Detroit Lions Draft Needs
It’s not hard identifying a team’s area of need if that team is coming off the first 0-16 season in NFL history. The area of need begins and ends with everything.
The tendency is to think Detroit needs to get a franchise quarterback (Matthew Stafford). But building around a shimmering centerpiece on the mantle is senseless if the rest of your living room is in perennial disarray. That’s why the Lions would be wise to trade the No. 1 overall pick for more picks. Detroit needs help at every offensive line position except for center (Dominic Raiola) and right tackle (Gosder Cherilus). They could use depth at wide receiver, and they need a tight end. They also need a No. 2 running back to support budding star Kevin Smith. The Lions could address these positions in the middle rounds.
On defense, every position except for weakside linebacker (Ernie Sims) could use a serious upgrade. Linebacker is particularly shoddy – Paris Lenon is not equipped to shed blocks from the middle and Ryan Nece is a backup poorly disguised as a starter – and the secondary is even more in shambles.
The Lions have done a few things right this offseason. They’ve brought in free agents like cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry, and defensive tackle Grady Jackson. Their goal should be stockpiling players who can help them get to six or seven wins. Before the Lions consider trying to become a playoff team, they must first learn how to win. Or at least how to not lose. Anything to dissolve the layer of humiliation enveloping the organization.
Figuring they’ll never trade the No. 1 overall pick, the smart thing to do would be acquire a surefire left tackle, like a Eugene Monroe or a Jason Smith. If Jim Schwartz wants to build his defense, then LB Aaron Curry wouldn’t be a bad option. All that said, it’s doubtful the Lions will risk infuriating their already brokenhearted fan base by passing on a “franchise QB” in Stafford.
[...] but none of those teams experienced an 0-16 campaign in their down years. The guys over at NFL Touchdown think that Detroit’s best option may be to trade the overall #1 pick for more picks, simply [...]