The Detroit Lions have been a bad team for a very long time but in 2008 they were historically bad, failing to win a single game all season long. That’s right, 0-16! Matt Millen was sent packing after a disastrous eight-year tenure but even though they no longer have that dark cloud hanging over the franchise there is still a lot of work to be done. The daunting task of rebuilding this perennial loser now falls into the hands of a new and unproven front office and coaching staff, led by General Manager Martin Mayhew, Team President Tom Lewand and Head Coach Jim Schwartz. This was arguably the most important offseason in team history and how the Lions new regime performed in free agency and the draft would go a long way towards determining whether or not Detroit was finally on the right track. Are the Lions now on the road to respectability or did Draft Day ’09 represent more of the same ineptitude that we have all come to expect from this cellar dwelling franchise?
As owners of the leagues worst record Detroit “earned” the #1 overall pick and they wisely used it on Georgia QB Matthew Stafford. There are no sure things in the NFL Draft, especially when it comes to quarterbacks, but Stafford appears to have everything you look for in a franchise signal caller. A big-time recruit coming out of high school, Stafford has been a prominent figure in scouting circles for years and was being heralded as a future #1 pick ever since he took over the Bulldogs starting job as a true freshman. Physically Stafford is the total package, with adequate height, good bulk, above-average athleticism and one of the strongest arms you will ever see. In addition to those impressive physical tools Stafford is smart, a hard worker and a team leader with three years of starting experience against elite SEC competition. Stafford also played in a pro style offense at Georgia, a factor that simply can’t be underestimated because it takes some of the guesswork out of his evaluation. Detroit could have gone the safe route and chosen an offensive tackle (Jason Smith) or linebacker (Aaron Curry) but the bottom line is top quarterbacks are what separate the good teams from the bad teams and the Lions weren’t going anywhere with Daunte Culpepper. There is no denying that taking a quarterback early in the draft is an extremely risky proposition and the ridiculous money those top picks command these days just make it that much more perilous. However, with great risk also comes the potential for great reward and while Stafford could become the next David Carr he could also be the next John Elway. The Lions already signed Stafford to a six-year, $72 million contract with $41.7 million guaranteed so there will be no hold out and he’ll be able to hit the ground running when training camp begins. Stafford has the ability to start from day one as a rookie but the Lions will probably take a cautious approach to his development and there is nothing wrong with that considering he is still just 21-years-old. The Lions are a rebuilding team in a city that has been devastated by the poor economy and there will be a lot of pressure to play the new face of the franchise so regardless of whether it’s Week 1, Week 4 or Week 17 it’s just a matter of time until Stafford takes over as the Lions starter.
The Lions used their other first round pick, which they acquired from Dallas for Roy Williams at the trade deadline, to select Oklahoma St. TE Brandon Pettigrew. The consensus top tight end in the draft, Pettigrew isn’t the type of dynamic receiving threat that some have come to associate with a Top 20 pick (i.e. Kellen Winslow or Vernon Davis) but he is one of the best all-around prospects to come along at the position in years. At 6-53/8 and 263 pounds Pettigrew is a fantastic blocker who can essentially act as an extension of the offensive line and even though he isn’t going to threaten defenses deep he can also be a reliable weapon in the short to intermediate passing game. Pettigrew was a terrific pick from both a value and need standpoint and he should step right into the starting lineup. With that said you can’t help but wonder if Detroit made a mistake by passing on Michael Oher, who could have been the left tackle they need to protect Matthew Stafford’s blind side. Nothing will ruin a young quarterback quicker than a lack of protection and by flirting with the notion of selecting Jason Smith with the #1 overall pick the Lions basically admitted the left tackle position was a major concern. With so much invested in Stafford you would have thought Detroit would jump at the opportunity to add a talented blocker like Oher to help keep him upright, like Atlanta did with Matt Ryan and Sam Baker a year ago. Pettigrew will certainly aid the development of Stafford too, but Oher might have been a better choice for the Lions. Middle linebacker has been a problem area in Detroit for years and they seriously considered taking Aaron Curry with the #1 overall pick so it was a surprise when they passed on both James Laurinaitis and Rey Maualuga at the top of round two. Instead the Lions opted for Western Michigan S Louis Delmas, who shot up to the top of the positional rankings on the heels of a strong senior campaign. A tough, physical tackling machine with decent range in coverage, Delmas is also very instinctive, a hard worker and a true team leader. Look for Delmas to step right into the starting lineup and he should emerge as the linchpin of the Lions secondary.
