As predicted, Matt Cassel tagged.

[Xiomera]

New England will place the franchise tag on Matt Cassel.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3809444

Now that we're ruled out the possibility of signing him, is there anyone still not on-board the Matt Stafford bandwaggon?

[sbh15]

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0427/nfl_mcshay_195.jpg

[Xiomera]

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0427/nfl_mcshay_195.jpg

Haha

OK, Anyone think we should not take a QB #1?

[Smokey Joe]

I'm on board with Matt Stafford now.

Matt Stafford with no. 1 and Eben Britton with no. 20 would be a great start at rebuilding for you guys.

[Xiomera]

I'm on board with Matt Stafford now.

Matt Stafford with no. 1 and Eben Britton with no. 20 would be a great start at rebuilding for you guys.

I am amazed at the number of people who give us a QB/OT combo in Round 1. People must realize how severely terrible our defense is, right?

Gotta go defense at 20.

[wingboy2999]

I am amazed at the number of people who give us a QB/OT combo in Round 1. People must realize how severely terrible our defense is, right?

Gotta go defense at 20.

I mean we need everything soooooooooooooooooo....

[Smokey Joe]

I am amazed at the number of people who give us a QB/OT combo in Round 1. People must realize how severely terrible our defense is, right?

Gotta go defense at 20.
Yeah, you don't need an actual lineman to protect the blindside of the QB you'd be giving millions of dollars to.

I am amazed at the number of people who think you can successfully develop a QB when you have a **** OLine.

[princefielder28]

1. Hire Mike Mularkey
2. Draft Matthew Stafford #1
3. Draft BJ Raji #20
4. Draft Troy Kropog #33

[WMD]

Our offense can put up points.. our defense is horrendous.

[Xiomera]

Yeah, you don't need an actual lineman to protect the blindside of the QB you'd be giving millions of dollars to.

I am amazed at the number of people who think you can successfully develop a QB when you have a **** OLine.

I don't think we're gonna neglect to address the Offensive Line. And I would hope Stafford doesn't start from Day One anyways.

But what exactly the difference between Britton and any of the next tier of OT's that could be had later?

Gosder will get better. Backus isn't as horrible as commonly perceived. He's not good, but he's about league average. Let's improve the offensive guards first. They are truly horrid.

[Smokey Joe]

You're not going to turn around the whole team in one year. The Dolphins are the exception, not the rule.

Get what is hopefully your franchise QB and LT in round 1, and then go BPA from there on out.

[Xiomera]

A rookie Left Tackle won't be any better than Backus. That's all I'm saying.

[Xiomera]

You're not going to turn around the whole team in one year. The Dolphins are the exception, not the rule.

Get what is hopefully your franchise QB and LT in round 1, and then go BPA from there on out.

I would just hope that after 8 years of Matt Millen not drafting defensive talent things would change. Ernie Sims is the only 1st round pick Millen used on defense. Before that, I believe the last defender we took in the first was Chris Claiborne. :eek:

If this is a long rebuilding process, then I would prefer to at least be able to tolerate watching our defense once in a while. Cause right now it just makes me cringe.

[wingboy2999]

A rookie Left Tackle won't be any better than Backus. That's all I'm saying.

This is the key right here. We need upgrades on our OL but I think we have more problems with the OGs then the OT. And the fact there won't be as much of a premium price on upgrading them.

[Smokey Joe]

You guys need to switch to a 3-4 D. You'd be like the 3rd or 4th team in the NFC to run some version of it, and quite frankly, your D needs a complete overhaul.

[Xiomera]

You guys need to switch to a 3-4 D. You'd be like the 3rd or 4th team in the NFC to run some version of it, and quite frankly, your D needs a complete overhaul.

I am not opposed to this. I like the thought of being the only team in the North to run it.

And we actually have some pieces that would fit into the scheme. Redding, IAF, Avril . . .

[woodnick]

A rookie Left Tackle won't be any better than Backus. That's all I'm saying.


I disagree, I think a rookie LT very easily can be better than Backus. Especially if we slide Backus to LG and he does ok. In the past few drafts there have been several LTs that are better than Backus: Jake Long, Clady, Albert, Joe Thomas, McNeil, Brickhouse, etc.

Now I'm not saying that we should draft a QB/LT combo in the first, but I think that a good rookie LT will improve our O and our team.

[Xiomera]

The first tier of OT's might be better than Backus. But beyond Andre, Jason Smith, Oher, and Monroe, I just don't think it's significant enough of an upgrade over Backus compared to any defensive player over what we've got there.

[woodnick]

This is the key right here. We need upgrades on our OL but I think we have more problems with the OGs then the OT. And the fact there won't be as much of a premium price on upgrading them.

But, by upgrading our LT should also upgrade our LG. That being said I definately wouldnt mind if we got Mack to play OG for a yr or 2 then moved to C

[Halsey]

The Lions should take a QB #1, assuming one who is worth the #1 pick declares, and then take the best defender or O-lineman at #20. Whichever is not taken can be addressed at the top of the 2nd. It's not like there's really that much difference in pick 20 and pick 33. Free agency will play a big part in determining what the Lions do. The Patriots may be trying to trade Cassel and tagging him to prevent losing him for nothing.

[Xiomera]

Quick question:

Who is better? Backus or Edwin Mulitalo?

