Lions Finally Get a Win

Whether you're a fan of the Detroit Lions or not, mark the date October 14, 2008, on your calendar as a day that may have changed the decades of misfortune for this storied organization. With General Manager Matt Millen, and I use the term "General Manager" loosely because it was difficult to see what the man did aside from make mistake after mistake,  already out of the organization, Interim GM Martin Mayhew swung a major deal with wide receiver Roy Williams just before the NFL trade deadline.

It isn't a secret to anyone, except for maybe owner William Clay Ford Sr., that the Lions need help...a lot of help. With that in mind, Mayhew was able to negotiate a deal with the Dallas Cowboys to snatch up three draft picks in the 2009 draft in exchange for the fifth year wide out and a seventh round pick.

The benefits to this trade for the Lions are many, despite what many believe will still be seasons of additional rebuilding to get the team even close to on track. First and foremost, the Lions were able to get something in return for Williams, who would have become either a free agent after the season, or a franchised player for one year at an average salary of the five highest paid wide outs in the league. This trade allows the Lions to free up some much needed cap space, which they can use to fill other high priority needs.

In addition, the Lions now have two first round picks in the 2009 draft. What slot their second pick in the first round ends up being is dependent on how well, or poor, the Cowboys do the rest of the way. Keep in mind, quarterback Tony Romo is out for 4 weeks with a broken pinkie finger, Adam Jones has been suspended for 4 games, and the Cowboys still have to contend with a brutal schedule which includes 4 games against divisional opponents, and also games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the unpredictable Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Yes, they still have their bye week, but their match up against the Redskins right after the bye week isn't exactly welcome back party.

The two first round picks provide the Lions with a great amount of flexibility. They can choose to keep the picks and grab up 2 of the top 32 picks...and with a likely early second round pick, they may end up with 3 of the top 40 or 45 players. This would allow the Lions to take the best player available with their first pick and then fill a need later in the first round, perhaps on the O-line or at LB.

The Lions could also seek out more picks by potentially swapping first round picks with another team and either gaining another first round pick in the 2010 draft or additional picks in the latter rounds of the 2009 draft.

Ultimately, this opens up a multitude of doors for the Detroit Lions and if they are able to make the correct moves in the upper management, coaching, and scouting departments, they have the possibility of turning the franchise around...finally. This could also help set up the remainder of the season for the Lions. If ownership doesn't believe in Martin Mayhew to be the full-time GM, the job is certainly more appealing to every possible candidate, which is something the Lions need desperately; a GM with the passion to create a winner.

Hopefully this change will put the focus on team, success, and the future. Hopefully players will want to solidify their spots on the roster for next year, and the years to come. Hopefully it inspires ownership to invest more time and effort into building a winner instead of simply raking in revenue. Hopefully. Hopefully.