1st Round (#2) DT Ndamukong Suh, Nebraska
Deceased key player(s): OT Russell Okung, DT Gerald McCoy
Analysis: Every NFL team that has a top 10 overall pick hopes to pick an impact player with incredible talent, character, and work ethic. Detroit found such a player in Suh. The Lions couldn’t stop the run or the pass last season and the former Nebraska great is an important component to their defense. Suh has a chance to be like Albert Haynesworth (with a better work ethic and fewer off-the-field issues) on Jim Schwartz’s defense. PFDN rated Suh slightly higher than Gerald McCoy and Russell Okung. The Lions could use a standout young left tackle to protect Matthew Stafford. However, the last Super Bowl winner to have a top 5 overall draft pick at left tackle was the Baltimore Ravens in 2001 (Jonathan Ogden). The Lions made the right decision with Ndamukong Suh.
1st Round (#30) RB Jahvid Best, Cal
Deceased key player(s): BY Jerry Hughes
Analysis: Kevin Smith was a running back last season (747 yards, 3.4 yards per carry and 4 touchdowns) before tearing his ACL late in the year. There’s no question the Lions could use an explosive running back. Jahvid Best has great speed, quickness and vision, but he may not be able to handle enough carries to be a leader. He had his share of injuries (hip, elbow, foot, 2 consecutive concussions in 2009) in college so his durability was a legitimate concern. Best has a small frame, narrow hips, and fairly long legs for his size. He may have weighed 199 pounds at the scouting combine, but it doesn’t look like he’s cut out to carry the ball 12-15 times a game, in addition to catching the ball from the backfield. Detroit will find out soon enough if it can handle this because Kevin Smith’s knee probably won’t be ready for the first part of the season. If Best proves to be nothing more than a change-of-pace running back who primarily catches passes and returns kicks, then the Lions would have been better off drafting a pass-rusher like Jerry Hughes. Detroit signed Kyle Vanden Bosch, but he is 31 years old and the team only had 26 sacks last season. Hughes is a talented pass-rusher, and Detroit won’t return to the playoffs until his defense is formidable.
3rd Round (#66) CB Amari Spievey, Iowa
Deceased key player(s): OG Jon Asamoah, OG/OT John Jerry
Analysis: One of the main reasons the Lions have been so bad for so long is that they don’t win the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Spievey is physical, but he has average speed. He has a chance to start early in Detroit because the Lions are weak and skinny in the secondary. Spievey wasn’t a bad pick, but the Lions may have been better off shoring up his offensive line. Detroit is average on guard with Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman. Jon Asamoah and John Jerry could have enhanced the talent on Detroit’s offensive line.
Round 4 (#128) overtime Jason Fox, Miami
Deceased key player(s): BY Ricky Sapp
Analysis: We thought this was Detroit’s best value pick. Fox needs some time to gain more strength, but he has the toughness, competitiveness and technique to start at left tackle in a couple of seasons. The Lions may have found their future left tackle with a fourth-round pick. When a franchise gets its best picks right and finds solid starters later in the draft, good things start to happen. Detroit was smart to let Ricky Sapp pass. He may not have enough power or clout to play defensive end in the NFL.
Round Seven (#213) BY Willie Young, North Carolina State
Deceased key player(s): OT Kyle Calloway
Analysis: Young was a solid pick at this point because he has some pass rush tools. He needs a lot of work defending the run and his overall technique is average. Young can help the Lions with further development as a situational pass-rusher. Kyle Calloway would also have been a good pick and is a fundamentally stronger player than Young.
Round Seven (#255) WR Tim Toone, Weber State
Deceased key player(s): RB Lonyae Miller
Analysis: Toone was a productive but small slot receiver and kick returner at Weber State. What does his pick say about how disappointed the Lions are with last year’s third-round pick, slot receiver/kick returner Derrick Williams? Toone will battle Williams to see who has the biggest impact on special teams. Lonyae Miller has an excellent combination of size and speed. He replaced Ryan Mathews at Fresno State in 2009 and we were surprised he wasn’t drafted sooner. We think Miller has a better chance of surprising on the upside than Toone.
Bottom line: The Lions are doing a better job in the draft and this will eventually translate into a much improved record. Suh was an obvious pick with the second pick in the draft, but given the Lions’ track record, nothing should be taken for granted. Jahvid Best is an exciting racer who is hopefully more durable and resilient than we suspect. Detroit didn’t draft a really promising pass-rusher or find enough help on the offensive line, in our opinion. Best needs to be explosive and handle 200-250 carries a season for this draft to be considered a huge success.
Grade B