On The Clock: Drafting With The Detroit Lions

The Lions enter this year's draft at a crossroads. Actually, not really. It’s just another draft, where they will have a high pick. Big shocker, right?

But there is a faint glimmer of hope shrouding this draft as it is marked by the first hint of promise since the Millen regime took over. No one can be sure how this new administration will perform, but this draft will provide a clear look into what the future of the franchise may look like with two first round picks.

If It Were Up To Me…

If it’s me and I’m staring down the barrel of Daunte Culpepper and the brothers Drew (Henson and Stanton), I’m thinking that I HAVE to address the QB position. Very little is accomplished in the NFL without a competent QB so the Lions need to make this a top priority.

The only problem is that neither of the top QB prospects this year feel like sure things and if Alex Smith and Ryan Leaf have taught us anything, it is that nothing (not even dogfighting charges) submarines a franchise faster than a bum first overall pick.

So what then?

The Lions should dial up the Broncos and chat up Pat Bowlen about trading Jay Cutler for the 20th overall pick. Maybe the 20th pick isn’t enough, but throw it out there and start the discussion. The Lions have two 3rd round picks (65 and 82 overall) so they can add one of those picks to sweeten the pot.

The way I see it is that Jay Cutler is a gift from the ghost of Scott Mitchell. Maybe he is a bit of a diva, but I’d rather deal with a diva than the corpse of Daunte Culpepper. The Lions must be bold to climb out of the ditch their franchise has been in for the past several decades.

Trading for Cutler gives them instant credibility, which would then allow them to use the first overall pick on Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith to shore up a leaky offensive line. Their second round pick can address the defensive line or a cornerback and just like that the Lions actually have a chance to win some games.

What They Will Probably Do

More than likely, the new GM, Martin Mayhew, will pass on making any big splashes via the trade market. He’ll probably take Matthew Stafford #1 overall and then take best available at offensive line or defensive line at pick #20.

This wouldn’t be a terrible alternative, but it does come with some significant risk, because if Stafford doesn’t pan out, the new dawn for the Lions may quickly turn into just another season of Groundhog Days.