With the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft (1 Viewer)

[Andy Herron]

Obviously, the Lions have more holes than they can fill, but where do they start?

I seriously doubt they can manage to trade away this pick.

I'd say starting up front on either side of the ball would be a good place to begin, and according to Mel's Big Board they'll have a multitude of choices.

Thoughts anyone? Lions homers?

Mel's 2009 Big Board (Nov. 13)

1. Aaron Curry Jr. LB Wake Forest

2. Michael Oher Sr. OT Mississippi

3. Jason Smith Jr. OT Baylor

4. Rey Maualuga Sr. LB USC

5. Brandon Pettigrew Jr. TE Oklahoma St.

6. Michael Johnson Sr. DE Georgia Tech

7. Brian Orakpo Sr. DE Texas

8. Brian Cushing Sr. LB USC

9. B.J. Raji Jr. DT Boston College

10. Eugene Monroe Sr. OT Virginia

 

[Magnum]

Obviously, the Lions have more holes than they can fill, but where do they start?I seriously doubt they can manage to trade away this pick. I'd say starting up front on either side of the ball would be a good place to begin, and according to Mel's Big Board they'll have a multitude of choices.Thoughts anyone? Lions homers?Mel's 2009 Big Board (Nov. 13)1. Aaron Curry Jr. LB Wake Forest 2. Michael Oher Sr. OT Mississippi 3. Jason Smith Jr. OT Baylor 4. Rey Maualuga Sr. LB USC 5. Brandon Pettigrew Jr. TE Oklahoma St. 6. Michael Johnson Sr. DE Georgia Tech 7. Brian Orakpo Sr. DE Texas 8. Brian Cushing Sr. LB USC 9. B.J. Raji Jr. DT Boston College 10. Eugene Monroe Sr. OT Virginia

"Wide Receiver....Michael Crabtree from the University of Texas Tech"

 

[Sweet Love]

I thought Crabtree was projected as a Top 5 pick, no?

 

[TLEF316]

I thought Crabtree was projected as a Top 5 pick, no?

Kiper's BB doesn't rank underclassmen until they officially declare.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

crabtree would be LOL

but what about the OT from Alabama?

personally I'd take Rey Maualuga Sr. LB USC

 

[SierraKiloBravo]

Here's a somewhat related question. Do you use this draft to build around the QB position, take your lumps, and then go after the QB in 2010?

 

[Sweet Love]

I thought Crabtree was projected as a Top 5 pick, no?

Kiper's BB doesn't rank underclassmen until they officially declare.

Hmmm...then the list above would not be too helpful. Thanks TLEF.

 

[Magnum]

crabtree would be LOLbut what about the OT from Alabama?personally I'd take Rey Maualuga Sr. LB USC

As lifelong & diehard Trojan fan and 15 year season ticket holder..........I love the way Rey plays the game, but he tends to overun plays quite often. Don't get me wrong.....he's great, but I prefer Cushing.

 

[gman74]

Andre Smith or maybe Maualuga but probably Smith

 

[Abraham]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

 

[Buffaloes]

Oher is the way to go here.

 

[brewer]

Unless they don't like any of the QBs as a top prospect, they almost have to take one due to the economics involved. QB is always going to be a highly paid position on every team. If you draft any player other than a QB, he immediately becomes one of the highest, if not the highest paid player at his position. That just doesn't make any sense to me. There is risk involved with every player obviously, but if you have no obvious future franchise QB and you are picking at the top of the draft, it would make the most sense(to me) to pick the QB and try to fill in your other holes via free agency... all the while spending less money than you would have to if you drafted another position and then signed a big name QB(which are almost never available anyway). People can point to the failures of QBs taken at the top of the draft, but the reality is that we only remember them because they were QBs. Everyone remembers the failures of Tim Couch for instance, but few remember that Ki-Jana Carter and Big Daddy Dan Wilkinson were chosen at #1 overall as well.

It's a new management group's turn in Detroit. I say they open things up with the next franchise QB.

 

[azgroover]

I vote Oher because I read a book about him.

 

[Mimo]

Take the top OL man. If they think they need a QB serviceable ones will be available in free agency ala Pennington when he went to Miami. But they have to build both lines IMO.

 

[biggamer3]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

Not a bad suggestion, afterall with very little wear and tear on Cassell he is like a veteran "rookie"

 

[Abraham]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

Not a bad suggestion, afterall with very little wear and tear on Cassell he is like a veteran "rookie"

The other option would be to sign Alex Smith to sit behind Culpepper for a year and draft Oher. But a decent young LT is a key.

 

[GROMS]

Does it really matter? It's Detroit................

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Ok, the Lions need to draft linemen for the next 10 years, end of story.

 

[MAC_32]

Here's a somewhat related question. Do you use this draft to build around the QB position, take your lumps, and then go after the QB in 2010?

