2011 Mock Draft for the Detroit Lions – Purely by the Draft Board Numbers
Everyone is trying to figure out how this draft is going to shake out for each of the 32 teams in the league. We are getting tired of the bad news and want to move on to what we would normally be doing this time of year (with the exception of guessing at, and reporting about, free-agent moves): Creating our mock drafts.
Time for me to put my hat in the ring!
I have compiled a list of players who currently sit exactly at the number the Lions have in each round. This may sound absolutely ridiculous but if the draft were to ever come down to each team picking the best player available (BPA), this is what it would look like for the Lions.
Please note that the draft board changes with the wind so I am going on where everyone stands at this very moment. Tomorrow it will likely be different.
Round One: It Already Gets Interesting
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The Lions have the number 13 pick, as all faithful followers know. This puts us in an awkward position. However, depending on how the first 12 teams pick, what looks awkward today could end up being excellent on draft day.
Don't you just love the draft?
We will assume that the first rounders are going to show up, hear their names being called, hug their parents, and don the caps of their respective teams.
Currently sitting in the number 13 spot is: Cameron Jordan, defensive end out of California. Jordan is a 6'4", 287 pound beast. The front office has already met with him and may jump at the chance to take him. To get Jordan at 13, two other defensive ends, Da"Quan Bowers and Robert Quinn would have to be taken as early as they are currently projected based on BPA.
Others of interest right around the 13 spot, are Anthony Castonzo (OT) at #14, and Mark Ingram (RB) at #12.
Someone who shouldn't be overlooked is J.J. Watt. His stock has recently risen and puts him in the #15 position. Watt, a defensive end out of the University of Wisconsin, is slightly taller and stronger than Jordan. He is also considered an inside/outside "tweener", which Schwartz and Mayhew seem to lean toward.
Keep your minds open, because anything can happen. It is also possible, according to several other mock drafts that Prince Amukamara (CB) is still on the board at 13.
Second Round Pick at 44
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The player who falls at number 44 is Kentucky WR, Randall Cobb.
The Lions have talked about the need to bring in another WR. This particular receiver had 84 catches for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010. He also proved to be a capable runner and added an additional 424 yards rushing with five touchdowns.
Cobb is considered to be 'an excellent slot or No. Two receiver prospect running primarily short and intermediate routes at the NFL level, but lacks the elite straight-line speed and size the NFL usually demands for consideration as a No. One receiver. He should fit well in a quick throw, West Coast type of offense, and offers great versatility as a runner, kick returner and Wildcat quarterback, not to mention a dependable holder for field goals."(NFLDraftScout.com)
The question for the Lions would be do they want to draft a WR this high and is he the right fit if they do?
Cobb doesn't fit the need because they want to move Burleson to the number two spot and give him the short routes. We also don't need another kick returner or quarterback. I think they pass on Cobb.
Someone who might fit better is Maryland WR, Torrey Smith, who sits higher at 39. The Lions have already brought him in for a private tour and work-out so the interest is certainly already there.
OLB, Justin Houston sits just four spots ahead of Cobb. He could be a very good fit for the Lions in the second round. Aaron Williams (CB) could fall down the board from his current 33rd spot depending on how other teams pick. The players hovering around the 44th position on the board are Danny Watkins (OG) at 43 and Rodney Hudson (C) at 45.
Any favorites here? Remember these are just how they fall on the draft board currently.
The Number 75 Pick in the Third Round
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This round could end up being the most interesting of all rounds in the draft for the Lions. A lot of talent is sitting here.
Technically, the number 75 spot on the board is held by Quan Sturdivant who is listed as the second best inside linebacker in the draft but he can also play at the outside position.
He had a limiting hamstring injury last season, but still produced at a high level when he played in seven games. He posted 49 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
In 2008 and 2009, he showed what he is capable of. In 2008, Sturdivant lead the NCAA with 87 solo tackles (122 total). 5.5 of his tackles were for loss and he recorded two sacks along with two interceptions.
In 2009 he was being used as both an inside and outside linebacker. Sturdivant led the UNC defense in tackles, with 79 stops, including 12 tackles for loss.
His college teammate, Bruce Carter, who is listed as an OLB, is at number 61 on the draft boards. Carter is someone we have heard the Lions may be interested in.
Other players who may be of interest in the third round who fall near the 75th pick are: Chimdi Chekwa (CB) at 73, DeMarco Murray (RB) at 74, Jarvis Jenkins (DT) at 76, and James Carpenter (OT) at 77.
However, as I mentioned earlier, there are some other very interesting players who statistically fall in this round. For instance, Ras-I Dowling (CB) sits at 69, Titus Young (WR) is at 71, OLB Dontay Moch currently at 79.
It is something to note that the Lions met with DeMarco Murray and Bruce Carter already.
Carter commented on his meeting with the front office staff: "I think everything went really well. They have great facilities, coaches are great. The Lions are a team that’s on the rise, so they’ve got everything going for them. I feel like it would be a great fit for me, but it’s not up to me to decide.” (Detroitlions.com Blog)
He also complimented the defensive line and stated that it was one of the main reasons he would like to be in a Detroit Lions uniform.
I don't personally see Carter dropping into the third round and his number actually puts him in the late second round. In this scenario it would theoretically be a reach for the Lions to take him in the second but a true gift in the third.
Which player would you want the Lions to choose in the third round?
