Detroit Lions' Free Agency Moves Should Not Affect Draft Plans

The Detroit Lions had one of their better free agency days in recent memory, and it has some fans thinking that picking Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy a luxury.  That is not the case one bit.

To successfully build an NFL franchise, you need talent from free agents and the draft.  The Redskins have proved every year you have to draft well to supplement big name mercenaries.  If Mayhew thinks Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams will be the answers at defensive line for the Lions, expect another 32nd ranked defense next season.

Corey Williams came to the Lions cheap.  The reason the Lions pulled the trade was to guarantee he would be on the team and not sign to a more attractive option elsewhere.  There is also a reason he came to Detroit for just a fifth round pick. 

Suh or McCoy are far more talented and youunger and can turn a defense around in one year.  Unless the Lions can pull off a trade and get some more picks or players, they would be foolish to take someone other than one of those two men.

Even if the Lions sign a running back, such as Thomas Jones, they should still draft a skill player if they find one they believe the team can build around.  Would you feel confident in a backfield featuring Jones, Aaron Brown, and DeDe Dorsey, with an injured Kevin Smith still getting into shape?  A home run hitting speed back would make me feel much better about the Lions' rushing attack.

Nate Burleson is a rich man because he can take away defensive pressure from Calvin Johnson.  But he is not the long term option at wide receiver.

What free agency provides, especially for a team like the Lions, is a stop gap to help the team be competitive until young draftees are added to build a foundation.  To think the Lions have addressed some needs is absurd.  They have merely filled some holes and given themselves a chance to compete on Sundays. 

The draft is the bricks in a building.  Free agents should be the mortar.  Look at the mortar based teams like Dallas or Washington, compared to the brick buildings in Indianapolis and New England. 

Use this year's Super Bowl Champions for example.  They drafted most of the team, adding Drew Brees a few years ago and Darren Sharper last year to go from 8-8 to 13-3 and world champions. 

The Giants groomed Eli but signed Plaxico Burress to win the Super Bowl.  The Colts drafted Peyton Manning and their plethora of running backs, yet draft so well (Harrison, Freeney, Sanders, and Saturday) that they don't worry about signing free agents.  The Cardinals drafted most of their talent, and then signed Warner to put them in position to win a championship. 

The Eagles invested in Terrell Owens, and he rewarded them with the only Super Bowl Reid and McNabb has ever seen.  The Falcons and Dolphins both made turnarounds using a mix of free agency and drafts.  Free agency can be used in many ways, and the examples are endless to see great use of this system.  But none of these success stories are based on free agency alone.

Mayhew needs to show his worth this offseason and have a draft like last year's.  The reason the Lions went 0-16 was because they had no quality players they picked themselves.  Unless Detroit turns in another above average draft, expect the last decade to repeat itself in the Motor City.