07 Draft, I'd first look for a defensive end to take pressure off of Shaun Rogers. After that, we really do need a bona-fide franchise QB. I was hoping so badly that Vince Young would have fell to us last season. With his pre-draft drubbing at the hands of the media, I though he was going to do just that. I really don't think Leinart is in the same class as Young, so I wasn't as bummed that we didn't take him when we had the chance. Leinart will be decent, but not a Carson Palmer-type.

racosun

12-11-2006, 07:42 PM

I guess one more option to put near the top of the list is now running back. Kevin Jones' injury is a serious one, and could keep him out for most if not all of next season as well. Is there any top-notch, number one pick-calibur backs out there that will be available for the draft? What about this Michael Bush dude? I've heard of him, but haven't seen any film. Didn't he get hurt?

Not that it matters, because even without Jones, the Lions still have bigger holes to fill. Jones himself was next-to-useless with the state of our offensive line. They can't protect the QB, can't bust holes for the RB, and take too many penalties at the very worst of times. If we drafted a RB with our top pick this spring, he'd get killed all season long. I think Jones could have been a All-Pro by now if he was on just about any other team, but the Lions really hold him back with their unwillingness to run the ball consistently (three coaches now) and the lack of a decent passing game. I'm not sure if we'll see a top-notch Kevin Jones ever again, so we'd better hope this Brian Calhoun kid can come back healthy and turn alot of heads in his second season.

ATLFalcons

12-11-2006, 08:17 PM

Michael Bush is a good athlete (former QB), but he probably doesn't warrant being selected in the Top 5. If the Lions need an O-Line it could take years to try and rebuild it. That's a tough situation to be in right now.

racosun

12-11-2006, 09:15 PM

The thing about re-building the O-line is that you first have to have the proper front-office in command to find the guys you need. We don't have that luxury. We paid big money to way-former Pro-Bowler Damien Woody, but he's been lazy and inconsistent, and injured as of late. Buku dollars also went to Jeff Backus, who isn't worth what he's getting paid. We've used high draft picks on Aaron Gibson and Stockar MacDougal, but neither was as good as the draft slot they were taken in.

If owner Willy Ford Sr. had any common sense at all, he'd clean out the entire front-office. Except marketing, of course. They are the only ones who earn their keep. Up until this year, the Lions have managed to sell out pretty much every game and sell a ton of merchandise. Lately there's been more and more empty seats, and I'm sure people are a little more embarrassed to buy that Lions hat or jersey. Okay, I'm ranting now, lol...

We probably have to take that #1 top-shelf QB (once again) and hope that this time, he'll be a major factor for the franchise's on-field success. We'll have to look towards the free-agent market to patch up the RB position for a season, or maybe trade a pick for some disgruntled back that needs a starter's position (TJ Duckett?).

CCN

12-12-2006, 05:50 AM

I've been joking with people the Lions will either draft Dwayne Jarrett of USC or Paul Posluszny of Penn State. The Lions actually do need a receiver, and since Millen went to Penn State, he might want to pay homage to JoePa.

racosun

12-13-2006, 09:00 AM

It's painfully hilarious, but yeah, the Lions really do need a WR. Unfortunately, if Millen is making the draft selections, he might pay homage to JoePa by drafting JoePa. I think his leg will be fully recovered by the spring mini-camps.

racosun

12-13-2006, 09:44 AM

With Kevin Jones' injury, and the fact that he might not be playing for the Lions until the mid-point of next season, drafting a RB with that #1 pick is now an option. One name that has been thrown out there as a possible choice is Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. According to various media reports of early mock drafts, many have the Lions taking QB Brady Quinn with the top-overall pick, but they could take Peterson. He's a guy that would have had his name near the top of the Heisman candidates if not for an injury. Personally, I'd go with a QB, and would look for a one-year replacement for Jones until he's ready to carry a full load once again.

racosun

12-25-2006, 06:16 PM

With Tampa Bay's victory yesterday over the Browns, coupled with the Lions loss to the Bears, Detroit is now guaranteed at least the 2nd overall pick in the 2007 draft. Either an Oakland win (at NY Jets) or a Detroit loss (at Dallas) in week 17 will clinch the top pick for the Lions. Way to go, team! You've accomplished something (finally). Don't blow it like you did with your last #2 pick, Charles Rogers.

football junkie

12-25-2006, 07:07 PM

This isn't a quarterback rich draft. Quinn, Smith, Stanton and Henne all have serious issues.

