Loading ...
Protection needed....
The Detroit Lions are still reeling from the Matt Millen years. The Lions under Millen rarely drafted team needs. The new regime will look to build on a solid draft last year and try to protect their investment in Matthew Stafford. The Lions would be wise to draft an offensive lineman in 2010.
In the Crosshairs will break down the recent history of a team’s first round picks and try to discover draft day trends and upcoming needs.
Recent 1st Round Draft History:
2009:Matthew Stafford-QB-Georgia,Brandon Pettigrew-TE-Oklahoma St.
2008:Gosder Cherilus-OT-Boston College
2007:Calvin Johnson-WR-Georgia Tech
2006:Ernie Sims-LB-Florida St.
2005:Mike Williams-WR-USC
2010 Draft Day Needs:
The Detroit Lions appear to be headed in the right direction after their disastrous 2008 season in which they went 0-16. While 2009 wasn’t much of an improvement at 2-14, it did let the team know that it appears to have found their franchise quarterback. Matthew Stafford showed signs of growth each week, until he was lost for the season with a shoulder and knee injury in Week 14. The team will need to protect Stafford if they want to see more growth out of the young signal caller.
That is why I think they draft an offensive lineman with the 2nd overall pick and the choice comes down to two players out of the state of Oklahoma. Russell Okung out of Oklahoma St. and Trent Williams by way of Oklahoma would both be welcome additions to an underachieving offensive line.
The Lions drafted Gosder Cherilus out of Boston College in 2008. He struggled in 2009 and was benched later in the year, I’m not ready to call him a “bust.” The term is thrown around loosely and after one season in the NFL it is unfair. Cherilus, if he is improved in his footwork and technique, along with either Okung or Williams would drastically improve the offensive line.
The Lions have many needs and they will look to address the following positions in the 2010 NFL Draft-CB, DT, OT, DE, WR, and RB. The 2010 Draft is deep defensively, so I think they can wait to fill the CB and DT positions. This franchise will live or die with the health of Matthew Stafford, why not protect it by drafting an offensive lineman.