Yes.Work on both lines this offseason, hope to get McCoy or Bradford next year.EDIT: or actually be decent for a change and QB may be less of a concern

 

[NeverEnough]

If they go anything but OL/DL here then they all need to quit football

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Oher, Monroe, or Andre Smith

I'd vote Oher.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

I vote Oher because I read a book about him.

it was an interesting read

 

[FavreCo]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

Not a bad suggestion, afterall with very little wear and tear on Cassell he is like a veteran "rookie"

The other option would be to sign Alex Smith to sit behind Culpepper for a year and draft Oher. But a decent young LT is a key.

You gotta be kidding. Have you ever seen that idiot try and play QB? Give me Cassel.Signed,Calvin Johnson.

 

[meeka]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

Not a bad suggestion, afterall with very little wear and tear on Cassell he is like a veteran "rookie"

The other option would be to sign Alex Smith to sit behind Culpepper for a year and draft Oher. But a decent young LT is a key.

You gotta be kidding. Have you ever seen that idiot try and play QB? Give me Cassel.Signed,Calvin Johnson.

You ever see Cassel try and throw a long pass? Signed,Randy Moss

 

[Billy Ball Thorton]

How about Derek Anderson.. Any chance they trade with Clevland ?

 

[Sgt_Russia]

If they go anything but OL/DL here then they all need to quit football

There's the answer.

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Stud left tackle or stud pass rushing DE. The Lions have neglected both sides of the line for years and that has to be top priority. Other than this, they have to focus the majority of the draft on the defense.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

I vote Oher because I read a book about him.

Good enough for me.+1

 

[puckalicious]

The Lions have shown that on offense they are serviceable for now, but that defense can't stop anyone. The 2009 draft should be nearly 100% defensive picks.

Trade out of that high 1st round pick for ANYTHING you can get. The money it takes to sign a #1 or #2 overall is just insane and greatly inhibits what they can do with the rest of the team. Take the "pick value calculator" and throw it out the window, I don't care if they get a 1 and two 2's out of it, the team is better off doing it. They just need bodies, and lots of them to fill in all the holes.

 

[NeverEnough]

Sign Cassell to a boatload of money...draft Oher.

Not a bad suggestion, afterall with very little wear and tear on Cassell he is like a veteran "rookie"

The other option would be to sign Alex Smith to sit behind Culpepper for a year and draft Oher. But a decent young LT is a key.

You gotta be kidding. Have you ever seen that idiot try and play QB? Give me Cassel.Signed,Calvin Johnson.

Yea, b/c Cassel is doing great w/Moss. Cassel = career backup.

 

[Ozymandias]

Linebackers do not go #1 in the draft. QB's, RB's, DT's and OT's.

The Lions should focus on DT's and OT's.

 

[Smeagol]

How is Gosder Cherilus working out?

 

[EBF]

Draft the best available QB. Bring in a veteran to start for 1-2 years. Sign Calvin to an extension. Shore up the OL, DL, and secondary over the course of the next 3-4 drafts. Plug in competent journeymen at LB and RB. Win games.

 

[Ozymandias]

Draft the best available QB. Bring in a veteran to start for 1-2 years. Sign Calvin to an extension. Shore up the OL, DL, and secondary over the course of the next 3-4 drafts. Plug in competent journeymen at LB and RB. Win games.

Draft the best available QB. Check.Bring in a veteran to start for 1-2 years. Check.Sign Calvin to an extension. Check.Shore up the OL, DL, and secondary over the course of the next 3-4 drafts. Check.Plug in competent journeymen at LB and RB. Check.Win games. Dreamer.

 

[mt99808]

This is where the new GM is really going to earn his money. The Lions signed Jeff “on his” Backus to a 6 year extension prior to the start of the ’06 season which would leave him with 3 seasons remaining on his contract. They also drafted an OT in Cherilus in the first round last year.

As bad as their O-line is and as much as I can’t stand Backus the defensive line is that much worse. If I’m the Lions I’m going DT and DE with my 2 first round picks. There are usually some pretty decent middle linebackers available in the top of the 2nd round like 2 years ago when everyone but Matt Millen knew they should have drafted Paul Posluszny instead of Drew Stanton. This team is such a mess.

 

[Synthesizer]

If there's anything we've learning from the Lions, it's that the player will be poorly coached and will end up labeled a bust no matter how talented he is. Even Jake Long would be getting blown up if he was part of this franchise.

 

[Shooter McGavin]

Trade out of that high 1st round pick for ANYTHING you can get. The money it takes to sign a #1 or #2 overall is just insane and greatly inhibits what they can do with the rest of the team.

That's why they'll never be able to get anyone to take the pick. Trading down is most likely not an option. Nobody wants to pay #1 overall pick $$$.If there's a franchise type LT, that's the only way they should go anywhere besides D-Line. A DT who can stop the run or a DE who can get to the QB are the most pressing of the many needs they have. Their inability to get pressure or stop the run is why they're 0-10. They score enough points to win if they could stop anyone. Then get a LB or CB with the pick they got from Dallas.

