Building a 2012 NFL Draft Big Board for the Detroit Lions

As we move towards the Draft, I've been putting together some initial Big Boards for the NFC North. We've already look at the Bears and Packers so now we move on to the Detroit Lions.

Overall the team is in pretty good shape. While they still need to keep Cliff Avril in house long term, he's at least a Lion for 2012, and keeping Stephen Tulloch was huge. 

Plus, as I wrote this morning, the offensive line grades out much better than people give it credit for. Don't get me wrong—they still need more help here. I'm just saying that it isn't the priority it was a few seasons ago. There are some age issues (such as with Jeff Backus) and right tackle Gosder Cherlius isn't fantastic, plus there's not a ton of depth.

However, it's not as pressing a concern as the secondary. Losing Eric Wright to the Bucs is tough and leaves Alphonso Smith or Aaron Berry across from Chris Houston. There's not much depth behind them either. Louis Delmas is solid at free safety but strong safety remains a concern.

With Mikel LeShoure likely in Sheriff Goodell's doghouse (and possibly suspended), Jahvid Best coming back from two brutal concussions and Kevin Smith often banged up, running back is quickly becoming a big concern. It's not quite pressing enough to reach for a player in the first, but definitely an area to look at in the second.

Aside from those two main needs and the secondary need along the offensive line, depth at linebacker (especially outside), wide receiver and quarterback are worth picking up when the value is right.

With that in mind, let's see what the top 50 players on the Lions' board might look like.

Remember that this is as much a board for need as it is for pure talent. David DeCastro is a better overall prospect than Mark Barron, but the Lions need Barron more than DeCastro. In some cases, talent wins out like with Kalil, but by and large some guys rank higher due to need than they do in overall skill.

Also some people just plain aren't on the board because the team is thick with players at that position.

1) Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU   

2) Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

3)  Matt Kalil, OT, USC  

4)  Mark Barron, S, Alabama

5) Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

6) David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

7) Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina 

8) Reilly Reiff, OT, Iowa 

9)  Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina 

10)  Doug Martin, RB, Boise State 

11) Harrison Smith, SS, Notre Dame

 12)   Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

13) Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14) Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

15) Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

16) Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

17) Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

18) Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

19) Michael Brockers, DT, LSU  

20) Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

21) Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska 

22) Devon Still, DT, Penn State

23) Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

24) Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

25) Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana

26) David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech  

27) Lavonte David, OLB, Nebraska

28)  Luke Kuechley, ILB, Boston College

29) Ben Jones, C, Georgia

30) Markelle Martin, FS, Oklahoma State

31) Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

32) Lamar Miller, RB, Florida

33)  Brandon Brooks, OG, Miami (Ohio) 

34) Mohammad Sanu, WR, Rutgers
 
35) Kelechi Osemele, OG, Iowa State

36) Coryell Judie, CB, Texas A&M

37)Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina

38) Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall

39) Shane McClellin, OLB, Boise State

40) Josh Robinson, CB, Central Florida

41) Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah State

42) Casey Heyward, CB, Vanderbilt

43) Bruce Irvin, OLB, West Virginia

44) Zebrie Sanders OT, Florida State

45) Jeff Allen, OG, Illinois

46) Marvin Jones, WR, California

47) Michael Brewster, C, Ohio State

48) Antonio Allen, SS, South Carolina

49) Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

50) Brandon Washington, OG, Miami

I largely stayed away from defensive ends unless they might switch to outside linebacker, though admittedly in Nick Perry's case, he doesn't want to.

This board hews hard towards secondary talent (mostly cornerback and strong safety), running back and offensive line. As it went on, I dropped in some outside linebacker talent.

There are several running backs ranked pretty high, and of course if Richardson falls, the Lions should take a hard look at him. It would solve their backfield woes completely. If they wait, they could grab Martin, Wilson or Miller a little later though Martin in particular has his stock heating up.

I'm admittedly concerned about the backfield so there are more running backs here than I had planned to include.

I added several wide receivers as well, some because of pure talent and some because of value where the Lions could get them. I'm especially a big fan of Marvin Jones and think he is worth a look after the second.

Overall the Lions need to hit the secondary hard and find a consistently healthy back to run the ball. Everything else should add to depth.