Detroit "Sad Sack" Lions
#1. Matthew Stafford, QB (Georgia)
#20. Brandon Pettigrew, TE (Okla. State)
#33. Louis Delmas, S (Western Michigan)
#76. Deandre Levy, LB (Wisconsin)
#82. Derrick Williams, WR (Penn State)
#115. Sammie Lee Hill, DT (Stillman)
#192. Aaron Brown, RB (Texas Christian)
#228. Lydon Murtha, OT (Nebraska)
#235. Zach Follett, LB (Cal)
#255. Dan Gronkowski, TE (Maryland)
My thoughts... I hate this draft. I'm okay with Matthew Stafford, but the fact that they drafted Pettigrew at #20 means they plan to play Stafford THIS season. I would much prefer that they sit Stafford for this season and develop him for next year. Stupid Lions... they do this with every QB. They need to sit for an entire year (like Carson Palmer) while getting the pieces in place around him to put him in the best possible position to succeed. We can't afford for Stafford to bust. GRADE: B
I don't mind Pettigrew, because the Lions needed help at TE... BUT, they needed help at other areas of much more critical importance. Like, MLB... or DT. Even CB. Ugh. GRADE: C (only because who we could have gotten instead)
I'm okay with Delmas, lots of people had him rated in the first round and with Gerald Alexander questionable, safety was a significant need. BUT... MLB was a much bigger need... They could have had Laurinaitis or Maualuga. Either of them could have been plugged right in and started from the season opener. GRADE: B+
Deandre Levy? Hate this pick too. They could have had Jarron Gilbert (great project for DT). GRADE: D
Derrick Williams, I'm okay with this pick. We need to develop a solid #2/#3 WR to complement Calvin Johnson, and he has return skills too. GRADE: B-
Sammie Lee Hill, I'm okay with this pick too... but I would rather have gotten Gilbert earlier and then selected someone like Duke Robinson to man the LG spot next to Backus... because Backus REALLY needs the help. GRADE: B
Aaron Brown was a head-scratcher... we have decent talent and depth at running back (Kevin Smith, Maurice Morris) so he's not likely to see time there. And we just picked up Derrick Williams to help the return game. This was a ginormous waste of a pick. They should have gotten some CB depth since they didn't before. WORST pick by far in the draft for the Lions. GRADE: F----------
Murtha? He's not going to make the team. Another wasted pick. He's very athletic, but doesn't have the pass-blocking skills to contribute. Maybe they'll be able to stuff him on the practice squad, but he needs to develop his skills for 2-3 years before he'll see the field. GRADE: F+
Follett. LOVE this pick at this point in the draft. He'll provide depth for both Sims and Peterson at the OLB positions. Could even possibly be groomed to fill the void at MLB. In the meantime, he'll be an absolute beast on special teams... huge hitter. LOVE this pick. Can't say that enough. GrADE: A+
Gronkowski. Another head-scratcher. You picked Pettigrew earlier... why another TE? Take a flyer on a CB (you didn't earlier) or pick up another LB/special-teamer. GRADE: F+
Overall grade? D-
The Lions had SO MANY needs that they didn't address... I can understand the best player available strategy... I mean, the Lions have holes just about everywhere. But some positions are of more game-changing importance than others... and they completely ignored some of those. Best player available makes sense, but you need to keep an eye on your actual needs too. I'm predicting 3-13 and the #1 pick again next year. Maybe the #3 pick if I'm being generous. UGH!
The Bengals managed to pick up some decent picks with questionable pasts...They should fit in well.
Maybe this year, when Tank Johnson, Chris Henry and Andre Smith all get arrested, they can just hold the court trials at the stadium
Yeah, of all them teams Andre could have gone too... the Bungles are the worst. He already has people questioning his work ethic and common sense (how the hell do you think it's okay to leave the combine early)... putting him in that environment is just asking for trouble. Great player... but yeesh.
