Why The Lions Should Take Okung

There are several reasons that I believe the pick of Russell Okung over SUH is is the right decision for the Lions that I will get into detail...AND it is not that I believe Okung is a better player than Suh/McCoy.  Here are my reasons.

1) Offensive tackles are a more logical pick considering the current ridiculous rookie pay structure where top draft picks are getting in the 40-60 million dollar range, you can not afford to miss on these picks as it sets your organization back years.  Millen's wasted draft picks hurt, but the money that ate up the salary cap hurt MUCH worse.  If you are drafting and paying as high as we do consistently we need to draft quarterbacks and people to protect your quarterbacks.  As I have mentioned before, this is a quarterback league and success starts and ends with the position. The cutback's for the last 4 teams in the playoffs last year: Payton Manning, Drew Brees, Marc Sanchez, and Brett Favre.  The reason I believe Okung is the pick this year is the same as I believe why Stafford was picked over the "more talented" LB Aaron Curry last year.  Just think, we would have been paying a linebacker 50-70 million and we would be in the same boat today demanding that we take Suh.  YOU CAN NOT win in this league paying defensive tackles and linebackers that kind of money. 

2) Offensive tackles are safer high draft picks than defensive tackles.   Lets take a look at the top 20 picks for the last 5 drafts for both positions.

• 2005--OT Jamaal Brown (2 pro-bowls), DT Tank Johnson (BUST)
• 2006--OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson (1 pro-bowl), DT Haloti Ngata (1 pro-bowl), DT Brodrick Bunkley (FAIR)
• 2007--OT Joe Thomas (3 pro-bowls), OT Levi Brown (starter all 3 years), DT Amobi Okoye (FAIR, 38 tackles and 1 sack last year), DT Justin Harrell (MAJOR bust)
• 2008--OT Jake Long (2 pro-bowls), DT Sedrick Ellis (FAIR, 64 tackles/6 sascks in 2 years), DT Glenn Dorsey (Fair, 100 tackles/2 sacks in 2 years)
• 2009--OT Jason Smith (injured), Andre Smith (injured), DT B.J. Raji Good prospect, OT Eugene Monroe (injured)

NET NET....In 5 years, 8 offensive tackles and 8 defensive tackles taken. The offensive tackles have generated 8 pro-bowls, 3 in which were injured as rookies. The defensive tackles generated 1 pro-bowler , 2 major busts, 4 FAIR players, and a promising rookie from last year.

3) The pick of Okung improves three positions, not just one position.  I think most of us (other than the strange group of people that hate Backus) would agree that Backus is a decent to good player, but struggles with speed rushers.  NFL teams take left tackles that lack elite athleticism and play them at  right tackle.  What about 2008 #1 pick Cherilus play right tackle?  Last year, there was speculation that it was looking more and more that Cherilus was better suited for guard, the position that most experts have has one of the Lions top 3 weaknesses.  Just imagine what that offensive line protecting and blocking for Stafford/CJ/Pettigrew/Burleson.  We are talking about a very impressive offense all of a sudden.

4) Drafting Okung also makes sense that the Lions use a top pick to bolster the offense.  After last year's impressive defensive draft of later picks of defensive gems Levy, Hill, and Delmus, the already defensive minded Lions brass must have some serious swagger. They have to have to believe they can pull that off again with 4 picks in the top 100 (not to much one of the deepest drafts in recent memory).  Unless they are in love with any of the tier two running backs such as Jahvid Best, Ben Tate, or Montario Hardesty, look for our second round pick to be one of the top CB's Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourtey, or Kareem Jackson, while the 3rd and 4th picks can turn to defensive tackle and strong safety.