2011 NFL Mock Draft: 7 Round Detroit Lions Best Case Scenario Projections

One of the toughest things to project in a mock draft, especially one covering a single team, is who will be available at any given pick.

To project that is to be inside the minds of 32 different teams’ war rooms. That’s obviously impossible, especially when some in those rooms are not even inside their own minds (am I right, Raiders fans?).

So this time around, I’m going to run a mock draft for the Detroit Lions that ignores that to an extent. Don’t worry, this isn’t some crazy mock where the Lions get Patrick Peterson in the fifth round or something.

These are simply some very improbable, but still slightly possible, scenarios that would very possibly comprise the best case scenario for the Lions.

Round 1, 13th Overall Pick: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - SEPTEMBER 04: Prince Amukamara #21 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers knocks down a pass intended for Tristan Jones #33 of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during second half action of their game against at Memorial Stadium on September 4, 2010 in

Bring in Ndamukong Suh, fix defensive line.

Bring in Ndamukong Suh’s former teammate, fix secondary.

That’s what we call hitting the “easy” button. We all know this is the best possible thing that could happen to the Lions at pick 13. Amukamara at 13 would be far and away the best player on the board, and in perhaps the Lions’ greatest position of need (it’s that or OLB).

Of course, it’s all but certain that Amukamara will be off the board in the top 10, but worrying about that completely misses the point of this piece.

Why it’s Possible

Honestly, I don’t really think it is. But if it’s good enough for Todd McShay, it’s good enough for my best-case scenario.

Round 2, 44th Overall Pick: Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland

By most accounts, Torrey Smith should be off the board by the end of the first round.

He’s well within the top five receivers in the draft this year, and there is lots of speculation that the Maryland product will stay close to home and be drafted by the Baltimore Ravens at 26.

Smith sports some of the best deep skills of any receiver in the draft, and has the right combination of size and speed to be a good No. 2 opposite Calvin Johnson. That also solves the confounding issue of Detroit’s No. 3 receiver, as Nate Burleson could slide into the role.

Smith is probably too raw to come in and be the No. 2 guy immediately, but he has the sheer physical talent of a true No. 1 guy. As long as No. 81 is in town, Smith will have no pressure to become the top guy, but he could easily grow into a very dangerous complement to Johnson after a season or two.

Why it’s Possible

Because Smith is so raw, it makes him a poor choice for teams whose windows are closing. His ceiling is one of the highest of any receiver in the draft, but any playoff team built to win now (the Bears, for instance) will look for a guy better suited to plug and play immediately.

In addition, if Smith makes it to the second round, he could fall several more spots. Only a few of the teams in the top of the second round will have receiver needs, and of those, two of them will have drafted A.J. Green and Julio Jones already.

Round 3, 75th Overall Pick: Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina

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CHAPEL HILL, NC - NOVEMBER 13: Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Virginia Tech Hokies is tackled by Bruce Carter #54 and teammate Jared McAdoo #97 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Kenan Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Bruce Carter has so much going right for him, it’s ridiculous. On a team that suspended over a dozen players over academic and agent contact issues, Carter wasn’t one of them.

He’s an athletic freak (shown: Carter running down Tyrod Taylor), and a monster on defense. He should have been a first-round pick.

Alas, Carter tore his ACL  late in the 2010 season, and has been unable to work out for teams or participate in any physical Combine or Pro Day activities.

The injury is going to drop Carter down the board. The question is, how far?

Why it’s Possible

An ACL injury is a scary thing.

Some guys come back from it just fine. Many, especially those as athletically talented as Carter, never quite regain their previous form.

Because Carter is rehabbing his knee and has been unable to work out, nobody knows if he’ll retain that explosiveness. That makes him a high-risk player.

In addition, the lack of free agency will have lots of teams looking for guys who can play immediately and fill major roles. There’s no guarantee Carter will be ready to go when the season kicks off (Kevin Smith had ACL surgery around the same time of year in 2009, and was inactive the first three games of the 2010 season), which could deal another body blow to his draft status.

Of course, these problems all pose a risk to the Lions as well, but by the middle of the third round, those risks will be mitigated enough to take a chance on a potential first-round stud.

Still not convinced Carter will fall? Check out two Drafttek.com’s mock and Draftsite.com’s mock, both of which have Carter being picked within three spots of Detroit’s third-round selection.

Round 4, 107th Overall Pick: Clint Boling, OT/OG, Georgia

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Tackles Justin Anderson #79 and Clint Boling #60 of the University of Georgia set to block against the Michigan State Spartans at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al

One of the biggest needs for the Lions this year is a big interior lineman, and Clint Boling, Matthew Stafford’s former teammate at Georgia, could be the best example of this in the fourth round.

Boling isn’t flashy in what he does; he’s not the most athletic or powerful guy in the world. But he’s effective and reliable.

Boling has been a steady starter at Georgia for four years, so he has compiled a great deal of playing experience. His intangibles and football IQ are through the roof, and he gets around better than most interior linemen, which makes him effective when pulling or moving to the next level.

Boling has a lot in common with Dominic Raiola, in that his greatest attribute is his mind, not his body. Of course, Boling also outweighs Raiola by 20-30 pounds, so he’s different from Raiola in that he’s not a comparatively tiny little guy who’ll get bowled over by anyone over 300 pounds.

Boling is looking at a second-third round draft grade, which makes him incredible value in the fourth.

Why it’s Possible

At 6′4″ 308 pounds, Boling has the versatility to play either tackle or guard. He has said he’s more comfortable at tackle, but he projects more as a guard.

In reality, he’s a ‘tweener whose position will probably be determined by the team that drafts him.

Problem is, the fact that Boling doesn’t project dominantly in either position may cause teams to pass him over. Instead of taking a versatile lineman who could play tackle or guard, many teams are likely to avoid the player with the “hybrid” tag and go straight for the 330-pound guard.

The Lions, meanwhile, are likely to be looking for a young lineman with versatility, given that they can’t seem to keep an entire five-man front healthy for more than three games at a time.

Round 5, 154th Overall Pick: Casey Matthews, LB, Oregon

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CORVALLIS, OR - DECEMBER 4: Quarterback Ryan Katz #12 of the Oregon State Beavers lays on the turf after being hit by Casey Matthews #55 of the Oregon Ducks in the first quarter of the game at Reser Stadium on December 4, 2010 in Corvallis, Oregon. The Du

The Lions need at least two linebackers, and Matthews fills another role by being a reliable special teamer.

Nobody thinks Casey Matthews is going to be as explosive as his brother Clay, but he’s still a huge value in the fifth round. Most likely he goes higher than this just because of his hard-working attitude and bloodline (the Matthews’ family is almost certainly a more prolific NFL family than, say, the Mannings).

Casey Matthews certainly has his motor and intensity going for him, and he’s also a student of the game. He draws comparisons to Zach Thomas, who was never a physical mauler, but used his intelligence to always be in the right position to make a play. That, combined with his Kyle Vanden Bosch-like attitude and motor, makes him a worthwhile prospect in any round, much less the fifth.

Why it’s Possible

Intangibles and intelligence aside, Matthews doesn’t excel physically. He’s not particularly strong, not particularly fast and not particularly big.

He overcomes that by playing smart and being an absolute workhorse, but it still limits his ceiling. If teams ignore his family name, the fifth round is a perfect spot for him.

Of course, his intensity and attitude fit in perfectly in Detroit, and he’s exactly the kind of guy the coaches want.

Get Matthews and Kyle Vanden Bosch in a room together, and I’m guessing they do push-ups until one of them passes out. That’s exactly the kind of player you look for in the later rounds.