The league is flush with versatile running backs. It shouldn't be overly difficult to replace Kevin Jones for six or eight games in 2007.

The Lions shouldn't be so quick to write off Mike Williams. He could still come around and be a productive counter to Roy Williams at wide out. Anyway, Mike Williams was never going to be anything more than a complimentary receiver in the NFL, everybody at USC knew that.

The Lions would be nuts to pass up 6'8" Wisconsin Tackle Joe Thomas. He's got about 12 to 14 Pro Bowls written all over him. I'd also use the first pick in the second round on an offensive lineman -- perhaps guard Justin Blalock or Ben Grubbs or center Kyle Young or Doug Datish -- depending on who's still on the board.

The Jets were 4-12 last year. They lost their running back before this season started and they're still 8-6 (maybe 9-6 after tonight) and are in line to make the playoffs. Why? Draft picks LT D'Brickshaw Ferguson and C Nick Mangold are a huge part of the reason. The turn around in Detroit could be just as dramatic.

racosun

12-26-2006, 12:27 PM

I agree with that. If Oakland gets the first pick, there's no doubt that they'll take a QB, most likely Quinn. The Lions, if they get the top pick, should trade out of there. Yeah, they need a young QB too, but no QB will be successful playing behind the line that Detroit runs out there every game. Even when they were all healthy, the line wasn't very good at busting holes for the RB's or protecting the QB. I think the Badgers' Joe Thomas is going to be a stud in the NFL, but the Lions can trade down to maybe the fourth or fifth spot, pick up another draft selection or two, and still get Thomas (for a little cheaper, too). We need a stud on both sides of the line, and trading down to pick up another pick AND Thomas could land us a good DL stud as well. Of course, alot of what's going to happen depends on who the team can lure in from the FA market. I'm sure we'll grab at least one good O-lineman via the market (at least, we better).

Rumors are swirling that GM Matt Millen will keep his job for at least one more season. He has to nail this draft perfectly if he wants another season beyond the next one. Attendance at Ford Field is declining after many years of bumbling team management by the front-office and coaching staff. If there isn't a significant improvement next year, the Lions might see their beautiful new stadium half-full (I'm still an optimist), which would force ownership to make a change. If we can't get the Fords to sell the team, than it is probably time that the elder Bill Ford hand over to duties to his son. That could be the one main change that will have the most positive effect for the franchise.

tigers527

12-31-2006, 11:44 AM

I would say if (when) the Lions get the first overall pick. The Lions have to go running back. Jones, has yet to show even without this latest injury, that he can put it together for a whole year, HEALTHY. It is just a shame (and typical Lions) that the year the Lions "put it all together" is a year before Darren McFadden from Arakansas will be availible. His head coach also was an assistant at OSU when Barry was there, and has said he's the best he's seen since Barry (now if that isn't an endorsment, what is???).

If the Lions are going to continue this pass first, and second and then once and awhile run type offense, they need to have a legit running threat (at least keep teams a little closer to honest). Nothing against Jones when he is healthy, but he has yet to be healthy for a whole season.

As to the OL, it seems to me that the better OLs in the league are more frequently the ones that have stuck together longer, then those of great pedigree (ie high draft picks). That and the OL learning curve is a long one, whereas RB come in right away and have an impact. Besides, who wants to draft the next Tony Mandrich? The Lions OL has been hurt bad by injuries this year. At times even with the injuries the Line has played "not that bad". Give the 2 rookies another year in the system, plus better back up help through free angency? And of course hope for better injury "luck"?

My 7 rounds of draft would look like this, by position (taking out any best availible options) from 1st round on down.... RB, edge DL, DB, OL, DB, DL, LB...then sign some free agent rookie WR (perhaps from Hawii, those guys caught a lot of passes).