Detroit had two picks in the third round and they used the first on Wisconsin LB DeAndre Levy, who played outside linebacker in college but will initially be tried in the middle with the Lions. An explosive athlete with excellent speed, Levy is slated for nickel duty behind Larry Foote as a rookie and he will also provide depth on the weakside behind Ernie Sims. Later in round three the Lions chose Penn St. WR Derrick Williams, who was rated as the #1 recruit in the entire country coming out of high school. Even though Williams never quite lived up to those lofty expectations with the Nittany Lions he might be the type of player who ends up being better in the pros than he was in college. Remember, Williams played in a conservative run-first offense in Happy Valley, never had consistent play from the quarterback position and also had to compete with Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood for catches. Those are not exactly ideal conditions for a wide receiver. Williams doesn’t profile as a starter in the NFL but his speed and athleticism could help him emerge as a very good slot guy, a la Eddie Royal, for the Lions. Williams will compete for the #3 or #4 job as a rookie and he could also contribute on special teams as a return man.
In round four the Lions attempted to address their shaky defensive tackle situation by selecting small school standout Sammie Lee Hill out of Stillman. An impressive physical specimen at almost 6-4 and 329 pounds, Hill profiles as a nose tackle at the next level and will likely be groomed behind 36-year-old Grady Jackson. Hill has a lot of potential but he is facing a big leap in competition and the Lions might have been better off with a player who ready to come in and be a factor immediately such as local Michigan product Terrance Taylor. In round six Detroit added some depth at running back when they chose T.C.U.’s Aaron Brown. A versatile player who can contribute as both a runner and receiver, Brown will compete for the #3 job behind Kevin Smith and Maurice Morris as a rookie.
The Lions had three picks in the seventh round and they used the first on Nebraska OT Lydon Murtha. Murtha was a highly-touted recruit whose college career was derailed by injuries but he emerged as an intriguing prospect after a standout showing at the Scouting Combine in which he led all offensive linemen in the forty, 3-Cone drill and 20-Yard Shuttle. There is no question that Murtha is a “Workout Warrior” but in round seven he was worth taking a flyer on. Murtha will battle for a backup job at left tackle and if he ever does begin to play up to his impressive physical tools he could be a late round steal. With their next pick Detroit chose Cal OLB Zack Follett, who many considered to be a mid-round value. Follett is a bit undersized and has a history of shoulder issues but he was very productive for the Bears and possesses top-notch intangibles. Follett will try and make the roster as a backup linebacker but his best chance to stick in the league will likely come on special teams. With their final pick the Lions opted for Maryland TE Dan Gronkowski, a decent all-around player who tested better than expected in workouts. Gronkowski profiles as a #3 tight end at the next level and that’s the job he’ll compete for as a rookie in Detroit.
Despite owning a plethora of premium picks the Lions roster was in such a state of disrepair that it would have been impossible for them to address all of their needs in this draft. This was merely the first step in what will likely be at least a three year rebuilding process and while it’s impossible to accurately assess how effective a draft was before anyone in the class plays a single snap the preliminary returns have been positive. In Stafford, Pettigrew and Delmas the Lions landed three long-term building blocks and while their Day Two haul may not feature any obvious starters they did a solid job of bolstering their overall depth on both sides of the ball. Detroit has a big hole to dig itself out of but the 2009 NFL Draft represented a big step in the right direction.
