OT: Detroit Lions - Free Agent Frenzy/Who do you draft
So the Lions go out and pick up a starting DE (Trey Flowers), starting slot corner, starting slot receiver (Amendola) and best available free agent tight end (Jesse James). Good on them for trying. So many of the glaring needs get filled
That said most mock drafts had them picking a DE (possibly Rashan Gary) or TE (Iowa’s Hockenson). So what position/player do they take with the #8 pick? I guess the remaining open starting positions are offensive guard (now that Lang was cut), safety (after Glover Quin was cut) and #2 corner. Do they go offensive line for the third of the last four years? Does this usher in LSU’s Greedy Williams even though the guy doesn’t tackle?
Pass rushers, please. QB can't find open receivers if they're running for their lives.
So I guess that means the Loins should draft an OL.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:06 AM ^
Can you justify using the first rounder on a pass rusher after they resigned Okwara who led the team in sacks last year and now signing Trey Flowers. It’s a deep draft for D-Line. I agree they should add one through the draft but probably not with the first rounder
March 12th, 2019 at 10:08 AM ^
The closest the Lions have come to having a real team was a few years ago when they just cycled in a full two-deep of disruptive defensive lineman. I would stock up.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
Completely agree, Lions aren't that far away from having a scary D-Line again and in the NFL I think you do best by having an elite unit and then building the rest of the team around that.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
Not to mention, Da'shawn Hand.
Okwara's a system guy, not really a pass rusher. I like him and think he's a solid player, but he's not a guy that would make the Lions think twice about drafting a first-round elite pass rusher.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:06 AM ^
I would double down in DL, Gary, Sweat, Clemson guy. If not that I would love Devin White, Devin Bush or Josh Allen.
Dream picks would be Sweat, then trade back up to late first and get Bush
March 12th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
Im curious, why Sweat over Gary?
March 12th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
Im thinking more from a pure pass rush perspective Sweat is a bit better. Gary is better against the run but Flowers sort of fills that too. The tough part is Gary has a higher ceiling, but banking on potential is always tough. Now if you could somehow trade back a few picks for Gary that you then use to trade back up for Bush, that may be the perfect play.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
What is this, an Arrid XTra Dry™ commercial?
Sweat is a better pass rusher. Make the defense elite.
Because he's a better player?
March 12th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
Devin Bush is going to have a super productive NFL career. His game is such a good fit.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:26 PM ^
I like the idea of Bush and Davis teaming up in the linebacking corps.
If Davis doesn't improve his pass coverage REAL quick, he's not going to have a job much longer.
March 13th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
I would take Josh Allen in a heartbeat, if he's available. The man is a beast with an unstoppable motor.
Sounds like that blonde, long-haired dude from Ann Arbor.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:10 AM ^
DE, LB or CB ideally
March 12th, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
It will be interesting to see what the first 7 picks look like. High probability that Murray and Haskins both go, and chance of Jawaan Taylor or DK Metcalf sneaking in there too. I have a hard time believing Quinnen Williams, Nick Bosa or Josh Allen will be there at 8, but sometimes needs drive the best talent down....
I wouldn't be against trading down a bit and taking Greedy Williams, Rashan or Ed Oliver if they are there after pick 10. Sweat at 8 would be nice if the others are gone, although he could find himself going before the Lions pick as well.
Lions are in a really good spot.....
March 12th, 2019 at 10:26 AM ^
I think Murray is going to be a bust.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
To each their own, I really do think he will be excellent. Dude threw 42 touchdowns and 7 picks last year, plus he ran in 12 more tds.
I feel like it is deja vu with Baker Mayfield last year. Production over stature...it isn't like Oklahoma doesn't have monster O-Linemen that Murray had to see over, and dude balled out in the biggest games against tough opponents. If he was 3+ inches taller, he'd be heralded as one of the best prospects we've seen at the position.
Just my opinion....
Murray is my QB1 this year, however, I think there are more questions with Murray as to how his game will translate to the NFL (compared to Baker). To me, Murray is more of a pure playmaker/improviser and with his smaller frame, the margin of error is much slimmer for him than Mayfield. Murray's more dependent than Mayfield on needing a coach/system who understands his strengths and weaknesses.
I like Murray's chances of succeeding is he finds himself in Arizona with Kingsbury than if he goes to say, Washington or Cincinnati.
"Murray's more dependent than Mayfield on needing a coach/system who understands his strengths and weaknesses."
Just curious what evidence you are basing this on?
March 13th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
OU relied on Murray's legs to generate offense in 2018 far more than they did on Mayfield's legs in the two seasons prior. Murray rushed for 1,000 yards last season; for comparison, Mayfield ran for only 500 in two seasons as a Sooner. While the 2018 OU offense was more explosive than the 2017 offense, it was the threat of Kyler Murray running the football or keeping plays alive long enough for coverage to break down... and the NFL has yet to figure out an offensive system based on run-first QB that has actually led to sustained success in their league.
I think Murray is fully capable of transitioning into a Russell Wilson like-QB (pass-first, uses legs to keep plays alive, 5-10 rush attempts per game), but if he goes to a team that (A) ignores his athleticism and doesn't use the threat of it (*cough* read-option, RPOs) to get advantages in coverage or mismatches or (B) relies too much on his athleticism and endangers him to potential injury.