[Addict]

I still prefer Sanchez.

[AkiliSmith]

How about:
1. Stafford
20. Raji
33. Unger
65. Best available ILB, SS or CB

[detroit4life]

unless Oher Monroe or Smith fall to 20 (which i highly doubt) we need to adress defense. DT is a huge need along with MLB. We should adress these two positions at 20 and 33. In the 3rd we can draft OG and sign a veteran OG in FA. Upgrading OG is big and can help Backus Perform. If backus still fails we can adress OT next year where im hoping stafford will not play a game until his second year.

We can not forget about our defense because we are drafting QB #1. OG is the worst position on our Oline so we will upgrade the line but our defens eis so bad we need to adress it.

[wingboy2999]

unless Oher Monroe or Smith fall to 20 (which i highly doubt) we need to adress defense. DT is a huge need along with MLB. We should adress these two positions at 20 and 33. In the 3rd we can draft OG and sign a veteran OG in FA. Upgrading OG is big and can help Backus Perform. If backus still fails we can adress OT next year where im hoping stafford will not play a game until his second year.

We can not forget about our defense because we are drafting QB #1. OG is the worst position on our Oline so we will upgrade the line but our defens eis so bad we need to adress it.

I like this idea. Don't look OT unless someone falls out of the sky. If someone like Oher, Monroe or Smith is there..... we'd be idiots to pass on them. We got 2-4 years to build so if we have the oppurtunity to take someone that will solve a problem we have, we need to use it.

[Triumphdog]

I am on the Stafford wagon and have been for some time. He has the arm you absolutely look for and demand for a NFL franchise. With Scott alone saying he is a Jay Cutler clone that is good enough for me. He also played the SF in High School for the basketball team and it is always nice to have a multi-sport pure "athlete", which I believe is what Stafford is. Lions have NO future at the QB spot and if they pass on Stafford, they are fools.

Yeah I am also all for Laurinaitis at 19 or 20.

[Xiomera]

I'm starting to dislike the Laurinaitis pick now. I just think he's overrated. I foresee a possible Paul Posluszny-type drop this year.

But at 33 I might still be OK with him.

[detroit4life]

I want Spikes much more than JL tho. If a scenario was that we took Stafford then Raji and JL was there at 33 but Spikes wasn't i think i would be tempted to look at either OG or DE rather than take JL just because i dont believe that he is going to be a great MLB in the future

[wingboy2999]

I want Spikes much more than JL tho. If a scenario was that we took Stafford then Raji and JL was there at 33 but Spikes wasn't i think i would be tempted to look at either OG or DE rather than take JL just because i dont believe that he is going to be a great MLB in the future

Any reasons that makes you believe that?

[detroit4life]

i dont think he's great at shedding blocks and feel as if he is significantly behind the other 3 (curry Rey and Spikes). Im not saying he will not be a good player i just think that if we miss out on Spikes and a guy like DUke robinson or Hardy is there at 33 i would prefer to adress those positions seeing as they're all needs

[Triumphdog]

Yeah I will admit that if Spikes declares, I would defientley prefer him, as I consider him a superior athlete with a mean streak for the middle

[WMD]

1. Maualuga
2. Spikes
3. Laurinaitis

Those are my rankings!

[broth223]

Well I don't see Duke Robinson AND JL making it to 33 there would have to be some surprising picks and/or a big fall from grace in the off season to make them both there. I would take Robinson and try to move back up into the 2nd 2 3rd round picks and our 6th would bring us to 45th overall (13th in the 2nd)

Would you be OK with a 4 player draft? If those 4 players were Stafford, Raji, JL, and Robinson?


Random Thought:
When was the last time 3 MLBs went in the first round?

[WMD]

I don't think it has ever happened.

As far as trading goes.. the most I'd do is using one of our 3rds with either #20, or #33, to move up. According to the value chart.. #33 with Dallas' 3rd could get us Pick #23/24.. #33 with our 3rd could maybe net us Pick #21.

Would we be okay with three 1sts, one 3rd, one 5th, and two 6ths?

[wingboy2999]

I don't think it has ever happened.

As far as trading goes.. the most I'd do is using one of our 3rds with either #20, or #33, to move up. According to the value chart.. #33 with Dallas' 3rd could get us Pick #23/24.. #33 with our 3rd could maybe net us Pick #21.

Would we be okay with three 1sts, one 3rd, one 5th, and two 6ths?

Ehhhhhh we got a ton of holes to plug. Maybe I'd entertain it. We'd get 7 players but I think we might need to have as many good picks to take a shot at getting players that can make an impact.

[P-L]

A few points.

1. Good. I don't want to pay Cassel the money he is going to want, especially since it's a huge unknown whether he can play outside of New England's system.

2. A rookie LT might not be better than Jeff Backus in 2009 but that same LT will be better than Jeff Backus in 2010, and 2011, and 2012, etc.

[Triumphdog]

Andre Smith is no Jake Long and Matthew Stafford is the "elite" QB prospect of this draft. Although it will be interesting to see how Bradford does Thursday night against a very good and athletic defense. I actually like Bradfords attitude better but think Stafford has the measurables that you can not pass up.

[asmitty45]

Thank god this happened. He's not going to be the same QB when he's not on the Pats unless he follows mcdaniels.