It’s that time of year, mock draft season. Mel Kiper posted his first mock draft backing in January. His counterpart, Todd McShay, is on his third version. Every writer at NFL.com has at least one draft of what the first round will look like.
In an effort to bring you a different point of view, I will bring you a full analysis of all thirty-two teams before endeavoring on any mock drafts. This will allow for you to fully understand the reasoning behind my opinions.
Seeing as I have a degree in marketing, I will structure these analyses as a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. As companies use this method to gain a full view of their own brand, I will use this method to full analyze the state of each NFL team heading into the draft.
We will start with the team with the number one pick, the Detroit Lions.
STRENGTHS
Young talent
Despite failing to win a game last season, the Lions do have some good, young talent on the roster.
Calvin Johnson is one of the top receivers in the league. He has the size and skill to remain an elite NFL receiver for a long time.
Running back Kevin Smith improved as the season progressed. Smith emerged as the go-to-back after Tatum Bell ruined another opportunity to be an NFL back. He finished the year just under the 1,000-yard mark with a 4.1 yard per carry average. Smith can expect to see his workload increase as Scott Linehan takes control of the Lions’ offense.
Finally, linebacker Ernie Sims is proving to be the leader of the Lions’ defense. Sims has accumulated over 100 tackles all three seasons he’s played in Detroit. He has also been named the team’s defensive captain since his second year in the league.
Sims is the eldest of these players, entering his fourth season in the league. These three are the beginning of a solid young nucleus for this team to build around.
Coaching staff
After the dismal years under Rod Marinelli, the Lions have gathered an impressive coaching staff for the 2009 season.
Jim Schwartz leads the staff after building one of the most physically imposing defenses in the NFL in Tennessee.
Schwartz is teaming up with the highly respected Gunther Cunningham. Cunningham is regarded as one of the top defensive minds in the league, and has head coaching experience.
New offensive coordinator Scott Linehan also has head coaching experience, having been the head coach in St. Louis. Linehan has proven effective at adapting his system to his talent.
In Minnesota, he continued to focus the offense on the aerial assault of Randy Moss and Daunte Culpepper. In Miami, he focused his offense around Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
In St. Louis, he tried to focus the offense around Stephen Jackson. With Johnson and Smith on offense, Linehan has some talent to work with on the offensive side of the ball.
Offseason signings
The Lions have been busy thus far in the offseason. They have addressed major needs through their free agent signings and trades.
The Lions have worked to improve their pathetic defense. The signing of Grady Jackson will improve their ability to stop the run. The loss of Shaun Rogers left a hole in the middle of that defensive line, and Jackson should be able to step in and improve that position immediately.
Detroit has also made major strides to improve a secondary which has been their weakest link for years. Phillip Buchanon and Anthony Henry represent significant upgrades to the cornerback position.
Both are veterans that bring significant experience to the defensive backfield. Henry is a playmaker, when he is healthy. He also offers versatility, as the Cowboys were considering moving him to safety before the trade.
WEAKNESSES
Quarterback
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