BeileinBuddy

March 10th, 2014 at 6:16 PM ^

Lions have too many holes to fill and need their full host of picks this draft. Nope. Love Watkins but it's not the right time. Lions would have to give up #10, #45, and probably next year's 1st/2nd to move up that high.

Chiwolve

March 10th, 2014 at 6:20 PM ^

I'm all for Watkins, but the price will be too steep! How many number 2 WRs are worth mortgaging the future and hardly the 3rd pick if you were lucky enough to be sitting on it. What you need is a little slot guy that can consistently get open and make defenses pay for double teaming Megatron. That type of guy you can find much later in the draft.

If you look at what the Lions are proposing to do, what other team is a model for this - probably only Atlanata. If you look at the truly elite passing offenses of the last few years (Denver, New England, New Orleans, Greeen Bay) they all get by with 0 to 1 stars at WR. Of course, they have better QBs at the helm, but the point is that Atlanta is the exception not the norm, and they are not the team that the Lions should try to emulate given the needs at other positions

alum96

March 10th, 2014 at 6:48 PM ^

I've seen him generally 5th thru 7th (CBS WR Rankings for example show him not being drafted).  He looks like a perfect guy for the Patriots, all he does is make plays and his hands are velcro - Wes Welker 2.0. 

Danwillhor

March 11th, 2014 at 12:59 AM ^

there is a very decent chance he doesn't. He is a WR (like HB, a position teams are devaluing) that is 5-7, runs a 4.6 (tops) in pads, is a WR, played on a poor offense while still putting up numbers (surprisingly, NFL scouts often see that as bad...somehow), is a WR, not very fast in a sport where scouts often ignore game film/CFB careers for two chances to run 40yds in techno speedos, it's the NFL, is a small WR that doesn't run a 4.3, and blegh...you get it. IMHO, he could very easily go undrafted. I also think he will be drafted later (5th round at the earliest) but could see 20 WRs I've never heard of that are 6-0 4.4 40 guys push him out completely. Of course, those hypothetical 20 guys will be out of the league in 2 years. I just think "no way" is giving NFL scouts too much credit. Oh, and I'm bored haha.

BlueMan80

March 10th, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^

Alshon Jeffrey came into his own and that loosened things up for Marshall. That was good. But...the crappy defense kept the Bears out of the playoffs. Defense wins championships.

not TOM BRADY

March 10th, 2014 at 7:01 PM ^

Yes he would solidify the offense. And to the argument that they have too many holes is a joke because WR is a big one. No team is going to be perfect. Not every team has every hole filled and has tremendous depth. If you can strengthen a position potentially drafting Watkins does I would do it.

Yinka Double Dare

March 10th, 2014 at 7:24 PM ^

Rookie receivers rarely make a big impact unless they're the Moss/Megatron level.  So as a Bears fan, by all means trade several picks for a guy who will probably not even help that much this year!

sbeck04

March 11th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^

That is incredibly not true.  The list of rookie WR to top 1000 yards is not a long one.  They have to learn massive playbooks, how to run precise routes, and how to deal with being jammed constantly.  Even the best guys generally take a year or two to truly come into their own.

Ghost of BCook…

March 11th, 2014 at 1:32 PM ^

This is incredibly uninformed on your side. 

Multiple points:

  • Sammy Watkins is a top 10 pick (at worst).  Compare apples to apples and you'll see that more times than not those top 10 guys are immediate contributors.  Of course the learning curve is steeper for WRs drafted later in the draft, as is the case for all positions.  But the best WRs can step in immediately. 
  • Why is 1,000 yards the magical determinant of whether a player is making an impact or not? How about if a guy does multiple things to gain yards and score?  How about if he has 999 receiving yards?  Silly, arbitrary number. 
  • Rules changes favoring passing games have made it increasingly easier for WRs to be effective. 

Top 10 WRs from the past 3 drafts IN THEIR ROOKIE SEASON: 

  • Tavon Austin (2013 - 8th Pick - STL):  40 receptions, 414 yards, 4 touchdowns; 9 rushes, 151 yards, 1 touchdown; Punt Return TD.  Primary QB:  Kellen Clemens. 
  • Justin Blackmon (2012 - 5th Pick - JAX):  64 receptions, 865 yards, 5 touchdowns.  Primary QB:  Blaine Gabbert.
  • A.J. Green (2011 - 4th Pick - CIN):  65 receptions, 1,067 yards, 7 touchdowns.  Primary QB: Andy Dalton (rookie)
  • Julio Jones (2011 - 6th Pick - ATL):  54 receptions, 959 yards, 8 touchdowns.  Primary QB:  Matt Ryan

Blackmon, Green, and Jones were studs right off the bat.  Of those three, only Jones was placed in an ideal situation with an established QB (Ryan) and good complimentary WR (Roddy White).  Blackmon caught passes from Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne who rarely even had time to throw the ball due to a terrible OL, but still hauled in over 800 yards.  Green played with a fellow rookie at QB and surpassed 1000 yards.  You can argue Austin's worth, but he did a lot of things and was a dynamic playmaker when given the chance. 