Canseco

12-31-2006, 01:36 PM

Well with the win today, the Lions have the number two overall pick.

racosun

12-31-2006, 01:51 PM

I'm fine with the second-overall pick. Considering how dreadful Oakland's QB situation is, it's nearly a lock that they take Brady Quinn. Everybody knows that. That's really going to drive the price up on our draft slot, which could work to our advantage. Someone's going to want Adrian Peterson, or perhaps another "unknown" at the moment, and will pay through the teeth to get him. Maybe we can move back a couple slots, hope big OT Joe Thomas is still available, and pick up another pick or two. We'll also have a high second-round pick, which is almost like another first-rounder. Grab another lineman (offense or defense), then look for a CB in the third, or put a package together and move back into the first round again for a higher selection. Plenty of options, and the hope rollercoaster has officially begun. Go Lions! 2008 NFC North Champs!! (lol)

Canseco

01-01-2007, 05:27 PM

I think we should take Adrian Peterson with the second overall pick. In the second round, I would get a reciever or QB. I would like them to get Drew Stanton.

CCN

01-02-2007, 10:56 AM

I think we should take Adrian Peterson with the second overall pick. In the second round, I would get a reciever or QB. I would like them to get Drew Stanton.
When I was in Michigan for one of my monthly visits last month, a writer dropped the name of the BYU quarterback likely making it to the second round, and that is appealing to me more and more.
Peterson said he's coming out, right? I'm kicking myself for not watching enough of that game last night, but he'd be a good choice if he's fully healthy and draft-available. Thomas would be a good choise should Peterson be staying.
Of course, with Dwayne Jarrett lighting up U-M yesterday . . .

racosun

01-06-2007, 09:22 PM

If he decides to enter the draft, is LSU's JaMarcus Russell too much of a freak to pass up on? The guy is 6'6", 250 lbs., and can throw the ball over 80 yards. He's also said to be very intelligent, and can really read defenses. From the few games I've watched him play in, he's top-notch, a "wow" kind of guy. Sure, Kitna chucked 4000+ yards this season, but he's also getting pretty old for an NFL QB. Russell could sit on the bench for a year (ala Carson Palmer) and learn the ropes from a genius like Mike Martz. At some point, QB will need to be addressed. Kitna, McCown, and Orlovsky are decent, but we'll need a franchise QB to lead us to a playoff win (I won't get greedy yet). If Russell doesn't star in Detroit for years to come, he'll do it in another city without us. Hmmmm.......

ATLFalcons

01-06-2007, 09:30 PM

So you would pass up Troy Smith? He may not be as much a "freak" as JaMarcus Russell, but he has been stellar in his career at Ohio State. I really can't see the Lions taking either of those guys at the #2 spot, they'll probably go with Brady Quinn. He wouldn't be my choice, but that's going with my gut.

brady_branch

01-07-2007, 06:58 AM

I'd say take Peterson #2, then in the second round, take Russell, Beck, or Stanton, though any of them may easily go in the first round.

racosun

01-07-2007, 12:03 PM

I think #2 is too high for Peterson. And there's no way Russell (who officially declared for the draft today) makes it to the second round. I don't think he'll slip out of the top-ten, really. And he could be better, say #2 or something. If Russell doesn't work out at QB for the Lions, we could always use him on the O-line (like McCown at WR). Really, I'm not sure who I'd take at this very moment. I guess the smart thing would be to wait and see who REALLY wants that draft slot, and how bad the REALLY want it. If there isn't a sure-fire franchise guy there, trade out to someone who thinks there is.

Hut5

01-09-2007, 03:01 AM

originally posted by racosun
If there isn't a sure-fire franchise guy there, trade out to someone who thinks there is.
I agree with you, Raco.

