OT: Detroit Lions First Round Draft Choice

Submitted by MotownsFinest on

The Lions will select 10th overall in the upcoming 2014 NFL draft. What the Detroit Lions do with that pick will be very important because they have a few holes to fill. The right choice could help the Lions finally get back to the playoffs. When talking about the head coaching vacancies in the NFL, everyone says the Lions job is by far the best one. It will be important for the next coach to come in and start winning right away, because this Lions team is built to win now. This draft could be huge for the new coach, because of the talent and the players they could get to fill some of those holes.

The Detroit Lions need to address certain issues in the draft. I think the biggest needs are at wide receiver, defensive back, outside linebacker, and then offensive line. Most importantly, the Lions need to find someone productive to put opposite of Calvin Johnson. Johnson is a work horse, but he keeps taking a beating and eventually he will start missing more time than he already has. The next most important thing the Lions need to cover is a defensive back. The Lions went out and signed Glover Quin last off-season, which was probably their biggest free agency signing in a while. So the staff knows that they need help in the secondary. They can not just stop with the signing of Quin though, because they still need help in the backfield.

Link: http://www.motownfinest.com/

What do you guys think? Who should the Lions draft? Who is the best option? It would be nice if Sammy Watkins would drop to the Lions. 

jdon

January 11th, 2014 at 5:50 PM ^

I wanted to dispute you but I couldn't find the information  anywhere simple.  I will say that 'or should have been' is a cop out...

I feel the same way about cornerbacks in free agency; I just think the cash is wasted on a position that lacks the ability within the rules to have an impact. 

Also, the best cornerback I could think of off the top of my head was Sherman in Seattle who was  a fifth round pick...

jdon

 

Maison Bleue

January 11th, 2014 at 10:12 AM ^

I'd like to see them draft Mike Evans, if Watkins doesn't fall that low, him opposite Calvin would be rediculous. Then maybe pick up a slot guy in free agency like Jeremy Maclin. 

They need help at corner as well, so I wouldn't mind seeing them draft Justin Gilbert or Dennard. This draft seems pretty deep at corner though, so I feel like that #10 pick is better served for WR to compliment Calvin.

Maison Bleue

January 11th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^

I agree he is a bit of a risk, but not on a Titus Young level. Evans hasn't had the serious off-field issues Titus had at Boise St. and Titus was also suspended multiple times for missing workouts/missing practices/team rules violations/arguing with coaches.

I would take the risk, hoping that I could coach a twenty year old to how to not lose his cool on the field, when the upside could be Calvin 2.0 across the field from Calvin 1.0.

VAWolverine

January 11th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^

I'd keep my eyes on are Ellingtom from South Carolina and Benjamin from FSU who will be available after the first round. Ellington was huge against Wisconsin in the Capitol One Bowl.

I believe Drew Dileo is a sleeper in later rounds or as a free agent. He can catch, hold on kicks and SLIDE!

Fhshockey112002

January 11th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^

I highly doubt Blake Barrs will fall to 10 but if he's there I think it's a no brainer. Guy could play OLB behind Ansah and you could have one of the most physically gifted front 7 in all of football.

Mr. Yost

January 11th, 2014 at 10:33 AM ^

Blake BARS plays for Michigan, he's a 290lb backup OG/OC that is fighting for PT this year. Only one R in this last name.

Blake BORTLES is a QB from UCF. Lions don't need a QB. No R's in his last name.

Anthony BARR is an OLB from UCLA projected to go in the top 3-5 picks. His name isn't Blake, nor does his last name end in S.

Michigan4Life

January 11th, 2014 at 10:28 AM ^

for #10 overall pick are Sammy Watkins and Eric Ebron.  

Watkins is explosive WR who is an aggressive runner with the ball in his hands.  His accleration is elite and gets into top speed within 2 steps.  He has the ability to extend his hands and pluck balls out of mid-air.  He's exactly the type of WR Lions need to punish defense from rolling coverage to CJ.  His biggest weaknesses is contested catches and route running in which he has a tendency to round off routes.  Seeing Lions offense struggling without CJ on the field is striking and it shows that they need another vertical threat to keep it humming.  Durham and Burleson have had a ton of trouble separating from DBs which doesn't help Stafford as well though Stafford have his own faults.

Ebron is another freak athlete at TE.  With the trends of athletic TE who can provide mismatches, he fits the profile at 6'4" and 245 lbs with 4.4 speed.  He is a very smooth athlete who can press onto DB's cushion space and threaten vertically.  Very good route runner with good hands.  His weakness is blocking but he shown that he can be a good blocker in the next level and contested catches tho he improved from last year.  Ebron can line up at all WR position plus TE which gives Lions scheme flexibility.  With Pettigrew may not come back as a UFA, TE could be a need. Fauria has been a pleasant surprise but is more suited as a #2 TE because of his lack of speed and Michael Williams is more of a #3 TE as a blocking TE.

Michigan4Life

January 11th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^

however, in today's NFL the top TEs are the one who can run and catch.  Look at Jimmy Graham for example. Not a good blocker but elite receiver.  Only Gronk and Davis are the only one you can say is a true two way threat at TE.  If you want to spend a 1st round on a TE, you need to get a good receiving TE with great athleticism period.  Eric Ebron and Jace Amaro are the two who fits the mold of joker TE position in today's NFL.

