NFL Draft 2011: Who Is Meeting with the Detroit Lions? You Want to Hear This

Lions fans had already received word from Dave Birkett, of the Detroit Free Press, that CB Jimmy Smith had a meeting with the Detroit Lions last Friday. 

No doubt that was for a character check.

Fresno State DE, Chris Carter, has also already met with the Lions FO, as has Oklahoma RB, DeMarco Murray. 

These reports were substantiated by the Fresno Bee and the NFL Draft Bible, respectively.

The next two visits have just been announced to the public via Detroitlions.com blog. 

These two will definitely get the attention of Lions fans.

Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara and Cal DE Cameron Jordan will be visiting the Detroit Lions’ Practice and Training Facility tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15.

Detroit fans have been hoping and praying that by some miracle, Prince falls to the Lions. Amukamara made encouraging comments during the meeting.

According to his interview with the FO, when asked about how he would feel playing on the line for Detroit, he said:

“As a DB, I should be licking my chops to go out there. I played with Suh at Nebraska and he made the games and life a lot easier for me. Just with the whole line, they’re able to get to the quarterback so quick. The ball has to come out quick, which would take a lot of pressure off me.”

As a die-hard Lions fan, the words Amukamara spoke were music to my ears. It makes me hopeful that if we don't get him in the draft, he would someday be very open to being traded to Detroit to be reunited with former college teammate, Ndamukong Suh. 

Wherever he ends up, know that in his heart he would rather be a Lion. (Okay, that might be a stretch, but it sure felt good saying it.)

When your team has a formidable front made up of Ndamukong Suh, Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams, you start to catch the eye of the hungry talent out there. 

Who would not want to be part of one of the best defensive lines in the NFL?

Cameron Jordan agrees with this assessment. When he was asked about Detroit's defense, he stated:

“From what I’ve seen, it looks like an amazing group. Just from their perspective of attacking, true attacking, and reacting to the run.”

There has been some question about his ability to play in a 4-3 scheme, but this 6-4, 287 pound DE puts that question to rest.

When asked if he could make the switch to 4-3, he said, “I think I could most definitely without a doubt in my mind. I could see myself in a 4-3, whether it’s in an end spot or a tackle spot. It doesn’t matter.”

Now that's what I'm talking about. 

Forget Jimmy Smith and his attitude; forget our very own Chris Houston, if he is becoming a bit too big for his britches. 

I want what I think all fans, all teams and all coaches want: Players who are hungry and want to win as part of a team effort and players who only want to get better.

I can't wait to see whom they bring in next. 

Of course, the reality is, of all the known players they brought in last year, Ndamukong Suh is the only one they drafted. That could very well be because of where the other players fell in the draft. 

This last group of prospects makes me very excited for the draft.