Troy Smith may have leadership, but I don't think either he or Brady Quinn will do all that well in the NFL. If we can trade our first round pick and get a couple of lower picks that can start plugging holes we will be much better off.

racosun

01-12-2007, 01:23 PM

While I'm sure it'll change hundreds of times before the draft actually gets here, most of the latest draft banter has the Raiders taking either Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson or LSU QB JaMarcus Russell with the first overall pick. Some of the Detroit-area media are now saying it wouldn't be such a bad move for the Lions to take Johnson if he's available at #2, or Russell if Oakland decides to go the other way. They say Johnson fills an urgent team need (even with two 1000-yard receivers on the roster), and Millen couldn't really take any more heat for the pick than he already is under. They want to re-sign Mike Furrey, but as a #3 receiver. Furrey wants to be at least a #2 guy, and get paid like it. I have a feeling that he's going to end up elsewhere next season, but I still don't think we should take another receiver (at least, not in the first round).

M-Live's Tom Kowalski seems to be backing a Johnson-at-#2 pick. He seems to be against drafting a QB, since it doesn't fill what he considers to be an urgent team need. Two things about that: 1) QB is a team need, and now. How come none of these guys seem to realize that Jon Kitna, while being a servicable and capable QB, is going to be 35 years old at the beginning of next season? What we need is a replacement for him, whether it be this season or for the next. Kitna won't be able to keep doing what he was doing, and what he was doing wasn't all that fantastic anyways. Drafting a guy like JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn fills the team's biggest need, a franchise QB. Let the guy sit and learn for his first season or two, than unleash him, like the Bengals did with Carson Palmer or the Chargers did with Phillip Rivers; 2) The team isn't going to be all that great over the next two seasons anyways, why not get strong at the position that holds the ball the most? If we go after a receiver or different position now, we might not have another chance to pick this high and acquire a franchise-type QB, especially a smart, experienced, and physically-gifted freak of nature like Russell. The worst thing the Lions can do with this pick is to think it'll help them big-time starting this year. We've got Roy Williams, we don't need Johnson. OT Joe Thomas is good, and fits a need, but most likely isn't worth a #2 pick. Russell makes sense, at least for me. I hope Millen and his staff can see the opportunity we have to actually build something.

So, in short, if Russell isn't available at our draft slot, then we need to trade out. Quinn, while good, doesn't strike me as a franchise-type player, while Russell does. I do believe Quinn will be good, but not as good and not as much of a game-changer as Russell will be. We don't need a WR, or a RB, so we need to stay away from the temptation to draft Johnson or Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. We can address our O-line woes via free-agency and perhaps the second- and third-rounds of the draft. Take Russell, let him learn from Martz and Kitna for a year or two, and by then we'll have a decent line to protect him.

brady_branch

01-12-2007, 02:48 PM

ATLFalcons

01-12-2007, 07:16 PM

I'm not trying to be biased when I say they should trade the pick to the Falcons, but #2 would be too high for the Lions to pick up an O-lineman, so I would suggest trading down to #10 and getting Matt Schaub in the process. Schaub won't have to wait behind Jon Kitna for a couple of years like a rookie would have to and the team can improve by a few games if the Lions draft well. Personally, I see the Falcons going after Calvin Johnson if they get the #2 pick.

CCN

01-16-2007, 05:14 AM

OK, my plan for "If I replaced Matt Millen" (revised):

Trade down to a middle of the first round pick, from a team like Carolina.

Draft an O-lineman, or Adrian Peterson, if he's available.

In the second round, draft a talented QB from a small-name college. Brian Brohm comes to mind here.

I'm not a Lions fan, so I'll stop here.
I like this plan. Unfortunately, Brohm is staying at Louisville. So the BYU QB it is.

All I can say about JeMarcus Russell is Scott Mitchell. One game does not a quarterback make. Any team taking him in the first round is risking it.

ATLFalcons

01-16-2007, 05:46 PM

I like this plan. Unfortunately, Brohm is staying at Louisville. So the BYU QB it is.

All I can say about JeMarcus Russell is Scott Mitchell. One game does not a quarterback make. Any team taking him in the first round is risking it.

JeMarcus Russell is Scott Mitchell!! :eek: :eek: I really don't get that. He's played well the last two years at LSU and I think a 1st round selection isn't too high for him.

racosun

01-17-2007, 03:58 PM

...I would suggest trading down to #10 and getting Matt Schaub in the process...