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Round Four – Value Players
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The Lions get the 106th pick in round four of the draft. Currently, the player sitting at 106th is Kalvin Sheppard, ILB from LSU.
Realistically, Sheppard is probably not going to be looked at very seriously by the Lions because he's really better suited to the 3–4 scheme. He is an impressive player, however, and the Lions would appreciate his shown leadership abilities.
Others around the 106th area on the board are:
At #101 is Mason Foster (OLB). He has caught the attention of many Lions fans and may do the same for Mayhew and Schwartz. He has our attention for good reason and may not fall to the fourth round. Chad Reuter of NFLDraftScout.com agrees with this assessment and states, "Foster was one of the most prolific tacklers in the country last season and could sneak into the third round if a team likes his ability."
K.J. Wright is listed at #103. He is out of Mississippi State and also plays OLB but can be used at Middle. On his Pro Day, 16 teams showed up to watch him. Wright has played in 22 games (out of 25), initially as a reserve in the linebacker corps and a special teams contributor, but then as a fixture in the linebacking corps . . . Has made 79 tackles, including nine tackles for loss (minus 55 yards), four of which were quarterback sacks (minus 41 yards) – NFLDraftScout.com.
Injuries and lack of experience seem to plague many of the players expected to be in the late 3rd or early-to-mid 4th round.
For example, Curtis Marsh (CB) at #105, had a hamstring injury that kept him from performing at the Utah State Pro Day. He is also most likely to be considered a project CB since he only played at this position for one year.
Jordan Cameron (#104), a tight end out of Southern California, was switched from WR to TE in 2010 so has very limited play at this position.
Tanden Doss (#108), WR from Indiana, had been projected to go in the second round but his stock has fallen due to durability issues. He had surgery on both groins this off-season.
Someone that the Lions may also take note of is Terrence Toliver (#112), the 6' 4", 211 pound WR out of LSU. Even though his production numbers have been mediocre, he is able to show up when it counts the most and is a deep ball threat. He's tall and fast, running a 4.54 in the 40, had a vertical jump of 33 inches and did a 10-2 broad jump during his Pro Day performance. Every single team in the NFL had a representative there to watch him.
I like Toliver or Foster in this round, but so does every other team.
Who would be your fourth round pick in this scenario?
Fifth Round Pick
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The #151 player on the draft board is Austin Pettis, WR out of Boise State.
I'm not even going to entertain this one. I'm sorry, I know that this was a mock draft based on where the players landed on the board, but I can't overlook the guy who is much more likely to be picked by the Lions.
OLB, Mark Herzlich (pictured) sits at the #157 spot. He was projected to have been the number one draft pick two years ago, but then, in 2009 he was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing's Sarcoma. The cancer was successfully treated and he is now cancer-free, but teams are worried about the effects of the treatment he endured and if the disease will show up again.
Herzlich beat cancer. it certainly seems he should be able to go higher than the fifth round. The only thing holding certain teams back is fear that he has lost strength and that he may be forced out of the NFL if the cancer reoccurs.
I can understand the concern, but this guy was the top OLB two years ago and I expect that he will do everything he can to get back to that point. He started to get back into form during the 2010 season and has a drive and determination that will boost him back to high level playing.
I like the Lions taking Herzlich, but I don't really think he will be in the fifth round. He should go higher in the draft.
The Lions could also reach down a little to get Greg Romeus, the 6'5". 264 pound defensive end from Pittsburgh.
Romeus was brought in to the training center in Detroit, along with Mike Pouncey, for private meetings. Romeus recently had a bone chip removed from his back in September, then tore his right ACL in November. He was a solid player until his untimely injuries in his senior year. Romeus is likely a project at defensive end but shows ability to catch on quickly.
What's your take on the fifth round?
The Final Round for the Lions – Round Six
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The Lions have the 179th pick in round six. This is their last pick of the draft due to the tampering charges filed earlier this year.
Julius Thomas, a tight end out of Portland State, officially holds this spot. But, again, it seems more likely that the Lions pass on him since this last one really has to count for two.
I think they may go for Roy Helu, running back out of Nebraska, who sits at #183. We need a good power back to help Jahvid Best. Is Helu the answer? Maybe not immediately but at 6' 0" 219 pounds and 4.40 speed he could be the replacement for Kevin Smith.
Other players who may be worth looking at is OLB, Jonas Muton (#190), from the University of Michigan and a player the Lions are already going to work-out privately is, Doug Hogue (#212), OLB from Syracuse. Hogue is a slightly bigger player than Muton and was invited to play in the East-West Shrine game, which tends to grab the attention of Mayhew and Schwartz.
One final player who deserves a look in the sixth round is ILB, Nick Bellore (#238). He could be more of a local favorite since he played at Central Michigan University. But Bellore has more than just a feel good home-product side, he's also a very productive player with 472 tackles recorded. It has been suggested that even though he is not be the biggest or fastest lineman on the board, he may very well be the most consistent out of all of them
Bellore played both inside and outside linebacker at CMU. NFL scouts are plugging him more as a middle linebacker. Nick is not concerned about schemes because he believes he can play MLB in either a 3–4 or 4–3 defense.
There are a host of other players on the board but we are nearing where they begin to fall to the seventh round. At that point, we should just concentrate on getting players who weren't drafted.
Who do you see the Lions taking in the sixth round?
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