How do you think a top-10 (or hell, top 3) pedigree WR will do when placed next to Calvin Johnson and having Stafford as his QB?  Do you really believe his sucess won't be a lock? 

Perkis-Size Me

March 10th, 2014 at 8:03 PM ^

Not saying Watkins wouldn't be a great addition, and it makes a nightmare for your opposing secondary, but don't the Lions have much bigger concerns and positions of need to fill right now?

AVPBCI

March 10th, 2014 at 8:13 PM ^

Wr is the biggest hole to fill on offense, corner and safty on defense.

 

Trade up to 2, get warlike, and in free agency go get a stud cb and solid saftey.

 

Did antbody here see the Lions offense without Megatron last season ?

 

I was against the stafford extension, but were stuck...

 

So go get somebody to take off the doubke and triple teams mega gets...

 

Watkins is gonna be a stud.

 

I'm fine with gallon or abberderris later in the draft also.

 

Stay away from Brandon Roby..bust bust bust

NOLA Wolverine

March 10th, 2014 at 8:57 PM ^

Everyone keeps telling me that Bradley Roby is a first round pick, yet every time I see him he's getting roasted by someone. Totally owned by Funchess and Butt in our game, Abredaris drank his milkshake, and he was no where to be found against MSU. 

michclub19

March 10th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^

The Lions are actually in a very comfortable position for their needs at 10.  There's a good chance Gilbert should still be there with backup plans of Evans, Mack, Barr, or even Dennard (trade down), who I think is going to be NFL-ready based on all the press coverage at MSU.  The mid-second round should still see some quality WRs available, Brandin Cooks, Allen Robinson, Odell Beckham.
Trading up to get Watkins means you'll likely lose, or at minimum drop substantitally in the Second Round.  Watching last season it seems Watkins wouldn't get you back to where the fans hope.

Roc Blue in the Lou

March 10th, 2014 at 11:18 PM ^

Deep in the heart of Rams' territory--picking at #2 and #13--there's alot of talk that a couple of top Rams' suits attended a private workout with Sammy and a teamate (CB?) and came away extremely impressed.  The Rams really need a LT or a versatile RT/Guard type player--if Long gets healthy.  Considering the depth of left tackle talent on the big board, the Rams might be scheming on taking Sammy and then whichever of the three LT's is still there at #13 (Lewan, Please!)...Detroit may have to pay a steep price to pry this pick away from the Rams.  Then again, if Houston goes QB, it could be Clowney.  My hunch is the Rams want a tackle, don't need to use the #2 pick to get him, and they're just lying in the weeds for a team like Detroit to make a desperation trade to be in the #2 spot.  Just sayin

bronxblue

March 10th, 2014 at 11:24 PM ^

Might as well try to get someone; they have enough holes to fill.

Personally, I'd rather they try to get a linebacker or a CB, as I think there will be some competent WRs around after cuts.  But Watkins definitely has potential to be a great WR and complement to Megatron.

uminks

March 11th, 2014 at 4:28 AM ^

the Lions pick up a dependable 2nd receiver through free agency. Draft the best players that fit your need! DB, DL, C and a future 3rd or 2nd WR. Don't give up extra draft choices on a WR!!!!!

We'll see how the coach turns out? May be he will surprise us but it seem the like the top coaches did not want to come to Detroit and we are stuck with middling coaches? May be I'm wrong but will the new coach have to reach the playoffs his first year? I doubt, I think he will get 4 or 5 years right off the bat!

sbeck04

March 11th, 2014 at 9:50 AM ^

I would rather have them trade down in the first and focus on defense in the early rounds (unless Ebron is still available).  WR is the hardest position to scout in the NFL.  I think they would be better off taking Gallon and an outside guy in the later rounds.  That would let them take someone like HaHa or CJ Mosely in the first and there should be talented CBs or a S left in the second.  We just watched the Seahawks dismantle the best offense in years, I hope the Lions saw it too.