This makes alot of sense for both teams. The salary of that #10 pick would be much more bearable than paying someone just a bit more than the huge deal Reggie Bush got last year. Schaub could be an all-pro (there are quite a few who would rather see Schaub start than Vick at this point). Calvin Johnson is worthy of the #2 spot, and he's just what Vick needs to exhaust all excuses in the tank before either breaking out or busting out. If the Lions are lucky, Joe Thomas would be sitting there at #10, and we could do that second-round QB action as mentioned before.

Good idea. Let's do it. Send my agent a PM, lol.

ATLFalcons

01-17-2007, 04:16 PM

Many "Falcons fans" would like to see Schaub start over Vick, but with that 10 year $100 million contract he won't sit on the bench. The last time the Falcons traded for high pick it was to the Chargers for the #1 pick (Mike Vick) while the Chargers took LaDainian Tomlinson with the #5 pick. They chose Drew Brees in the 2nd round, why am I making this correlation you ask? Having pick between the 5-15 slots usually mean money in the bank. Joe Thomas would be a great pick for the Lions, but first we'll have to see how much Matt Millen can f**k the situation up.

I'll definitely send your agent a PM. :D

brady_branch

01-18-2007, 05:17 AM

In the second round, maybe then they could draft a talented RB from a small-name college (Garrett Wolfe?).

racosun

01-20-2007, 10:27 AM

In the second round, maybe then they could draft a talented RB from a small-name college (Garrett Wolfe?).

I doubt they'll take any RB in the draft. Kevin Jones is supposed to be ready by the regular season opener, and we'll also have last year's third-rounder (Brian Calhoun) back, as well as Shawn Bryson. I think if they go offense in the first round this year, they need to go defense pretty much the rest of the way, except for another O-lineman in either the 2nd or 3rd round.

ATLFalcons

01-20-2007, 11:00 AM

I don't think they need to overload any position that is already solid. Just try to get the spots they need.

racosun

02-26-2007, 11:25 AM

...as of now, most people (so-called experts) have the Lions either selecting Wisconsin's Joe Thomas, or trading out of the spot. One trade scenario that has popped up involves swapping picks with the Arizona Cardinals (#5 overall) and picking up extra second and third round picks. The Cardinals supposedly REALLY want Thomas to help solidify a shaky O-line, although I doubt the rumor somewhat. I couldn't see the Cards giving up their top three picks for Joe Thomas. It would be wonderful for the Lions, though. I can't see Millen fleecing anybody.

racosun

04-12-2007, 11:48 AM

Since my last post, the Joe Thomas rumbling has died down. With Oakland seemingly flip-flopping between selecting WR Calvin Johnson and QB JaMarcus Russell, the Lions have managed to blow enough smoke to hide their true intentions. This could be viewed as a good move on Matt Millen's part, but since that is such a rare accusation with him, I'll refrain from actually saying so. Most draft pundits seems to think the Lions' pick is the wild-card that the rest of the first round hinges upon.

Kitna and Roy Williams want the Lions to take the best player available, and they both hope that Calvin Johnson is there at #2. Would Millen have the cajones to draft yet another WR? Charles Rogers was a can't-miss too, some will say, but Johnson could be one of those rare types that actually lives up to the large billing he recieves. T Joe Thomas is by far the best O-lineman in the draft, but most experts don't believe he's worthy of the big dollars that go the the second-overall selection. Then there's the two QB's, Brady Quinn and Russell. Quinn, they say, is the more NFL-ready guy, while Russell is a freak of nature that you can build a dynasty around...if he can adapt to the big time of pro football.

And of course, many others expect the Lions to trade down a few slots to select a D-lineman that can rush the passer, someone to compliment Corey Redding and Shaun Rogers. There should be a few good ones (Gaines Adams, to name a name) between the fifth and fifteenth selections, and the team could pick up a few extra picks to utilize on draft day. One of Millen's greatest moves came on a manuever like this, when he traded down with Cleveland to select Roy Williams, and used the extra picks acquired to move into the latter part of the first round and take Kevin Jones.

Basically, we regular folks won't know what the team is going to do until probably draft day, and the longer Millen can stick to that the better value that slot will hold.