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Detroit Lions will draft best available player; won't focus on offense or defense
OK, it’s easy to say the Lions need more help on defense therefore they should draft defensive help in the first round. It’s just wrong.
It all depends on who the best available player is when the Lions’ clock starts. There is also the factor of draft depth and if the Lions think they can get defensive help in later rounds. Oh, and value for the pick.
It’s a weak draft for safeties so unless they can trade down. It wouldn’t make sense to draft a safety with the 10th overall pick — even Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
The draft is knee-deep in good cornerbacks so that’s something the Lions certainly will keep in mind. They could find quality in later rounds.
It seems some Lions fans have forgotten about the Lions defense last season. It could have and should have been better, but it wasn’t in the NFL basement when it comes to stats.
In 2013, the Lions’ defense ranked 16th in yards per game allowed, 15th in total points allowed and best on third downs, allowing just 30 percent to be converted.
On the other hand the defense had just 33 sacks (28th in NFL) and 15 interceptions (tied for 17th).
Yes, the offense was better — sixth best in yards per game.
That doesn’t mean the Lions won’t draft a wide receiver or tight end in the first round if the guy they like the best is available.
Do not think for one minute that if wide receiver Sammy Watkins or MIke Evans is available that general manager Martin Mayhew will be thinking, “Well we drafted wide receivers in the first round in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 so I can’t possibly draft one now.’’
That will not happen. Guarantee it.
The NFL draft starts at 8 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday and at noon on Saturday.
Join me for a live chat at 3 p.m. Thursday.
(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book, “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)
posted by Paula Pasche at
4:14 PM
6 Comments:
Capital I in Mike
I hate it when people say you shouldn't draft a player because they should be taken five spots later. I would happily draft a matt elam at ten who went 20 something in his draft. Draft Ha Ha and watch him ball hawk rodgers and cutler. No one will care if we "reached" by game seven. We need defense are offense should be solid with all the weapons we have already.
I think the Lions should trade back....this draft is to heavy talented with WR and CB. Trade back grab Dennard....to many wasted picks on hyped WR's, they dont automaticlly mean they are stars...look at Charles Rogers 1st round pick and Titus Young 2nd round
Trade BACK? When you need more playmakers you trade UP. The Lions MUST go after a wide receiver to take the pressure off Calvin and Matthew...MUST. If either Calvin or Matthew go down the Lions are absolute toast.
Barry, you are a freaking moron. In the deepest draft in 10 years, and in one of the deepest wide receiver drafts in years, you would prefer that the Lions give up picks in this deep draft to draft a wide receiver when a quality one will be there in the second or third round.They should trade down and pick up an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick which will translate into a quality player that the Lions desperately need.
The percentage of 1st rd players actually working out is something like 40% and that figure goes down precipitously each rd thereafter. Trade up and get the "no doubt about it" stud that every team needs. Yes, every note and then gems are mined out of the lower rounds but the numbers don't lie. Trade up and get 1-2 starters every team shots for each year.
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