Rookies Laken Tomlinson (left) and Corey Robinson
 at the Taste of the Lions on Tuesday at Ford Field.

DETROIT — It’s a good week for the Detroit Lions rookies who get their first chance to meet and work with the veterans.

Matthew Stafford at the Taste of the Lions at Ford Field.

“It’s been great. They bring a bit of excitement into the building,’’ Matthew Stafford said at the Taste of the Lions on Tuesday. “You have new teammates, young guys who are here to prove themselves. We have some great guys, they are quiet which is great, ready to come in and learn. Each position group guys help their guys along. It’s a fun time of year.’’

The Ford Field event was the first time we’ve gotten reaction from Stafford on the draft.

It’s not a stretch to say the guy who was sacked 45 times last year is pleased especially with first-round pick Laken Tomlinson.

“I was happy. Any time we have players that can help us win games I’m all for it. Obviously we were a little thin at the (guard) position, to add a guy who’s got great character, played great the last two years at Duke. I was fired up,’’ Stafford said.

It wasn’t just the addition of Tomlinson at the draft that put a smile on Stafford’s face.

“Getting Manny (Ramirez) in that trade too was great to add depth,’’ Stafford said. “We’ve upgraded that from the week before the draft to the week after the draft it’s like night and day. We have so many more bodies and guys who are capable of playing well.’’

Along with Tomlinson the Lions drafted tackle Corey Robinson in the seventh round. Plus the run game got a boost in the draft with the addition of running back Ameer Abdullah and fullback Mike Burton.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Pre-order her new book “Game of My Life Detroit Lions” which will be be published in October on Amazon.com. Also order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here.)