2010 NFL Draft: Featured Columnist Mock—Detroit Lions Take Gerald McCoy

Even the Detroit Lions can't screw this up.

Can they?

One of two things will likely happen.

Either the St. Louis Rams can take a top QB, Jimmy Clausen or Sam Bradford, or the Rams can take the top player available, Ndamukong Suh.

In his article, Bleacher Report Featured Columnist, Ron Clements took the latter—much to the Detroit Lions' delight.

Talking it over with fellow Lions guy, Dean Holden, the decision was made to take Gerald McCoy with the second overall pick. This article is to make the selection while Dean will look at some other options.

Option one has to be a trade down. However, recent scouting on Gerald McCoy has changed this author's mind in a big way. 

If the Lions are going to trade out of drafting McCoy, it needs to be a Herschel Walker type deal—a high first, second, third, and more. This is a deep defensive draft, and if the Lions can get that kind of deal (and perhaps a mid level veteran as well), it would be beneficial.

On the other hand, taking pennies on the dollar would not be a great decision.

Gerald McCoy is a top draft prospect. Some even rank him higher than Suh, most rank him a very close second.

Any player can improve the Lions.

Gerald McCoy could redefine them.

As a pass rusher, he is excellent. Coach Schwartz has made it clear that he wants a pass rusher from the defensive tackle position his entire career.

As a run stopper, he is elite—something the Lions sorely lack.

As a leader, in terms of intangibles, he is second only to a certain Floridian quarterback. Actually, it was McCoy, not Tebow, that the Fellowship of Christian Athletes named their president. McCoy will impress everyone when sat down one on one. He is a stand up guy, to say the least.

So yes, if the Detroit Lions can move down only a few slots and pick up multiple picks in the process, quantity might be better than quality on such a talent starved team.

But if one pick needs to be made...

That pick is the Oklahoma defensive tackle, Gerald McCoy.

Michael Schottey is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and the producer and host of The Average Joe Sports Show on 860AM KNUJ (New Ulm, MN). He is also an NFL Analyst and Senior Writer for DraftTek.com. Follow Him on Twitter.