Outside Observations from a Chiefs fan...am I right?

[nicfre]

Detriot fans...Chiefs fan here. First off, you guys have had some great drafts the past couple of years and have alot of young talent on offense that should make you a threat to win the division for the next couple of years. This year I see the Lions going for defense in the first round. I have a mock draft in that forum and I have the Lions taking Erasmus James in the first round with pick #10. I think he would be a good addition to the defensive line along with James Hall and Kalimba Edwards. It is possible that they might select the best defensive tackle (I don't see any coming off the board until after the 10th pick) like Travis Johnson, Anttaj Hawthorne, or Shaun Cody. But I definitely don't see them taking Thomas Davis at #10. I have heard the Lions would like to get a young tight end to go along with Kevin Jones, Roy Williams and Charles Rogers. In my mock draft I have the Lions taking Adam Everett, TE, Miami with their second round pick (#41). Here is his profile from NFL Draft Countdown, they have him ranked as the second best tight end prospect behind Heath Miller from Virginia :

Adam Everett
Position : Tight End
College : Miami
Class : Senior
Height : 6’6”
Weight : 251
40 yard : 4.77

Strengths: Is an excellent natural athlete...Has very good speed and quickness...Good size and a big frame...Adjusts to the ball well and has good body control...Has good hands...Has the potential to develop into the type of dynamic playmaker the pros covet at his position...Has a ton of upside.
Weaknesses: Needs to add some weight and get stronger...Not a major threat as a blocker...Needs to refine his route running...Doesn't have a lot of experience and is still pretty raw.
Notes: Began his career at Kilgore Junior College before coming to Miami in 2003...Took over for Kellen Winslow in 2004 and excelled...Was the Hurricanes top receiving threat in some games.

What do you guys think about Everett? He seems to be a very good prospect that would be another option for Joey Harrington. If you drafted Erasmus James in the first round and Adam Everett in the second round, I would say those first two picks are very solid selections for the Lions. Then maybe an outside linebacker and cornerback in the middle rounds. In the later rounds, there should be some offensive lineman that may provide depth.
Also, I have heard reports that the Lions are talking about acquiring Donovan Darius from the Jaguars. What have you guys heard about that? If the price is right, I think he would really solidify your secondary and provide a physical presence at the safety position. Anyway, just my thoughts and I wanted to get your opinions. I definitely think the Lions have alot of potential and are poised to a team on the rise.

[GoLions17]

everett sounds right but not in the second round, maybe if we trade down and pick up a extra second. but i think we will definetly go o line or safty in the second round, shazor or baas

[nicfre]

Also, Bubba Franks has received the transitional tag from Green Bay meaning that the Packers can match any offer he gets from another team. If they fail to match the offer, they receive no compensation. Since the Packers are very close to the cap, would you like to see Detriot sign him? I posted above the Lions drafting Adam Everett in the second round, but if they picked up Franks as a free agent signing, then they could use their second round pick on someone like Ernest Shazor at safety (unless they sign Donovan Darius), a good defensive tackle to pair with Shaun Rogers, a cornerback like Marlin Jackson to add depth, or an offensive lineman like David Baas at guard or possibly Kalif Barnes at tackle. Would you guys like to see the Lions get Darius and Franks? And if they did, who would you draft in the first and second round?

[GoLions17]

for a chiefs fan you have pretty good guesses on who we want to take. because everyone you mentioned has pretty much been named as an option for us

[GoLions17]

if it were my draft id trade down, get an extra second,take barron or barnes. then in the second take shazor and baas. everett in the third if he remains which i beleive he will if not then alex smith.

[nicfre]

GoLions17, thanks.
I like looking at other teams and trying to pinpoint what direction they might go in the draft and free agency. Plus, Chiefs are my #1 team, but I like the Lions...I really hope Harrington can put it together this year, he sure has the weapons. And if you guys add a tight end either in the draft or through free agency that offense is going to be tough! Roy Williams is incredible. And I will tell you what, in my opinion the Lions had one of the best drafts in recent history last year. Anytime you can trade with a team that is one pick below you so that they can move up and you end up drafting a player like Roy Williams you deserve props! Even if it was with the most inept organization in the NFL - the Browns! Plus, it was a good trade with us (atleast for you guys) to get back into the first round to select Kevin Jones.

Here is what I see your draft possibly looking like if you sign Bubba Franks and trade for Donovan Darius :

First Round (#10) Erasmus James, DE, Wisconsin
Second Round (#41) Ernest Shazor, S, Michigan
Third Round (#72) CJ Mosley, DT, Missouri
Fourth Round (#107) Chris Kemoeatu, G, Utah
Sixth Round (#169) Alex Holmes, TE, USC
Seventh Round (#200) Chris McKenzie, CB, Arizona State

[GoLions17]

yeah a lot of people have us taking james but i dont think a DE is really a need for us. our d line was second in the league in sacks i believe. i would rather trade down and get a different DE due to the depth or get thomas davis. but james is a definate possibility.

[Mutant]

First off the name is Kevin Everett.

Darius already signed a one year deal with Jacksonville, so the only way to get him would be to trade for him. I wouldn't mind seing us trade our first rounder to the Jags for their first and Darius. I don't know if they would do that or if we would have to throw an additional pick or a player into the deal to make it happen. I know I heard someone talking about including Edwards in a deal for Darius.

