2011 Draft Picks: Should the Detroit Lions Go After Big Ten Talent?

Some teams like to fill their rosters with local talent that will excite fans followed them in the NCAA. 

This makes sense—if the players are great and they fit the needs of the team.  We have looked at the possibility of the Lions taking players from Michigan State, but what about other Big Ten schools or even smaller college teams who have produced great players?

Currently, the Detroit Lions have players on their roster from Ohio State, the University of Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Purdue, Wisconsin, Penn State, Iowa and one player on the practice squad from Saginaw Valley. 

We might as well include Nebraska, since they will be part of the Big Ten beginning this year. Here is where you can yell out, "SUH"!  We might as well do it now since we know we'll be yelling his name a lot again this next season!  Plus, it just keeps the pipes clean.

Given our current roster, it would not be a stretch to say that they have taken local talent before.

In this years draft, there are several players from Big Ten schools who have garnered a lot of media attention and are expected to go quickly in the draft.  In fact, if I counted right, there are 17 players in the projected top 100 who represent the Big Ten.

Let's briefly identify who those players are.

The one person who has turned the most heads from this list has to be cornerback Prince Amukamara.  His is currently projected as the 12th strongest player in the draft.  This is the guy most Lions would love to see us get, and if he were in free-agency, we'd have a better chance.

According to Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star, "Amukamara likely will have an experience at the combine not all that different than former teammate Ndamukong Suh's last year".

Suh's advice to Amukamara regarding the combine, was to "just be a pro".

If Prince doesn't go in the top 10, as projected, then the Lions would certainly be hard pressed not to take him.  I know there are questions about Houston staying in Detroit due to his status as a free-agent this year but many, myself included, believe he will.   However, if Prince is the BPA when it's the Lions turn, Amukamara will come home a Leo.

Corey Liuget, a defensive tackle from Illinois, is projected to be the next highest value after Prince and Adrian Clayborn, a defensive end out of Iowa sits only two down from Corey.

Number 20 on the list is Ryan Kerrigan, a defensive end from Purdue.  Closely behind him are three players who round out the top 25. Mikel LeShoure, a running back out of Illinois, comes in at the 23rd spot with two Wisconsin players, defensive end, J.J. Watt, and offensive tackle, Gabe Carimi, landing at number 24 and 25, respectively.

I don't know about you, but I would be happy to land any of these players.  I know that it is unlikely that Prince will fall to our first round pick, but I wouldn't say it is impossible. 

In the beginning, we kept hearing about how many teams were looking to draft cornerbacks this year.  Now the discussion has shifted to quarterbacks.  I heard in one interview that up to 10 quarterbacks could be drafted in the top 15 picks.  If that is the scenario, the Lions have a great shot at getting the cornerback position filled.

If they don't get Prince in the first round, they still have other high value players from the Big Ten to choose from in either the first or second rounds.

If we are looking for Big Ten talent in the first two rounds, there are plenty left to be seen.  Cameron Heyward comes in at number 36.  Coming out of Ohio State, he is a big scrappy defensive end who many actually have going in the mid- to late first-round.

The first Big Ten OLB to be ranked in the top 100 is Martez Wilson (Illinois) who landed at number 39.  Stefen Wisniewski is next in line as a center out of Penn State.  Now we head a little further down the list to find Christian Ballard, a defensive end from Iowa, at number 55. 

We have an interesting situation at the 58th and 60th spots.  Ross Homan is listed first and is an OLB out of Ohio State.  Just two places below him is Greg Jones out of Michigan State.  In my last article I identified that even though Jones is listed as an ILB, he will most likely be converted to the OLB position in the NFL. However, because of his status as an ILB, he is projected to be the number one pick at that position.

This is where Big Ten players start falling down the list.  No one shows up again until we hit number 80.  But here again we have an OLB, Jonas Mouton, from the University of Michigan.  Lance Kendricks, a tight end from Wisconsin, lands at 87, Brian Rolle, an ILB out of Ohio State, hits at 89 and Tanden Doss, a wide receiver from Indiana, rounds us out at 94.

I'm not suggesting that the Lions focus on local players. However, they are viable options should Schwartz and Mayhew feel they are the BPA when their draft pick comes up. 

Since fans are not allowed to be part of the CBA process, I thought we should at least give voice to which players were chosen in the draft.  I am looking at the Big Ten players purely out of interest and curiosity.

Schwartz and Mayhew have been very clear that they are looking for the BPA at any position but would prefer to get one that fills a need.  How many of the players listed above could fall to the Lions?  Which ones would you like to see Schwartz and Mayhew get if they are on the board as the BPA?

Reports have said that Detroit Lions fans would like the team to consider Gabe Carimi at tackle and Stefen Wisniewski at guard or center.

Let me hear what you think, Lions fans!