NFL Draft Links: Lions Kevin Smith injury help Spiller?

Year to year, we usually know who the number one pick will be.  The pick is usually dictated before Draft day with a contract deal in place.  Usually you can even guess pick 2.  But from there on, it gets difficult, usually because teams picking that high have so many draft needs beyond one specific position.

Injuries during the NFL season can also change draft outlook.  This late in the season, an ACL tear could play a big role in what player is selected.  Perhaps that is what Detroit is facing with the season ending ACL injury to RB Kevin Smith.

Could RB Kevin Smith’s injury move up running backs into the Top 5?  The ACL injury to Detroit’s Kevin Smith may cause the Detroit Lions, who need defensive help, instead to look at a running back.  Perhaps CJ Spiller coudl benefit.  (MLive.com)

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The loss of running back Kevin Smith has to change the Lions’ philosophy going into the 2010 draft.

It’s very likely that Smith won’t be ready at the start of next season, and it would be foolish for the Lions to count on Smith at all next year. He eventually will return from knee surgery, but he probably won’t be 100 percent healthy until the 2011 season.

That means the Lions will have to get a running back in the draft and they need one with some real playmaking ability, not just a plugger. That means taking one in the first, second, or perhaps, third round.

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By most accounts, Spiller is the clear leader of this draft class at running back.  Georgia Tech junior Johnathan Dwyer would also be a first round running back.  After that, should the Lions choose to remain a defensive slanted selection. the Lions could look to the later rounds for a running back, but that is a big risk.

Read more and get more draft links at

http://rumorsandreports.com/?p=133