mock draft time

[b-diddy]

i guess this should be on the lions and not ot on pistons...

i feal like creating a mock lion draft so ill post mine here.

2 things:

1) i will assume no trades. specifically at #1, since usually its not easy to get out of it and i think this year it will be especially hard unless someone really lights it up.

2) i will try to go off public consensus as to who will be available where. im mostly using espn, but since i lost my insider access ill have to use other sources as well.

rd 1

1) trading out of here is obvious, but if we cant i go with the aaran curry. an olb from wake is definitly unusual for the #1 pick, but i hate the idea of going QB here, and i dont think the top OT's merit a top selection either, not when we could a comparable player at 20. if curry is the real deal, than take him. a dominant LB can have as much impact on the game as any other player. and it fills a need (we actually have a need at all but 2 positions, in my book).

20) michael oher. the latest buzz is scouts are souring on him. i remember reading http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magaz ... wanted=all , when it came out, so im definitly partial. but if hes got the talent, and his character issues arent the normal guns and b****** stuff that is typical, i'd rather go high reward / risk on a kid like this. hopefully the coaches can coach him up. i think he is different than the typical malcontents that flame out, especially in detroit.

rd 2)
1) best player available. im looking for DE here though. for argument's sake, tyson jackson from lsu.

rd 3)
picks 1 and 20

i would look at michigan's dt taylor here. he had a mediocre senior season, but coming in he was being called one of michigan's most talented DT's ever. im willing to give him a pass on the fiasco that was the michigan season, and risk that he will make a solid pro.

with the other pick i'd look at 2 qb's: nate davis (ball state) and john wilson parker (alabama). nate davis right now is a hot sleeper pick that may climb up the board. i would concider taking him with either of our 3rd rounders. it would be nice to get a quality skill position player back to back years in the 3rd round (kevin smith last year).

i also like wilson, but not as much. he seemed to have a nice arm at alabama, though i guess he might be in for a culture shock going from alabama's OL to detroit's. i dont think he could play next year for the lions

if neither we could definitly go guard here and solidify the OL.

beyond that its a total crapshoot. we need to get atleast 4 starters out of this draft, and atleast one probowler. with the crap we have on this team, 4 should be easy.

with this draft hopefully we can make the OL atleaast avg, and also build a foundation for the defense. i think the secondary is almost irrelivent if you cant stop the run and have a good pass rush. once you have those things, you start worrying about the secondary. the best cb's are hopeless against a good qb with time, so it wont matter who we have out there unless the other stuff comes first.

[mastertang]

I hope we go all OL and defense... but I just read that article on Michael Oher you provided, and I'm speechless... that's an incredible story.

[chrbal]

I mostly would like to see them focus on the lines and the secondary. I can deal with Culpepper/Some free agent/Whoever else as the QB depth chart.

I wouldn't mind seeing a day 2 WR or TE. I'd only take a QB if they believe 100% that this kid is the next great "Day 2/Future starting QB" I'd rather avoid that if at all possible.

I wouldn't mind another young RB either. Just so the team doesn't have to bring in another Rudi Johnson, Tatum Bell, etc.

[b-diddy]

my mistake, we actually have cleveland's 3rd rounder (i believe the 7th pick in third round). that gives us 7 picks in the top 100.

if we can load up on rookies, and then also bring in some established vets like larry foot, the lion really could change the culture, which is as important as changing the talent. changes should be made just for the sake of change. hopefully we approach 50% new faces in the starting lineups.

[ajaX82]

1st Rd.

1) Best LT

This may be Jason Smith or Andre Davis, but whichever looks best in workouts. It cannot be a QB. I would actually give Aaron Curry or Michael Jenkins a look, but custom wouldn't allow it. I have a feeling Smith will impress in workouts, tho he is a project.

Pick: Jason Smith, LT, Baylor

20) Best Defensive Player

One of the Wake Forest CB's, or Laurinaitis or Brian Cushing, whom i really like. I think one of the Wake Corners could be around at our second pick, so stick with the LB. I like Cushing just a bit more than James, and a Sims-Dizon-Cushing LB trio could be fun (tho i'm dreaming i'm sure)

Pick: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

2nd rd.

