OT: Detroit Lions First Round Draft Choice
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.
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
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:23 AM ^
I think Gallon would be a good slot receiver that will probably be available on the 2nd or 3rd day of the draft. He has great hands and runs good routes. Seems like a perfect fit.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
Evans seems like a head case IMO. Had 2 15-yard penalties in their bowl game because he lost his cool. No thanks, Lions don't need a Titus 2.0
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:01 PM ^
Hell no.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:13 AM ^
Gallon. I'd use the 10th pick on him...
January 11th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^
in the 4th or 5th round.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:18 PM ^
Yeah, I wasn't serious. Sorry for the lack of a /s.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
Trade down for more picks.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:16 AM ^
They will draft Justin Feagin in the first round. Book it.
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!
January 11th, 2014 at 10:25 AM ^
If neither drafts him, he'd be best not being drafted and being an UFA that can sign with the Broncos or the Patriots.
I bet he'd make either team in a manner that Kovacs made the Dolphins.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:26 AM ^
C'mon maaaaan.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:52 AM ^
Blake BoRtles. QB. 1 R in his last name...
January 11th, 2014 at 3:03 PM ^
Are absolutely correct.
January 11th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
Sammy Watkins.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
His weakness is blocking but he shown that he can be a good blocker in the next level...
If he's shown to be a weak blocker in college how can you expect him to be a good one in the NFL?
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.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
Ebron, Watkins, Evans, or Matthews... Would really like to get Stafford another solid option.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
Curse you Matt Millen for never addressing the receiver position in the draft.
/s
January 11th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
If not Sammy, then Kelvin Benjamin. It would be the Calvin show on offense!
January 11th, 2014 at 11:48 AM ^
He's just so explosive and you won't find another wide receiver in the draft that comes close to what he brings playmaker wise. If he's there at 10, its a steal.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:46 AM ^
1. Sammy Watkins
2. Khalil Mack
3. Darqueze Dennard
January 11th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
Dennard is slow. Maybe if they trade down, you take a chance but I like Slay.
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.
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?
January 11th, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^
it's their ability to separate. I rather have a WR who runs 4.6 and can separate as opposed to WR who runs 4.3 and can't separate.
January 11th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
The Lions should draft Trey Burke. They'd be stupid not to.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:17 PM ^
I have them with Marqise Lee from USC. Can make guys miss in space
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
I think that there would be a chance that Lewan is available for the tenth pick, but isn't the need at c/g? would be pretty cool.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 12:44 PM ^
And if Lockett were to declare, he may be smallish but he is a baller....as most Michigan are woefully aware
January 11th, 2014 at 1:15 PM ^
I want my browns to take Watkins if Manziel is gone, Evans or Lee should be there
January 11th, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
Watkins if he's available. Haha dix would be great.
Hell, draft Johnny football. His play would be just as wreck less as staffords but far more exciting.
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 1:42 PM ^
is there for the Lions to pick, and they don't pick him, everybody in that draft headquarter should be FIRED!
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.
January 11th, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
He's on the Lions board for sure.