 

[puckalicious]

Draft the best available QB. Bring in a veteran to start for 1-2 years. Sign Calvin to an extension. Shore up the OL, DL, and secondary over the course of the next 3-4 drafts. Plug in competent journeymen at LB and RB. Win games.

Draft the best available QB. Check.Bring in a veteran to start for 1-2 years. Check.Sign Calvin to an extension. Check.Shore up the OL, DL, and secondary over the course of the next 3-4 drafts. Check.Plug in competent journeymen at LB and RB. Check.Win games. Dreamer.

Rebuild defense with 3-4 scheme, using a franchise NT. Che... wait we gave him away to cleveland.It would be easier to start from scratch with an expansion team than it would be to rebuild the Lions.

 

[Lash]

Oher would be my first choice

the draft the other Rebel DE Hardy at pick #33

 

[Fallerjw]

How about Derek Anderson.. Any chance they trade with Clevland ?

[brownsfan] I hope so [/brownsfan]

 

[MAC_32]

How about Derek Anderson.. Any chance they trade with Clevland ?

[brownsfan] I hope so [/brownsfan]

+1Although if you're patient you may be able to get him without giving up any picks.

the draft the other Rebel DE Hardy at pick #33

I wouldn't be so sure he'll fall that far. Guy's a sick talent.

 

[Native]

Matt Stafford.

 

[Buckna]

I would go DE, which ever one grades out the best out of Orakpo or Johnson or Selvie.

Don't forget that Detroit has Dallas #1 next year that's currently projected as the #22 overall pick. Take a LB like Maualuga or Cushing there.

Maybe a DT or a CB at #33.

~~~~~

What I think is likely to happen is Stafford at #1, a DE at #22 and a RB at #33.

 

[gman74]

I would go DE, which ever one grades out the best out of Orakpo or Johnson or Selvie.Don't forget that Detroit has Dallas #1 next year that's currently projected as the #22 overall pick. Take a LB like Maualuga or Cushing there.Maybe a DT or a CB at #33.~~~~~What I think is likely to happen is Stafford at #1, a DE at #22 and a RB at #33.

Maualuga will be a top 10 if not top 5 as of right now

 

[JuSt CuZ]

Don't let them draft anyone, why curse a would be future star!!!

 

[NorrisB]

crabtree would be LOLbut what about the OT from Alabama?personally I'd take Rey Maualuga Sr. LB USC

As lifelong & diehard Trojan fan and 15 year season ticket holder..........I love the way Rey plays the game, but he tends to overun plays quite often. Don't get me wrong.....he's great, but I prefer Cushing.

Yep, theres a reason he couldnt beat out Oscar Freaking Lua, plus he did have an off the field incident.

 

[Buckna]

I would go DE, which ever one grades out the best out of Orakpo or Johnson or Selvie.Don't forget that Detroit has Dallas #1 next year that's currently projected as the #22 overall pick. Take a LB like Maualuga or Cushing there.Maybe a DT or a CB at #33.~~~~~What I think is likely to happen is Stafford at #1, a DE at #22 and a RB at #33.

Maualuga will be a top 10 if not top 5 as of right now

22 is probably too late for Maualuga, so replace him with Aaron Curry if you like then. Lots of good LB's to chose from this year and since it's not a position typically drafted high someone will likely be there.But I would be surprised if Maualuga was top 5. Only 2 linebackers have gone in the top 5 in the last 10 years, it's just not a position coveted that highly compared to other positions like QB, OT, DE, etc.

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

Another vote for a lineman - probably an OT since that's where the best talent is this year. There aren't any QBs worth the #1 pick in this draft. Really there aren't any worth a top-20 pick.

 

[Andy Herron]

Given who will be available on a per value basis, they really should go with Oher here.

You have to get a franchise "something" at no. 1, and there doesn't appear to be any "real" franchise QBs on the horizon, so go get a staple at LT.

There's been alot of buzz lately from NFL scouts and the prospects of Graham Harrell, but that's a wait-and-see.

(Note: He's not simply a product of the system. The kid has alot of tools and is beginning to open eyes in that regard)

He has progressed very well as a 3-year starter-

CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT

2006 412 617 4555 66.8 7.38 76 38 11 18 145.54

2007 512 713 5705 71.8 8.00 75 48 14 16 157.31

2008 332 463 4077 71.7 8.81 82 36 5 5 169.18

On another front, Patriots offensive coordinator and QB coach Josh McDaniels is creating alot of stir for a potential head coaching job next year. At least a good candidate (and making people forget about Jason Garrett in Dallas). If that's the case, go get him and bring Cassel along with him. Culpepper was signed for two years. Make them compete and fight it out. Release Kitna (unless you can get a draft pick for him). Keep Stanton around for no. 3.

With the pick from Dallas, go with best available player on defense there in the bottom third of the first round. Or, take Harrell here or at the top of the 2nd round.

 

[Balco]

Andre Smith would be the right choice, if they stay put. He is the best prospect in the 2009 draft.