OT: NFL Draft for your team/players
Slow morning here on the board so a topic I thought would be interesting. Who's your NFL team and who do you want them to draft?
Also, the other side, which team would be an ideal landing spot for your favorite College players?
As a Bears fan, I don't have a favorite, but they better get at least 2 OL in the draft and another UDFA or 3. I'd be surprised if Fisher is there at 20, but I wouldn't mind them taking the OG Cooper. As I see it we've got a center, a guard, and possibly a RT if he can stay healthy. If Lewan had gone, I'd have loved to see him in blue and orange. The other position of need is at LB. If Urlacher comes back, it won't be for long and Briggs is getting old too.
In terms of favorite players, it'd be the rich getting richer, but I think the Pats should draft Denard. BB has been a very creative offensive mind (know anyone else who would hand off to a TE like he does with Hernandez?) and the last few M players to head there have flourished. I think the blueprint for how to use Denard is there with how Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb have been used... maybe the Steelers? They've had quite a few college-qbs become solid WRs. I know MGoShoe has been dreaming of a backfield with RGIII and Denard... which would suck for everyone else.
Who's your team? Who would you draft if you were the GM? Where would you like to see your favorite college players land?
January 10th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 12:16 PM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 1:11 PM ^
The coach isn't the problem.
10 years of the worst player personnel department in the history of sports, and quite possibly the worst ownership in all of sports are to blame for the Lions current state.
You can't literally, and I mean literally have a 5 year run of dead drafts. IIRC, Calvin is the only guy from the 03-07 drafts still with the team. That is insane.
Randomly throwing a dart at a board that contained all of the names of the guys in the draft you'd have a higher success rate than that.
January 10th, 2013 at 1:13 PM ^
I don't know. I've been indifferent to Schwartz, for the most part. He's done stuff as HC that I've liked and some that I haven't. But that team has developed some serious leadership problems that I can't help but put at the feet of the coach. A wholesale lack of discipline, both on the field and off, is a massive problem for them right now.
I can't say I disagree about the Fords, though.
EDIT: Oh no! You edited your post while I was writing mine! I have no response to your comment about the drafts because I don't remember the 03-07 draft classes well enough! You're probably totally right! Exclamation point!
January 10th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^
Yeah, and those dead drafts play directly into the lack of leadership.
All of those guys who should be in their 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, or 10th year with the Lions, providing veteran leadership, simply don't exist as a direct result of Millen.
January 10th, 2013 at 2:03 PM ^
I still think Schwartz is a contributing factor to the team's problems. Just because the team has to rely on veteran players (6th+ years, as per your definition) who were signed rather than drafted doesn't give the team a free pass. Idiotic personal fouls during games, whatever the hell Titus Young's deal is, poor execution, constant legal trouble off the field (after a prolonged period of little to no legal trouble leading up to this year), etc and so on. The team is unfocused, undisciplined, unaccountable, and the head coach has to take ownership of that. Even a head coach who throws a spazzy fit because another coach shook his hand too hard, or flips out on the sideline with his challenge flag and costs his team a TD.
Just because the team is young and/or relatively new to the franchise doesn't give the coach a free pass for his wholesale lack of control over what his players are doing, either on the field or off. (And let's not act like the Lions have no veteran leadership: Backus, Johnson, Hanson, and Raiola are all players who were drafted by the Lions and have been in Detroit for at least 6 years. And let's also not pretend like veterans who weren't drafted by Detroit somehow don't count.)
January 10th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^
IIRC, there was an anonymous Lions player who stated that Schwartz lost control of the team at times this year, but primarily put the blame on Lions players and veterans for not self policing and leaving everything up to the coaches.
So I'd agree that there are problems on multiple fronts.
While there are free agent veterans who can step in and help, it's not the same as having guys in the locker room who are "Lions" and have always been Lions. Those type of guys have a great deal more cache than mercenaries.
January 10th, 2013 at 2:26 PM ^
The funny thing is that this conversation is even more moot than others, because it's not like Schwartz is going anywhere. Going from 0-16 to a playoff berth a quickly as he managed is not nothing, and he's not going to get fired at this point. Hopefully the problems of this past season act as a wake up call for everyone, players and coaches.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
Desired pick: Taylor Le...uhhhhh lemme get back to you
January 10th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 11:39 AM ^
The Lions have clear weaknesses at certain spots (especially on the defensive side of the ball), but an overall lack of talent on the roster isn't the problem. Discipline and maximizing that talent is the bigger issue.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Denard and Brady on the same offense? There are not enough ermahgerds to describe the ermahgerdiness.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
Lions: DBs but everyone knows we are getting a WR. Gotta put talent around Stafford right?
January 10th, 2013 at 11:51 AM ^
That's a bit of an old, and outdated, joke.
