Lions begin talks with #1 pick

Liqourish · Post #1 » by **Liqourish** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:34 pm

Per wiretap, the Lions are negotiating a deal with their #1 pick already.

I think it's between Stafford and Curry. Stafford is the best QB in the draft and Curry is reportedly the best overall talent. I seriously doubt the Lions could go wrong with either choice.

Bartender · Post #2 » by **Bartender** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:43 pm

Curry would definitely help solidify the Lions LB Core as prolly the best in the NFL..

I wouldn't mind going with Jason Smith either cuz he's a big strong body that's got quick lateral movement and good hands.

I'm not sold on drafting Stafford. He's a weak no. 1 QB selection. Joey Harrington had more hype coming into the draft and he wasn't even a no. 1 selection. I'd say look into trading off that pick for already proven talent. I'm still praying for Jay Cutler to come to Detroit.

Post #3 » by **ajaX82** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:15 pm

I think its Jason Smith and Stafford and i think we will go with Smith

m23uza1hem36 · Post #4 » by **m23uza1hem36** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 2:43 am

Post #5 » by **theBigLip** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:01 pm

Trade down!

I bet we could get Stafford around picks 5-8. We should trade down just a little and get a couple of extra picks and then we could still get Stafford. We just have too many holes to fill to take someone at #1.

Post #6 » by **ajaX82** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:18 am

theBigLip wrote:Trade down!

I bet we could get Stafford around picks 5-8. We should trade down just a little and get a couple of extra picks and then we could still get Stafford. We just have too many holes to fill to take someone at #1.

Good sir, i assure you, if someone gave even a reasonable offer to move down to 5-8, we would do it in a heartbeat. That would be a dream come true

Post #7 » by **Icness** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:31 pm

The hard part here is that Jason Smith, Matt Stafford, and Aaron Curry all have the same agent. That sort of complicates negotiations for the Lions. It costs more up front to take a QB or a T than a LB.

I still remain firmly convinced they are not taking Stafford, but will use the #20 pick to take Josh Freeman and groom him under Daunte for a year. He needs it, and Daunte wasn't terrible when you consider he played two games before he had two practices. It might take trading up ahead of Chicago to get Freeman, but all signs point to Mayhew not being shy about that. I believe that right now they would take Jason Smith #1, which IMO is a bad move. He's very good in pass protect but his run blocking is vastly inferior to the other top 5 tackles and would represent a downgrade from Jeff Backus. That does not fit with what the Lions say they're trying to do.

As a side note, Tom Condon is the agent for those three and he also reps Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin, both of whom are top 15 picks. Even if he slides his cut to 4.5% of the total contracts and 8% of signing bonuses (5-6% and 8-10% are customary), he could pocket upwards of $30M once they all sign. Good work if you can get it

Post #8 » by **ajaX82** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:04 pm

Icness wrote:The hard part here is that Jason Smith, Matt Stafford, and Aaron Curry all have the same agent. That sort of complicates negotiations for the Lions. It costs more up front to take a QB or a T than a LB.

I still remain firmly convinced they are not taking Stafford, but will use the #20 pick to take Josh Freeman and groom him under Daunte for a year. He needs it, and Daunte wasn't terrible when you consider he played two games before he had two practices. It might take trading up ahead of Chicago to get Freeman, but all signs point to Mayhew not being shy about that. I believe that right now they would take Jason Smith #1, which IMO is a bad move. He's very good in pass protect but his run blocking is vastly inferior to the other top 5 tackles and would represent a downgrade from Jeff Backus. That does not fit with what the Lions say they're trying to do.

As a side note, Tom Condon is the agent for those three and he also reps Everette Brown and Aaron Maybin, both of whom are top 15 picks. Even if he slides his cut to 4.5% of the total contracts and 8% of signing bonuses (5-6% and 8-10% are customary), he could pocket upwards of $30M once they all sign. Good work if you can get it

Ice, a downgrade to Jeff Backus? How is that possible? The man is a statue, anyone in the league just walks right around him.

You're really not sold on Smith? Cant he learn to run block?

Post #9 » by **theBigLip** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:32 pm

I always thought that you don't pick offensive linemen with first round picks. It isn't because they are not valuable, but there is a lot of technique they need to be tought at the pro level and you can "make" good linemen with guys you pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Post #10 » by **Icness** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:27 am

Ice, a downgrade to Jeff Backus? How is that possible? The man is a statue, anyone in the league just walks right around him.

You're really not sold on Smith? Cant he learn to run block?

Ask Jets fans what they think of D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Da Brick showed much better run blocking ability coming out of UVA, though Smith is meaner and probably a little physically stronger. I like Smith but I much prefer either Monroe or Andre Smith, warts and all. I'm still an advocate of taking Aaron Curry if they're not taking Monroe, which they aren't.

Here's the scouting report on Smith:

3. Jason Smith, Baylor. 6’5”, 309.
Positives: Converted TE who did not sacrifice athleticism while adding bulk and moving to tackle. Outstanding feet, has the mirror skills that belong on “how-to” instructional videos. Great balance and leverage when engaged. Extends his arms and hits his hand punch with surprising force. Very good at locating defenders in space and engaging from a position of strength. Faster than most at his position. Is used to playing on an island against top-shelf pass rushers and rarely got beat. Tenacious and competitive, has shown steady and continual improvement. Bright and charismatic, seems to enjoy the trappings of being highly regarded without it inflating his head.