Totally agree.....today's NFL is more conducive to these types of players. The rules are just so heavily slanted towards offensive play-making. Size...in this case doesn't always matter:)
March 12th, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
I feel they will go for an Edge rush guy that can cover. If Josh Allen somehow drops to the Lions I think they sprint the pick up in disbelief since he would fit that bill perfectly. Out of those 4, it really seems like a crap shoot for which one would be an NFL superstar or just an average starter so naturally I want them to pick Gary.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
i like the trade down idea. if they can trade down 5 spots or so and get another 2nd rounder, i would be all for that.
March 12th, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
That's generally hard to do, especially at that price. It looks like most of the top players expected to be on the board at 8 are DL. Unless Haskins slips, there's not much reason for anyone to move up a few spots, just like there's not much reason for the Lions to stay at #8.
ya, i know. it would take a last second trade, like with Det on the clock, and another team that really wants a guy.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
I would love to see a trade down scenario but if not I’d go either White or Oliver. I want no part of Greedy.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
This. Trade down and use the picks you get to find a G and TE.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
Greedy Williams has the elite potential but he comes with big questions about his drive/focus/effort.
Do not want.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:37 AM ^
Doesn't that make him a perfect Lion?
March 12th, 2019 at 10:18 AM ^
Is Charles Rogers still available?
/S
/S
March 12th, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Thanks for the /s, otherwise I would have thought you were serious about getting a 38 year old that got suspended for drug usage and hasn't played for 15 years.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^
For the love of baby jesus do not select a TE top 10. Or anywhere in the 1st round really.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^
:), I think signing Jesse James was done SPECIFICALLY to avoid that particular temptation.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
I get tempted every time one of those Jesse James South Beach Diet commercials are on. That is one "TE" that I can get behind regardless of blocking and catching skills!!!
March 12th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
Switching gears a bit south east of the motor city down here in Cleveland John Dorsey is assembling a monster defensive line. With the signing of Sheldon Richardson this morning and the trade for Olivier Vernon last week we now have a terrific (and deep) front four. The team really has no glaring needs right now (would like to upgrade our #1 WR and kicker) so Dorsey can definitely go "best available" at 17. Personally I'm hoping he packages up some of our ELEVEN draft picks this year and moves up to take Ed Oliver (you can never have too many defensive tackles) or Greedy to pair with Ward at corner.
Also lots of talk here that they're looking at moving Peppers down to LB on some sets (similar to what we did with him his last year at Michigan) to get him closer to the LOS.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
I hate to say this, but the Browns have a chance to be really good, and my Steelers are imploding.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
They're the Browns, they will find a way to screw it up. Have faith.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:26 AM ^
For the past 19 years or so what you said would be absolutely true but I honestly dont think so anymore. Since November 2017 when John Dorsey was hired, the Browns have made a series of RIGHT decisions that have led them to a place none of us have seen in a long, long time.
We have our franchise QB in place on a rookie contract for the next four years
We have a cornerstone DE in Myles Garrett, a shutdown corner in Denzel Ward and great safeties behind them in Peppers & Kindred
We have not one but two fantastic RBs on the roster in Hunt & Chubb
We have a solid offensive & now defensive line (still need some LBs though)
We have a young, innovative HC in Freddie Kitchens and two fantastic coordinators in Wilks & Monken. And all seem to work well with our GM John Dorsey
Our HC now reports to the GM and not the owner (might not seem like a big deal anywhere else but around here this simple act of sanity is HUGE. Means Haslam is finally stepping back)
We have a ton of cap room to sign FAs or extend the contracts of the current core
We have the most picks (11) of any team in the upcoming draft (thank you Sashi)
Future's so bright we gotta wear shades.
I think Bush would be a perfect fit with the Browns.
Me too. They need athletic linebackers and man does he fill that bill.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:28 AM ^
I think yesterday signalled they're going to trade down for a shot at offensive line help.
Unless Jonah Williams is still on the board. You can never have enough quality tackles.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:30 AM ^
I'm ok with DL again at #8, especially if an elite player like Quinnen Williams or Josh Allen slips.
No to TE, CB, or LB at #8. Metcalf is intriguing with his raw, elite athleticism (the Lions need a home-run threat), but if you're set on drafting a WR at #8, you might as well call up the Giants and see if that's enough for Odell Beckham.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:05 AM ^
Lions don't have the money to add Beckham plus the value of the #8 pick is way higher because of the fact you have a guy on a rookie deal for five years.
March 12th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
Money is liquid in the NFL. You can always make it work (converting salary to bonuses, spreading out cap hits, releasing other players like Theo Riddick) and I'll take the sure-thing, top 5 WR in the NFL who is signed through his prime until 2023 compared to rolling the dice on DK Metcalf.
The value of the 8th pick is high, but also the value of a top 5 receiver entering the prime of his career with a contract that's already locked in for 5 years is still good value. The Lions currently have between 10-14 million left to spend after considering the money being spent on draft picks with projected slot bonuses. Cutting Kenny Wiggins would add $2,750,000 to their cap space, Theo Riddick and Christian Jones could be cut to add another $7,000,000, so that's basically 3 replaceable players that could get the cap number up to 20-24 million. Odell's is going to be $21,000,000 next year, and is actually going to be decreasing each year after. A first round pick being traded for him would also increase it a bit.
Odell is fantastic, and adding him would help Marvin and KG a ton.
March 12th, 2019 at 10:34 AM ^
Initial rounds of a draft should only ever be offensive linemen, defensive linemen, or a QB in years when necessary.