2012 NFL Draft: 10 Players the Detroit Lions Should Consider Drafting Early

We took this beaming young man with the first pick of the 2011 draft, and although it is too early to start speculating about the 2012 draft, the lack of free agency has taken away most of the avenues for discussion at this part of the off-season.

So, in an effort to find a subject to write about, I have decided to look forward to the next NFL draft. After all, no matter how long the lock out lasts (here's hoping it ends tomorrow), this event will happen. It's really all the certainty we have.

The assumption I will make is that the Lions will perform sufficiently well in the 2012 season to ruin any hopes of landing a top ten pick. My guess is about 15th or 16th. With that in mind, I will not include any players who are likely to be top ten picks. This removes from the equation the mercurial talents of Matt Kalil and Jonathan Martin at offensive tackle, and Cliff Harris and Dre Kirkpatrick at corner back.

Please note that this list is in no particular order.

Enjoy!

Mike Brewster (C): Ohio State

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CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 02: Mike Brewster #50 of the Ohio State Buckeyes waits to snap the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on October 2, 2010 in Champaign, Illinois. Ohio State defeated Illinois 24-13. (Photo by Jonathan Dani

Brewster will have been the starting centre at Ohio State for four years when he is drafted next year, no mean feat at such a prestigious football college. Even more impressive, he has played very well in those four years and would have challenged Mike Pouncey for the mantle of best interior offensive lineman had he elected to enter the 2011 NFL Draft.

From the tape I watched of him, his technique really stands out. It is rare to see him play with bad leverage, despite standing 6'5". He is also very adept in pass protection. He has good hand placement and does an excellent job against pass rushers, including silencing Marcus Forston for most of the game.

He does struggle with power, as evidenced by Forston in the run game, and often does not drive defenders off the line but can still make holes. He also has the frame to put another 20 lbs onto his 295 lbs college body, so with a year in the NFL, he should be able to maul with the best in the league.

He also has great snap placement and knowledge of line adjustments and is one of the few college centres who could enter the NFL and immediately start in the middle of the line.

What makes this pick even more alluring is Brewster's likely draft grade. Barring an outstanding senior season or sparkling post-season, Brewster will be an early to mid second round pick. This would let the Lions get him as well as a top cornerback or offensive tackle.

All in all, he is my current favourite for our second round pick.

Tank Carder (LB): TCU

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PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Scott Tolzien #16 of the Wisconsin Badgers is hit by linebacker Tank Carder #43 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the 97th Rose Bowl game on January 1, 2011 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Another option for the second round pick, especially if Brewster goes earlier than anticipated or the Lions take an interior lineman in the first round, is to make a move for Tank Carder, the dynamo linebacker from TCU.

He is another player with a second round grade, but only because of the strength of the 2012 linebacker class. He has great instincts and was both the emotional and tactical leader of the vaunted TCU defense. He is a good blitzer who has a knack for sneaking into the backfield, and lays out knockout hits whenever he gets the chance (I'm sure Scott Tolzein would second that).

The lingering question is about his ability in coverage. He did not drop back a lot in big games last season for the Horned Frogs, and I do question whether he can do this at an NFL level. However, he can play all three linebacker positions, which is what Schwartz looks for in a linebacker, and would be a massive upgrade to the Lions run defense. That in itself would make him a starter.

The selection of Carder would be likely to finish the rebuilding of the linebacker corps, but would become unnecessary if the Lions sign a big name in free agency.

Robert Lester (S): Alabama

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TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 13: Defensive back Robert Lester #37 of the Alabama Crimson Tide intercepts a pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs November 13, 2010 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

With Louis Delmas playing well at the strong safety position, the Lions could be on the lookout for a potential ball-hawk complement in the 2012 draft. And the best ball hawking safety in the draft is likely to be Alabama's 6'2", 210 lbs free safety Robert Lester.

Lester broke out in 2010, recording eight interceptions. He also showed a willingness and ability to get involved in run support, and while his technique was not great, he had a knack for bringing ball carriers to the ground. He also showed very good run/pass instincts for a first year starter and was rarely fooled by play action after his first few outings.

