How To Fix The Detroit Lions Through Free Agency and The Draft.

How to fix the Lions?  If only someone really new the answer to this question.  I have always felt that good teams usually have 3 things in common.  1) They have a QB.  2) They have someone to protect their QB.  and 3) They have a defense to attack the oppositions QB. 

Since the Lions have taken the "Best Player Available" approach to drafting we have a roster that is out of whack in my opinion.  We have talents scattered over the field but they are usually far apart from each other, so they have trouble helping each other out and we are still weak all over the field.  

With a great off-season this year I actually feel the Lions can make a turn in the right direction.  With free agency they should be really aggressive, players do not like the idea of playing in Detroit these days.  Target a couple of key positions and grab difference makers, don't just add depth to the roster. 

Reggie Bush, Chester Taylor, Antonio Bryant, Malcom Floyd, Steve Breaston, Aaron Kampman, Marcus Spears, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Dunta Robinson, Carlos Rogers, pretty much any OL who started for another team last year.  If any or all these players become available the Lions should be aggressive and try to grab a minimum of 2 or 3 of them, talk about instant productivity.

The draft is another topic of great debate this time of year, as it should be.  If there were a Jake Long or Joe Thomas type prospect at OL it would be really hard to argue against drafting them and saving Stafford, but there isn't.  Suh and McCoy are both awesome prospects and either of them would be great additions to our dismal DL. 

I can't tell which one I like better.  Suh isn't the quickest out of his stance but his power and run stopping ability are unmatched.  McCoy on the other hand is absolutely explosive off the line and can cause tons of havoc.  I almost hope the Rams take either Suh or McCoy and leave the Lions with no choice but to take the other DL, eliminating all the second guessing that would take place otherwise.  Regardless, I think this is a pretty easy pick for the Lions.

Round 2 is when things get interesting.  Some 1st round talents will fall to Detroit in the 2nd round, and depending on FA I think the Lions have some flexibility here.  Mike Iupati, Brandon Graham, Bruce Campbell, Anthony Davis, Kyle Wilson.  I feel 1 or 2 of these guys might slip into the 2nd round based on combine performances. 

I feel the Lions have a good shot at signing Vanden Bosch, if they don't I hope Graham slips.  Either Suh or McCoy plus Graham or Vanden Bosch makes our front 7 pretty fierce.  A force in the middle with a force off the edge and our LBs actually free to make plays!  Kind of exciting to think about. 

Iupati would become an instant starter on our OL and can develop into one of the leagues best guards.  However, for some reason I think the pick is going to be Kyle Wilson.  The coaches got a good look at him in the senior bowl and were very impressed.  We need a lot of help in the secondary especially out on the edge and he is a good return man, which Derrick Williams is not.  

Round 3 is still a place the Lions can grab good talent, immediate help.  Of course FA will affect this pick as well.  Arrelious Benn, Mardy Gilyard, Jordan Shipley, Donovan Warren, or Greg Hardy could be available here. 

But if the Lions take Wilson in the 2nd round, which I think they will, my guess is that this pick will be on a WR.  Benn, Gilyard or Shipley will be available and the Lions will pick any one of these guys to help CJ get some much needed breathing room. 

In the 4th round I would go defense again after the WR pick in the 3rd.  I think that one of these 3, George Selvie, Major Wright and probably Myron Rolle, will still available here and I would be happy with any of them.

As for the late rounds I would add depth to the OL, LB position, and maybe a developmental QB.  I think the Lions can and will have the type of draft and off season that will make our defense much much better.  I don't think the Lions will be a great team next year but they will make noticeable strides.  I mean they can't get any worse can they?