1) Leftover Wake corner

I'm hoping one of Smith or Moore is left. If neither, than Josh Freeman from K. State if he is available. If i had to guess, i'll say Smith's size hurts him draft day

Pick: Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest

3rd rd.

I have no idea who will be here, so ill give guidelines. Draft defense and the O-line. That is all

[b-diddy]

the combine is this month, so that will clear alot up.

do you think andre davis, at 6'4" (probably shorter) is tall enough to play LT in the pro's? thats my hang up.

i agree that taking a qb #1 would be stupid. if we go qb #1, then we almost have to take an offensive lineman at 20 or 33, which means we wouldnt take our second defensive player till 65, which is no good.

the good news though is that stafford seems to be growing in worth. i know everyone is saying kc is happy with thigpen, but im not sure. best case scenario is stafford blows up at combine and kc trades up for him.

the kstate qb also seems to be rising in value. but i dont really want to use a pick even at 20 or 33 on a qb.

[aMAIZEing]

I like where you are going with it all ajax, although I would give DJ Moore a hard look at #20... We'll have to see what the combine gives us...

JUST SAY NO TO A QB AT #1... please

[ajaX82]

the combine is this month, so that will clear alot up.

do you think andre davis, at 6'4" (probably shorter) is tall enough to play LT in the pro's? thats my hang up.

i agree that taking a qb #1 would be stupid. if we go qb #1, then we almost have to take an offensive lineman at 20 or 33, which means we wouldnt take our second defensive player till 65, which is no good.

the good news though is that stafford seems to be growing in worth. i know everyone is saying kc is happy with thigpen, but im not sure. best case scenario is stafford blows up at combine and kc trades up for him.

the kstate qb also seems to be rising in value. but i dont really want to use a pick even at 20 or 33 on a qb.

I think you mean Andre Smith, not Davis. If so, his bad combine will not us picking him, in my mind. Jason Smith, the LT from Baylor, is having a great week and i really think he is our guy right now. Maybe Monroe if he impresses.

Freeman from K-state is certainly an option at 20

[b-diddy]

yea, i ment andre smith.

im not really enthused about taking a LT # if hes not much better than one we could take a 33.

andre smith freaking out is unbelievable. im glad since i think under 6'4 is too short for an LT, especially one your taking first overall.

oh yea, unless im mistaken we traded the first pick in the fourth round to the cowboys in the roy trade. not 100% on that though.

[D-Town Pride]

It looks like the #1 pick has come down to aaron curry, jason smith, matt stafford, and B.J Raji. I think we take B.J Raji at #1, then take mauluga or laurinitus at # 20. We can get OL help at # 33, and then go best availible the rest of the way depending on who falls, because you always have peolple slide because of team needs!

[ajaX82]

It looks like the #1 pick has come down to aaron curry, jason smith, matt stafford, and B.J Raji. I think we take B.J Raji at #1, then take mauluga or laurinitus at # 20. We can get OL help at # 33, and then go best availible the rest of the way depending on who falls, because you always have peolple slide because of team needs!

I havent heard a word about Raji. The list i hear is Curry, J. Smith, Monroe and Stafford. I cant imagine Raji is even being considered

[D-Town Pride]

we need a stud DT to keep the OL off of our LB's,or your not going to stop the run, he's the #1 DT and he's been rated in the top 5 in alot of mock drafts. I just figure get raji at 1a and a mlb at 1b and we'll be strong up the middle at least!

[ajaX82]

Aaron Curry at #1

That is all

[freddy]

Being this close to the draft, it is looking like the Lions are going to pick Stafford #1. Here is my mock draft for the Lions.

1st Round
#1. Mathew Stafford QB- If he's not a bust I like the pick. His interviews he has said all the right things. Anything to help the Lions turn the team around.

#20. Rey Maualuga ILB- Addressing the need for a MLB, maybe not as good as Curry, but should still solidify the LB crew for next year.

2nd Round
#1. Duke Robinson OL- A pick to protect the QB. OU had one of the best offensive lines in college football and performed well in the national championship game.

3rd Round
#1. Phil Loadholt OT- Another OL pick.

#20. Sen'Derrick Marks DT - Addressing the DL to help out the newly formed LB core.

Overall I would be happy with this through the first 3 rounds. Addressing some needs while adding some talent. Building for the future (hopefully a winning future).