MDot

January 11th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^

Sammy Watkins, Anthony Barr or Darqueze Dennard. Lions should be able to walk out of the first round with one of those players. Depending on what his combine #'s look like, wouldn't  be mad with landing HaHa if those options are unavailable.

 

For those mentioning Evans, we need somebody more explosive who can seperate quickly. A Sammy Watkins/Marquise Lee-type. Stafford has enough players he can just chuck it up to.

Qmatic

January 11th, 2014 at 11:51 AM ^

Marqise Lee. Provides speed to another outside receiver. I would prefer a speed receiver opposed to another bigger target, although if someone like Allen Robinson slipped to the 2nd round I could see him fitting an Alshon Jeffrey type role.

MotownsFinest

January 11th, 2014 at 4:55 PM ^

What if Kelvin Benjamin runs the same 40 yard time(or close) as Marqise Lee at a much bigger size? Lee reportedly runs a 4.49 and Benjamin a 4.54. Which is pretty darn close when you compare the size difference: Lee 6' 195, Benjamin 6'5" 235. What if the 40 times in the combine are even closer? 

814 East U

January 11th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

I just want to say I think teams should ALWAYS draft a QB in rounds 6 or 7. What is the downside? A lot of 6th or 7th rounders either don't make the squad or get cut after a year. Taking a flyer on a QB who becomes a Tony Romo or Tom Brady is well worth a 6t or 7th rounder (especially a comp pick from the NFL that is untradable). Just my 2 cents about the draft. 

drewz05

January 11th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^

Take CJ Mosley, a LB that can really take advantage of the work the talented D-Line does.  Also, he should get along really well with the CJ Mosley that's already on the team.  If that's not kismet I don't know what is.

JT4104

January 11th, 2014 at 12:21 PM ^

I still think Detroit needs another DT to compliment Fairley and move Suh outside to help on the pass rush. For all the money they have spent on the DL the outside pass rush is still a problem.

Willie Young is a solid rotation player but not a starter in this league. I still feel like Suh has enough speed he could raise some hell on the edge. Ansah looks to be solid as well.

Secondary help is a must...Slay looks like he has a future but there isn't another CB on the roster you could trust.

I'm for trading down about 8 or 9 spots if possible and add another mide to late round pick. This team badly needs to find some secondary players who can contribute.

NinjaDMM

January 11th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^

A reason for the terrible pass rush was the subtraction of Jason Jones. Now he's no Suh, but he will be a positive to the DE group when he returns next year. I'm intrigued by moving Suh around everywhere, I'd love to see Detroit use his athleticism better as well.

WMUgoblue

January 11th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^

If Watkins doesn't fall to 10 I'd personally like to see them grab Haha Clinton-Dix. I don't think they're going to pick up Delmas' option thus saving themselves some money but creating another hole in the secondary.

NinjaDMM

January 11th, 2014 at 12:32 PM ^

I have a man crush on Sammy Watkins. Watkins paired with Johnson would be a wet dream of an offense. Detroit needs NFL ready corners, BAD. If Watkins is gone, I'd draft Dennard. I'm not really concerned about defense in the NFL though. It appears the NFL wants to do away with defense entirely, so in this new age of football, I say go for the offensive guys and don't look back. If Detroit could win every game 45-39, I sure as hell don't care. I just want wins, 3-0, 55-54, that shit doesn't matter to me.

turtleboy

January 11th, 2014 at 1:48 PM ^

Different mock draft have 5-6 OTs going in the first 15 picks, others have only 2. No way of knowing who'll get taken because half the teams picking high still don't have coaches, lmao. Lewan is worth a high pick, but luckily will fall well below 10, maybe enough for us to get him with our second pick because of so many teams picking for other needs. Jake Matthews is a clear top 10 pick this year, and second in OTs taken will be Auburns Robinson. After them Kuoandjio and Lewan, maybe a few others like FSUs Evans or the other Tamu Tackle could be available for a steal.

turtleboy

January 11th, 2014 at 1:36 PM ^

I think the Lions will take Watkins at 10, there are so many teams in need of a QB/OT ahead of us that he'll likely still be there. I don't think another WR is worth that pick if he's already gone, or even worth much more than a bottom end first round pick, so our new coach might take a chance on TE Eric Ebron and move Megatron back out of the slot and pick up a WR high in the second round. I can imagine them picking Sparty CB Dennard at 10 also because he's versatile, being so physical in the run game.

If Watkins is off the board I'd like to see them move down and pick up a pair of guys that fall. WR Lee from USC, and any one of Lewan/Kuoandjio would be a nice consolation, and give us not just depth, but possibly dominance since Lions RTs Fox and Waddle can play inside/outside.

Danwillhor

January 11th, 2014 at 2:44 PM ^

but we need a true, solid #2 WR. If Watkins (did he declare?) I'd there you grab him. The front 7 is fine even if we go 3-4, IMO. Ansah would just move out as he had the size and athleticism to do it. Crazy but, yet again, a WR and I've with no injuries or baggage, etc. Calvin needs help. Still young, he looked like an old 34 yr old vet at times this year. You grab a solid #2 WR. If not that, I think Delmas was on the field for a contract as until this year he would play 5 games a year with a knee injury that didn't keep him from jumping all around the sideline. A safety/versatile DB would be nice if one is there with the 10th pick. Maybe start to look for OL depth an eventual replacement for DR? An upgrade at OLB? For once we don't have canyons to fill.