Draft Recap

I want to begin this post with a quick apology for my hiatus over the past few weeks.  I have 2 more weeks of exams and then I should be back to my regular, weekly posting schedule.  Thanks for still tuning into the blog though.  For those of you who want to stay updated without having to access the site everyday, we do have an RSS feed on this site.  The URL for the feed is http://www.putitinstoneblog.com/feeds/posts/default .  Feel free to post that into your favorite RSS Tracker (Mac users, may I suggest NetNewsWire, it is really good and free).  That way your RSS feed will alert you of any new posts on Put it in Stone without having to access the site!  Anyway, lets get to business.

I will confess, I watched just about every pick in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.  I have also familiarized myself with the picks the Lions made in the later rounds.  So, lets analyze and grade this draft.

The first thing I need to say is the Lions invested a TON in Matthew Stafford.  The NFL really needs to do something about these fat and continually inflating rookie salaries.  The Lions invested more money in a player that has never played a single NFL down than any other player on the team.  That move makes absolutely no sense.  The draft, and specifically the draft order, was intended to help bad teams get better; ya know, in economic terms, to encourage competition.  But instead, the rookie contracts hurt bad teams.  Too much money gets invested in a player based purely on speculation and conjecture.  I think the NFL really needs to follow the NBA's lead and cap rookie contracts based on position, and draft number.  Currently, the draft is seeing rookie contracts go up about 20% each year.  That number is much higher than inflation and way higher than the yearly increases in salary cap.  Take the power away from the agents, and put it back in the hands of the teams before 6-8 teams go broke.

Just for a quick example, in the NBA, the number 1 pick is a coveted position.  What team doesn't want to add Blake Griffin this year, or wanted to add Lebron James in 2003?  In the NFL the number one pick is a curse, resulting in a contract no team want to be burdened by.  This needs to change, Mr. Goodell.

Alright, besides the money, Stafford was the only pick.  I love Aaron Curry, and the Lions sure could have used Jason Smith, but franchise quarterback is extremely important in a league built for QBs.  With the money spent on Stafford, he has to be a franchise QB.  If he turns into a Jay Cutler type, he is probably worth the money.  If not, expect 6-9 more years of serious losing in Detroit.  The Lions have the skill players to help him succeed, but they do not have the protection ready to help him succeed.  He already struggles with footwork in the pocket, so protection and time for him becomes even more important.  The Lions would be smart to play Culpepper every down this year and let Stafford learn, observe, and lobby for a better O-Line.   Next year, the Lions need to address the Line, give Stafford more protection, and you might have a situation conducive for success. 

So, after the inevitable happened, I have to say I am disappointed with the selections.  The talent level the Lions got, and perhaps the value was really quite good.  They got the Best TE, and Safeties in the draft.  The problem is, they don't desperately need either of those positions!  Don't get me wrong, a game changer can come from any position, even TE or Safety.  Ed Reed and Antonio Gates are great examples of game changers from those respective positions.  However, the needs of the Lions in the trenches is so important.  The Lions didn't draft a D-lineman until the 4th and didn't draft an offensive lineman until the 7th!!!  While both of these players have upside and could become contributors, I don't see it.  Call it skepticism from years of Millen-late round disappointments, but the odds of finding a gem are diminished when you combine a first year coach with a first year GM.  So, my doubts and skepticism is firmly founded

Despite the lack of executive experience, I have no doubt that Pettigrew is a great player and will probably help the offense, and especially Matthew Stafford, succeed.  But a first round TE is rare for a reason.  Most TE's don't come close to the talent level of the Big-time DE, OT, QB's or skill position players that the first round is normally littered with.  Although, it is, perhaps, becoming more commonplace to draft TE's in the first round (Greg Olson, Vernon Davis, Heath Miller, Tony Gonzalez were all first round selections), normally this is a luxury pick.  The Lions have NO luxuries, as they have needs all over the field!

At 20, in hindsight, there must be something wrong with Maualuga.  Also, from what I have heard, Michael Oher is one step away from being retarded.  So, perhaps either of these players nwould not have been a good pick.  So, my pick would have been Peria Jerry or Ziggy Hood.  The D-Tackles the Lions do have are both fat and old.  Some youth injected into this pick would have made sense.  

As for the later rounds, I think the Lions made a big mistake trading out of the first pick of the third round because it cost them a chance at getting Michael Johnson, the DE from Georgia Tech.  After passing on Peria Jerry, getting an impact DE would have made a lot of sense.  But they missed out and took at DT in the fourth round.  Hopefully, this big player (330+) will be a big impact on Defense.  Also, this probably shows a lot of faith in the skills of Cliff Avril, which is something I can see.

Levy, I have heard, can play middle.  Hopefully this is a natural transition for him and the Lions can rely on one of their only strengths, outside linebacker, to help Levy transition and succeed.  

In conclusion, I am a disappointed that the Lions did not address some more pressing needs at 20.  However, many sports writers and former executives claim the best way to draft is to take the most talented players in the first round and address needs in the later rounds.  If this philosophy is the right one, the Lions probably did that in their first 3 picks.  However, my fears are that the continued existence of some big holes on the offensive line, defensive line, and middle linebacker will result in a lot of losses yet again this year.