The Motown Conundrum

It looks like Matt Stafford is going to be the pick at one. This is obviously a tough choice for the Lions considering that no player has pushed themselves to the top of the heap, and there's a handful of guys the Lions could make a solid case for choosing. That hasn't been the case in recent drafts.

Think about it. You have Stafford, Jason Smith and Aaron Curry.

However, you can make a case Mark Sanchez is better than Stafford—as many teams have done on their boards—and Eugene Monroe over Smith. That's five guys. Michael Crabtree is the best player on some team's boards—though the Detroit front office would be run out of town faster than Billy Gillispie if they pick another receiver.

It's too bad the Lions have the number one pick this year. With a dad that is a huge Lions fan, I've gone over the Lions situation in this draft more than the guys from the Warren Commission over the Zapruder film, and we both still don't have a clear idea of what the Lions should do. I think next year would be a nice year to be sitting with the top pick.

You're going to have guys like Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy available—most likely; Bradford still hasn't ruled out returning for a fifth year—who are both supposed to be top prospects when they come out. I would be more excited about those two, especially Bradford.

If I were the Lions, I would consider taking one of the tackles because you have to believe the Lions aren't getting out of the top five picks next year. Even if they improve, will they get more than three or four wins?

It would be hard to believe they won't be in position for a high pick next year. I know front office people can't take risks like this, but it is hard to argue with.

The pick has seemed to be narrowed down to Curry and Stafford. Why not a tackle?

Well, probably because a close second behind WR in "we pick this position with as much success as Isiah Thomas had running the Knicks" is offensive lineman.

The Lions have picked studs like Stockar McDougle, Jeff Backus, and Aaron Gibson earlier this decade, and last year's first rounder, Gosder Cherilus, didn't do much last year. That has to be the reason the front office is shying away from Smith and Monroe.

Then you can say those weren't high first rounders (or even first rounders in Gibson's case) and that Joey Harrington was a huge bust, so this is why the Lions have such a tough pick this year. Every single way they go there will be questions.