The Lions took Broyles in the 2nd last draft (2012). Not a bad pick-up given his ability (still the NCAA's leading receiver, I believe), especially considering what the WR depth looked like by the end of the season. The Lions took Young in the 2nd the year before (2011). The Lions took Toone the year before that (2010) in the 7th, Derrick Williams in the 3rd in 2009, Kenneth Moore in the 5th in 2008, and Johnson in the 1st in 2007. That takes us back into the Millen years.
So counting Mr. Irrelevant, in the past six drafts (i.e., since Millen was fired) the Lions have taken one WR a year, on average in the mid-3rd round, and none in the first since Calvin Johnson. Maybe not the best use of a (on average) 3rd round pick, but Millen was fired years ago. Plenty of other nonsense to make fun of the Lions for these days.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
Lions: anyone not out of Louisiana Lafayette
January 10th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
In some kind of semi-realistic dreamworld, this is what we'd do:
1-9) DeMarcus Milliner, CB, Alabama (trade #5 to NYJ for #9, 2013 4th and 2014 4th)
2-27) Bacarri Rambo, FS, Georgia (trade #36 to SF for #59 & 74)
3-3) Tank Carradine, DE, Florida St.
3-10) Kenjon Barner, RB/KR, Oregon (via SF)
-OR- Denard Robinson, RB/WR/KR, Michigan
4-2) traded to MIN last year
4-9) Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse (via NYJ)
5-4) Omoregie Uzzi, OG, Georgia Tech
6-3) Tavarres King, WR, Georgia
6-11) Etienne Sabino, OLB, Ohio State (via Titus Young trade)
7-5) Quinn Sharp, P, Oklahoma State
UDFA: Roy Roundtree, WR, Michigan | Ray Ray Armstrong, S, Faulkner | Sam McGuffie, RB/WR, Rice
January 10th, 2013 at 11:33 AM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 11:49 AM ^
I'm a big Milliner fan, and the top of this draft looks kinda lousy to me. He led the country in pass breakups which is my favorite stat to look at for cover corners. Suggests he doesn't allow separation easily at all and has good ball skills. I see him as an immediate starter with decent upside.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:01 PM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
I can possibly see them becoming really covetous of a guy they don't think lasts til their pick, like Jarvis Jones, Dion Jordan, Damontre Moore...or even Geno Smith, or Tyler Wilson if he kills it at his pro day.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
Can you be GM plz???
January 10th, 2013 at 1:07 PM ^
For whatever reason, I feel totally out of the loop when it comes the the draft this year. I'm just not up on a lot of the players outside the Big10, I guess. But are you suggesting that the Lions take someone named Rambo in the 2nd, followed by someone named Tank in the 3rd?
Despite having no knowledge of these players, I fully endorse this plan.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Dallas: OT/G D.J. Fluker from Bama! I would also like Barkevious Mingo, or Sam Montgomery from LSU.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:30 AM ^
We all know that the Lions will be signing Greg Jennings this year
And they should draft the German, Bjoern Werner!
January 10th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Among other needs, I would think that a CB (maybe Milliner, if available, or Jonathan Banks - someone that can make plays back there), or failing that, a DE along the lines of Bjoern Werner or Dion Jordan since I don't see Avril or VandenBosch necessarily returning. Those would be some hopes for early picks. Offensive line help would be nice too - Travis Frederick at guard perhaps, or maybe Gabe Ikard out of Oklahoma as a mid-round pick.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
Probably Milliner for the Lions. They need secondary help and are probably picking too high to take a safety.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^
I would love for the lions to trade down, but if not:
Rd 1: Jarvis Jones - OLB
Rd 2; Eric Reid, Baccari Rambo - S
Rd 3: Best OG/C available
Rd 4: Kenjon Barner..Denard if he is there, but I don't think he will be - Jahvid's replacement
Rd 5: Best DE available
Rd 6: Andre Debose - WR
Rd 7: Best OG/C available
I have been thinking the Patriots would be perfect for Denard. I think Belichik could maximize Denard's talents better than any coach in the league, and use him in a role somewhere along the lines of Edelman/Woodhead, but way better.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:55 AM ^
I like where your head's at.
G/C Travis Frederick, UWM and DE Michael Buchanon, UI might fulfill your needs in rounds 3 & 5
January 10th, 2013 at 2:47 PM ^
Lions don't have a 4th round unless they make a trade for one. They used tat on some garbage out of jacksonville this season...
January 10th, 2013 at 3:53 PM ^
The 4th round pick was traded last year in the draft for the 5th round pick we used on Tahir Whitehead (and also 7th rounders were exchanged).
Mike Thomas only cost us next year's 5th rounder.
January 10th, 2013 at 11:46 AM ^
In the later rounds, 5th round, I would like them to try to pick up a speed running back (Kenjon Barner if he comes out)
January 10th, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
Lions, would be awesome if we could land Barrett Jones to replace Raiola or Milliner to replace any of the guys who suck. I would also honestly love to see us take a flyer on Honey Badger in the 3rd or later. Has to be a better risk than taking an injured receiver...
Drafting defense and OL is the way to solidify/build a franchise in my opinion.