Negatives: Not as naturally strong or bulky as most tackles, particularly in the lower body. He must initiate the contact or he can be knocked back by bull rushes and more powerful players. Almost never pancakes his man. Has little experience blocking down (moving to the inside)--that doesn’t mean he cannot do it, it means he hasn’t been asked to do it.
NFL Comparison: Joe Staley, Levi Jones
Forecast: The more people watch him and get to know him, the higher Smith’s stock soars. The best pass blocking LT in this class, though he’s not ideal for a power-running team. Top 10 pick.

Post #11 » by **ajaX82** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 7:55 pm

I was just reading on MLive that Stafford "wowed" us at his workout and that people who watched think its all but a done deal that he is the pick now.

Thoughts?

oh and i will link the article for ya'll

http://blog.mlive.com/highlightreel/200 ... ivate.html

Liqourish · Post #12 » by **Liqourish** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 4:36 pm

Stafford has always been the favorite at #1 for the Lions. Despite protests from fans who have their own favorite player, everything out of the Lions camp has made it clear that the pick is Staffords to lose.

Sure they've talked about Curry and Smith and lately even threw out Monroe's name, but Stafford has been their guy. Unless something drastic changes in the next couple weeks (like trading for Jay Cutler), you can expect Matt up their holding a Lions jersey.

The Lions still have what 8 more picks to build up their lines? There is much better depth with tackles than with QB's.

Post #13 » by **ajaX82** » Thu Apr 2, 2009 9:59 pm

FWIW Cutler was just traded to the Bears, so we wont be getting him and we have to face him twice a year. sweet. Not sure if this changes our pick at all

Liqourish · Post #14 » by **Liqourish** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 4:24 pm

I think it just means the Lions will hold onto their picks. Draft is just a couple weeks away. I have a feeling there will be alot of disappointed fans after that first pick is announced no matter who it is because everyone has their mind made up on who they want. I have never seen fans so up in arms and adamant about a draft pick before. And the Lions have had bad draft picks, but I don't recall it getting this personal before.

I'm just hoping the Lions can fill a couple holes on draft night. I'm not expecting miracles, just a couple steps in the right direction. I like the moves Mayhew has made so far. Let's see how he drafts.

Cliff Levingston · Post #15 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 5:55 pm

Liqourish wrote:I think it just means the Lions will hold onto their picks. Draft is just a couple weeks away. I have a feeling there will be alot of disappointed fans after that first pick is announced no matter who it is because everyone has their mind made up on who they want. I have never seen fans so up in arms and adamant about a draft pick before. And the Lions have had bad draft picks, but I don't recall it getting this personal before.

I'm just hoping the Lions can fill a couple holes on draft night. I'm not expecting miracles, just a couple steps in the right direction. I like the moves Mayhew has made so far. Let's see how he drafts.

ICLO, Stafford would be a great first pick, then with the 20th pick, you could look for Eben Britton to shore up that offensive line a little.

If Cliff Levingston was Lions' management, he'd be itching to give Calvin Johnson a great QB to receive passes from and Stafford certainly looks like the top QB prospect in this draft despite a lot of the Sanchez nut licking you'll hear.

Liqourish · Post #16 » by **Liqourish** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 6:01 pm

I'm of the same mind. Calvin Johnson did wonderfully last year despite his QBs ignoring him and being dumbasses. Get someone like Stafford with a cannon of an arm and have them play catch down field all game long. Lions would still have enough picks left to shore up their O-line to protect Stafford.

To be honest, I wouldn't be disappointed with Aaron Curry either. He's looking like the top overall talent in the draft. But the Lions do have Sims and now Peterson at LB.

I just think the fans are going to get nasty no matter who the pick is.

Cliff Levingston · Post #17 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Fri Apr 3, 2009 6:16 pm

Liqourish wrote:I'm of the same mind. Calvin Johnson did wonderfully last year despite his QBs ignoring him and being dumbasses. Get someone like Stafford with a cannon of an arm and have them play catch down field all game long. Lions would still have enough picks left to shore up their O-line to protect Stafford.

To be honest, I wouldn't be disappointed with Aaron Curry either. He's looking like the top overall talent in the draft. But the Lions do have Sims and now Peterson at LB.

I just think the fans are going to get nasty no matter who the pick is.

Cliff Levingston would kill for Calvin Johnson especially now that we have Cutler. He very well may be the best WR in the NFL but we won't know until he's got a good/great QB to play with. To put up those numbers with the carousel of QBs you had last year is extremely impressive.

Aaron Curry does appear to be a monster though, but still...

chrbal · Post #18 » by **chrbal** » Sat Apr 4, 2009 5:44 pm

You guys can get Plaxico Burress. High risk/possible reward?

The closer and closer the draft gets, the more and more I feel like this team should just take Stafford. You can't pass on a QB just because all the QBs taken by the franchise have sucked. What if they did that with Calvin Johnson? This team was 1 of 3 with WRs and two of them were horrible, Roy was obvioussly the other.

Post #19 » by **ajaX82** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:44 pm

I was really against Stafford from the beginning, but at this point i realize we are more than likely drafting him. I guess i am cool with it, but its not my fave.

My dream scenario would be trading down and stocking up on picks, although that is unlikely

Either way, i'm ready for the Stafford era

Post #20 » by **ajaX82** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:11 pm

My post prior i said i was ready for the Stafford era. But ive been thinking

Now, i think its the complete wrong move. We need to draft Curry. This defense is atrocious, and needs major help. We dont need a QB sitting on the bench all year. We need to draft all Defense.

I really hope it isnt Stafford.