He does struggle getting off blocks and shedding on the way to runners, but this is a skill that most safeties have to develop even once the reach the NFL and will not damage his draft stock. It seems that this is due to lack of technique and lack of strength, and both of these will be dealt with the NFL strength program that is run at Alabama and extra coaching now that he is a starter.

Despite his solid performance in run support, his real strength is in pass coverage. He has a fast and balanced backpedal and gets into position early. He has the speed to cover the whole field in cover one sets and the athleticism to close on the ball and make a play on it.

He also has wide receiver hands and rarely drops catches. His aforementioned athletic ability also allows him to come down and play man coverage on slot receivers, which is an invaluable asset for a modern safety.

Many of his interceptions were made off wayward throws and were earned mainly by luck. However, those interceptions fell his way because he was in the right place, and this is evidence of good instincts and awareness on the field.

He would be a great compliment for the hard hitting Delmas in the Lions secondary and would provide a good safety blanket for the weak cornerback group without sacrificing much run support.

Nate Potter (OT): Boise State

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04: Nate Potter #73, Joe Kellogg #61 and Tommy Gallarda #85 of the Boise State Broncos and other teammates shake hands with their fans after their 17-10 victory against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Un

As many of you may know, I believe that the Lions should draft a franchise left tackle in the first round of the draft. The reasons for this are firstly that it is the second most important position on the offense, and maybe even the whole team, so a heavy investment in it is important.

Secondly, the 2012 draft is very deep at this position, and the Lions could select a player the equal of Tyron Smith even drafting 17th or 18th.

The first tackle I will put on this list is Nate Potter. After replacing NFL young star Ryan Clady, Potter has established a similar style to his predecessor.

He is on par with any tackle in the draft as a pass protector. Never was the better illustrated than his performance against NFL bound speed rusher Dontay Moch of Nevada. He was rarely beaten for speed on the edge and maintained the balance to deal with counter moves inside.

However, he leaves something to be desired as a run blocker. He is not really powerful in the upper and lower body, and it shows when he is run blocking. He rarely drove defenders off the line of scrimmage and did not sustain blocks that well, falling off them.

However, he generally did a good job making lanes by maneuvering the defender and looked very good when asked to block linebackers, as he was athletic enough to stay with them.

All in all, Potter would still be a great pick despite his current issues with playing power football. He has the frame to add a lot more bulk and strength, the Lions are more of a finesse running team who would place more of a premium on pass protection and athleticism than on mauling blocking, and at the left tackle position, it is acceptable to sacrifice some run blocking to have an elite pass protector, especially when you have an elite receiving group and a good quarterback.

Potter would be a good first round pick if the the Lions make or are on the cusp of the playoffs, and he could be the second best in the class if he can bulk up and add some real power to his game.

Riley Reiff (OT): Iowa

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IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Ricky Stanzi #12 of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes throws under pressure from defensive lineman Solomon Thomas #98 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as offensive lineman Riley Reiff #77 defends during the first half of

Rieff would be the best case scenario offensive lineman for Detroit, barring a fall out of the top ten for Jonathan Martin or Matt Kalil. Although not quite as good in pass protection as the aforementioned Nate Potter, Reiff has a more powerful and mature frame and can maul defenders with ease.

When run blocking, he can consistently drive his man off the line of scrimmage with his great leg drive and also has the upper body strength to direct him away from the run. He generally played with great leverage too.

In pass protection, he was a big reason for the success of Ricky Stanzi last season. He dealt well with counter moves and was able to contain top ten draft pick Aldon Smith when Iowa played Missouri, giving up no sacks and only two pressures.

This allays fears that he would not be able to deal with NFL level athleticism. He generally plays with good technique and is very balanced when kick dropping.

In sum, Reiff is an imposing offensive tackle who would benefit the running and passing game almost immediately. He would be able to set the edge in an NFL game against most ends and has the technique, fleet footedness and strength to hold his own in pass protection.

One of the biggest questions for him entering the draft will be the legacy of Robert Gallery. Gallery was supposed to be the best tackle prospect ever, and his failure has thrown Iowa blind side protectors under the bus thus far.