Lets just say we do that. We trade the tenth pick and K. Edwards for Darius and the 21st pick. Then:

21. Heath Miller or best DE(depending on if we sign Franks)
41. Elton Brown or David Baas(whichever falls)

Safety is the only position we really need on defense, but we could still use an upgrade at DE on the left side, especially if we include Edwards. That is really the only way I see us drafting a DE in the first round, if we trade down and one falls to us. None of them are worth the 10th overall pick.

If we could get both Miller and Brown in the draft I would be thrilled. It would really help out both Joey and KJ next year. Miller would help out a lot if both of WR are back and healthy, because they will be gettingmost of the safetys attention leaving Miller in single coverage with a LB. He could easily have 500 yds. recieving this year, which is a lot when you have two good WR on your team.

Last year KJ did not do well in the cobine/pro day workouts and he fell to us. Maybe Brown will do the same.

I think if we did all of these moves we could be the favorite to win the diision going into the season, which says a lot about where we came from.

[Mutant]

First off the name is Kevin Everett.

Darius already signed a one year deal with Jacksonville, so the only way to get him would be to trade for him. I wouldn't mind seing us trade our first rounder to the Jags for their first and Darius. I don't know if they would do that or if we would have to throw an additional pick or a player into the deal to make it happen. I know I heard someone talking about including Edwards in a deal for Darius.

Lets just say we do that. We trade the tenth pick and K. Edwards for Darius and the 21st pick. Then:

21. Heath Miller or best DE(depending on if we sign Franks)
41. Elton Brown or David Baas(whichever falls)

Safety is the only position we really need on defense, but we could still use an upgrade at DE on the left side, especially if we include Edwards. That is really the only way I see us drafting a DE in the first round, if we trade down and one falls to us. None of them are worth the 10th overall pick.

If we could get both Miller and Brown in the draft I would be thrilled. It would really help out both Joey and KJ next year. Miller would help out a lot if both of WR are back and healthy, because they will be gettingmost of the safetys attention leaving Miller in single coverage with a LB. He could easily have 500 yds. recieving this year, which is a lot when you have two good WR on your team.

Last year KJ did not do well in the cobine/pro day workouts and he fell to us. Maybe Brown will do the same.

I think if we did all of these moves we could be the favorite to win the diision going into the season, which says a lot about where we came from.

[FoolishGil]

trade down, get extra second pick. grab pollack, d. cody, merriman, or H. miller with frist rounder. grab baas and shazor with 2nd. if miller not taken in 1st, grab BA tight end in 3rd.

[dawgsfan]

one thing you'll learn quickly on this forum..is that detroit fans love talking about drafting michigan players


i personally see the lions taking the best defensive player available at 10, if that is another solid Linebacker that's fine.

any of these picks work for me

davis
merriman
DJ
rolle
pac man


these picks don't excite me but I wouldn't get too bent out of shape

james
spears (injured knee btw , he'll drop)
Barron


--just please no heath miller

[GoLions17]

i agree with you on the most part. taking the best player is fine with me. 2 things that must happen is if johnson or rolle fall. we must take them, otherwise any of those picks work for me except pac man, we dont need another cb. and no heath miller

[FoolishGil]

i hate the university of michigan, i just like baas and shazor. I do, however, agree with taking DJ or Rolle if they fall. Otherwise, im all about the trade down.

[bberyquiet]

I think that all talk about what the Lions are going to do in the draft at this point is moot. The real question is what needs are going to be filled via free agency. Our obvious needs are a backup qb(maybe to compete with Harrington), a #3 wr, tight end, safety, and some o line help-Stockar McDougle looks to be gone.
Hopefully, they draft the best player available with the #10 pick, and then fill needs in the rest of the draft. At #10, the best player left might be a cb or d-lineman. If that's the case, then I say draft there and try to fill as many of the other holes as possible via free agency.

[Dionosys]

As much as I want harrington to succeed, there is a feeling in my gut that if detroit has a chance to trade down and have a shot at a guy like Alex Smith QB out of Utah, they might take it. If by chance his stock drops off a bit and they could move down into the 20s, then I think they might consider it depending on if they're able to improve the Safety, DE, and OG positions through Free Agency.

The deal I've heard for Darius is Edwards and a 3rd round pick. I'm not sure about that though, Darius will be 30. So he will start to regress, I don't mind giving up Edwards in this deal, but if they want a pick and edwards, I think the pick should be a 4th. Darius is good, but not so young anymore, they would be better suited to not give up a 1st day pick for him. I don't want Shazor however, I'm just not sold on him.

If the draft were tomorrow, and we don't trade down, I'd draft as follows

1. Shawne Merriman DE/OLB
2. David Baas OG/C
3. Brodney Poole Safety Oklahoma *with luck he'll drop*
4. Mike Patterson DT *lack of size could drop him to a middle round steal*
6. Eric Shelton RB Louisville *not sure he'll drop this far, but if he can catch and block, might be a possible replacement for Sledge*
7. Gino Guidligi QB Cincinatti

Obviously, I know nothing and most of these guys like poole and patterson will most likely be off the board by these times, but hey, a guy can dream right.