Are We There Yet?

Hidy Ho to all of you out there in Lions Land,

Remember when you were a kid on a road trip with your family and you would ask “are we there yet?” over and over again? This is what it feels like waiting for the Lions to sign their number one. Well my Lionettes we are 1 week and 6 days away from the NFL Draft which will start the process of our team rebuilding through the draft and getting competent, quality football players.

So far the Lions have not signed the number one pick but the front-office will want the deal done before the draft. It is either going to be OT Jason Smith from Baylor or QB Matthew Stafford from Georgia. Either one will be a good thing, no let me correct that, a great thing for our team. I have said that Matthew Stafford is no Joey Harrington and will be a franchise QB which we sorely need. If they draft Jason Smith our OL gets an immediate shot in the arm and Culpepper will get needed protection. I feel this is a win-win whichever direction the Lions front office goes in.

If they do sign Stafford the downside will be that he will carry a clip board for the coming season and see if any playing time barring something happening to Culpepper like injury or failing to lead the team. Culpepper, Stanton and Henson will all be gone after this year. Henson will most likely be cut when the NFL mandatory roster cuts are made at the start of the regular season. Stanton and Culpepper both have a year left.

So in terms of long term strategic planning they sign Stafford, have Linehan and Culpepper guide him and get him ready for next year. However, the question arises if they draft Stafford do you draft one of the high-profile QBs next year like Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford? I would believe they would draft one of them and then have them battle it out for the starting job when the lines to protect and defend are better met.

Here is a link from MLive with Mel Kiper from ESPN suggesting the Lions should take Stafford.

http://blog.mlive.com/twominutedrill/2009/04/mel_kiper_lions_must_take_matt.html

Here is a link from MLive by Tom Kowalski about Coaches Schwartz and Linehan need to put the stamp of approval on Stafford. I am OK with Stafford if Schwartz and Linehan want him. They are both intelligent coaches that know talent. If they say he is our guy then we need to back them up and support them on this draft decision. I am starting to get the impression that Mayhew who ultimately has the final decision is getting what the coaches want. If we take Stafford the implication in this year’s draft is we need to take the best LB available at pick 20 in the First Round and target Defense with the Second Round, and two Third Round picks. We do not have any picks in the 4th or 5th rounds unless we trade our two 6th round picks to trade down and get another teams extra 4th or 5th round pick. To be honest I am not sure if that scenario would even be likely.

Here is an interview on MLive from Bob Gaunt a draft expert with some of the possible directions the Lions might go in for the coming draft. It is a really insightful interview and answers quite a few questions.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/nfl_draft_expert_interview_jer_1.html

Here is another interview from Tom Kowalski on MLive about the Lions not drafting anyone until they are signed first.

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2009/04/tom_kowalski_on_wghn_lions_won.html

I was going to host a draft day party but I am going to Ford Field for the Detroit Lions Draft Day Party. Here is the link with some of the details if anyone is interested in going. Maybe some of you want to work out a carpool. It’s one of those things that should be on your Bucket List if it isn’t already.

http://www.detroitlions.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=483448

Tuesday the NFL will announce team schedules and I will have comments on that in my next post and also when the Lions will most likely announce their choice for the number one draft. Well everyone until next time GO LIONS!