January 10th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
You had me until Mathieu in the 3rd. If there is one thing the Lions should absolutely, under no circumstances do is draft Mathieu.
I'm no NFL scout, but I've heard plenty of grumbling about how he won't make the shift to the NFL (undersized without the raw speed or technique to make up for it, I think is the gist). Plus, the last thing the Lions need is another guy with behavioral problems* who has already blown his multiple chances at redemption.
*By "behavioral problems," I just mean his inability to stay out of trouble.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
Steelers.
Chance Warmack
January 10th, 2013 at 12:18 PM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 12:27 PM ^
Team is the Browns.
Corner and an edge pass rusher are the biggest areas of need. However, I don't think Milliner is worth the #6 pick, so I'd like to find a corner in the third round (used the second rounder on Josh Gordon in the supplemental last year). The trouble with the pass rushers at the top of the draft is that most fit ideally as an OLB in a 3-4, whereas the Browns need a 4-3 bookend to Jabaal Sheard.
Thus, I want Bjoern Werner from FSU. If he's not there, I want Chance Warmack to set up a left side of the line of Joe Thomas, Warmack and Alex Mack. That should do just fine paving the way for Trent Richardson.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:40 PM ^
January 10th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
The only downside of Taylor Lewan staying in school for me is that I think it hurts my pro team, the Giants. They desperately need an offensive tackle and I believe that Central Michigan's Eric Fisher would have been a good get at 19. Now with Taylor and A&M's Jake Matthews staying in school he's probably the #2 OT and I think he'll get taken before we're up. Anyway the Giants #1 pick has to be for either line. I'd like Fisher or Womack on the OL. For the DL I'd like BYU's Ansai.
January 10th, 2013 at 12:52 PM ^
I'm a Patriots fan, and I don't feel comfortable talking about the draft when the season isn't over yet. The Patriot way is to take it one game at a.....
/s
Anyway, I'd love a scenario in which the Patriots draft Darqueze Dennard and Denard Robinson, so, when combined with Alfonzo Dennard, we will have mass confusion. Seriously, I would love Denard in Foxboro, but I'm not sure how he'd fit in, and I think that the Patriots would have to find new, creative ways to make him work. The Pats don't really run fly sweeps, but I think that could be one of his most effective plays to stretch a defense horizontally for guys like Gronk who like to get vertical. I don't know what to expect of Denard as a receiver. We could use a good return man though...
The guy I'm most enamored with right now is Tavon Austin, who I think can eventually be the Wes Welker type receiver. He's shifty, he's quick and agile, and he's reliable. I really loved watching him play at WVU this year.
Obviously, the big needs of this team are on defense. The Pats could really use a Shariff Floyd or a Jesse Williams to help Wilfork on the inside. I would cream myself if a Doin Jordan dropped into the Pats laps, but again, these are all stretch considering the likelihood that the Pats will draft late in the first round. Overall, I think the Patriots will trade their first rounder because the 2014 draft is better and they are thin on picks this season. There might not be a lot of value at the end of the round and no one really worth picking.
January 10th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
Would love to target some help for the back seven or at wide receiver. Since we pick in the middle to later part of the first round, I would like Kenny Vaccaro from Texas or Johnathan Banks from Mississippi State and on offense maybe a Keenan Allen or Justin Hunter if they fall that far. An RB later on would be great too!
January 10th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
Dolphins- Keenan Allen. Fish need a WR in the worst way.
January 10th, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^
What odds do you give to the rumor that the Dolphins will cut Jake Long and use their 1st rounder on an OT? I'm asking for selfish reasons as my previous post points out.
January 10th, 2013 at 3:09 PM ^
because Jake Long is in his last year of contract and the new contract would cost the Dolphins over 15 million a year which is a hard pill to swallow considering that his level of play have dropped a bit and was hurt for the past 2 years. They rather save the money and spend it on offensive weapons for Tannehill.
January 10th, 2013 at 2:35 PM ^
They need help at most positions but especially DT, MLB, and CB. They should either draft Utah DT Lotulelei or trade down for two lower picks, maybe Milliner and either Te'o or another DT.
January 10th, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
Jaguars - Dee Milliner - Can't afford another top of the draft bust. Tall, Fast, Productive in college. Safe pick.
January 10th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^
It's unlikely Niners will re-sign both Isaac Sopoaga and Ricky Jean-Francois, so their first pick should be a DT. Other expiring contracts include Randy Moss and Ted "I'm capable of any pass route that involves running directly to the endzone, so long as nobody jams me at the line" Ginn Jr., so they need depth at WR (I just hope they don't waste another 1st round pick on a WR who got shut down by a CB who'll be lucky to go in the 6th round, no offense JT). They also have multiple expiring contracts at backup LB and DB, but I wouldn't be surpised to see them take a chance on Denard if he's still there at the end of the 3rd round; I have no doubt Harbaugh and Greg Roman would use him creatively and effectively.
January 10th, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^