Reiff should be able to eliminate that legacy and will make some team looking for that extra bit to make the playoffs very happy. I just hope it is the Lions.

Kelechi Osemele (OG): Iowa State

Moving inside to the interior of the offensive line, the only first round prospect in the entire draft is Osemele. Although he started a left tackle for the Cyclones, he lacks the athleticism to play there, or even at right tackle as a pro. His kick step is very slow, and even against Texas, he was being outran by defensive ends consistently.

However, when he plays in more confined areas, he looks like a future pro-bowler. He has a very wide frame that is hard for linemen to get around and is fast enough feet to cover the space needed in between the tackles.

Despite his lack of speed, he looks solid as a pass blocker and engulfs defenders if he can latch onto them. He does struggle with the spin move, but inside that should not bother him so much. Also, with the extra help he gets, players will find it harder to beat him with speed alone and will be forced to play him at his own power game much more.

Osemele's real strength comes in the running game. He is the best run blocker I looked at for this article and has the power, leverage and mean streak to drive defenders off the line, away from the play, and onto the ground. He has OK hand placement, but if he improves this, then he would not be far away from the ultimate college run grader.

For the Lions, he could start right away as the right guard and replace the often injured Stephen Peterman. He would provide a needed kick start for the running game and also improve the pass protection up the middle.

However, because I want the Lions to pick Mike Brewster in the second round, and it would be unlikely for them to use their first two picks on interior offensive linemen, I would rather they did not pick Osemele. That does not make him a bad player or a bad fit for the team, though. 

Alfonzo Dennard (CB): Nebraska

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LINCOLN, NE - NOVEMBER 13: Alfonzo Dennard #15 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers takes the ball away from D.J. Beshears #20 of the Kansas Jayhawks during second half action of their game at Memorial Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska De

After a season in the shadow of first round pick Prince Amukamara, Dennard will have an opportunity to become "the man" on the Cornhuskers defense in 2011.

Although he was very impressive in 2010, snaring four interceptions, making 31 tackles and forcing a fumble, he often was not lined up against the best receivers Nebraska faced like Justin Blackmon. Scouts will be waiting to see how he performs next year, but if he maintains his high standards, he could move himself out of range for the Lions to pick him.

Dennard plays a very similar bump-and-run game to his former teammate Prince Amukamara. Although he is only 5'10", he tips the scales at 195 lbs, which is very similar to Amukamara.

He also has long arms, great leaping ability, elite quickness and good strength, which makes him tailor made for a press man heavy scheme that the Lions are looking to implement to complement their powerful defensive line.

Dennard has not proven himself to be great against the run thus far in his career, but like Patrick Peterson from the 2011 draft, he is expected to improve. He has good bulk, gets better leverage than the ball carrier and has some power in that area. With some coaching, he should be an asset rather than a liability when teams try to pound the ball.

Dennard would probably be able to be a number one cornerback in the NFL in his rookie season, especially if he was saddled with a team bereft of talent in the secondary like Detroit. He understands the game and is athletic enough to cover up mental lapses. His presence in the Lions secondary would be very welcome in the 2012 season.

Chase Minnifield (CB): Virginia

Minnifield was a breakout player last season who performed well when 2011 Draft 33rd overall pick Ras-I Dowling went down with injury. Although he did struggle a bit early in the season, especially against USC and Robert Woods, Minnifield showed he had late first round talent, and if he continues to perform and develop in the 2011 season, he will be on the Lions late first round wish list in the 2012 Draft.

Unlike his predecessor, Minnifield is not a powerful press corner. He does have good height and has the frame to bulk up more from the 185 lbs he played at last season.

The first thing about his game that stands out is his amazing athleticism. He has the speed, fluidity and leaping ability to compete with anybody in the NFL. He also shows ability in run support, which is a bonus for the Lions who struggled to deal with outside runs last season.

He is also a real ball hawk who has safe hands, instincts and body control, which allows him to make the most of mistakes by the quarterback or wayward passes. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he is also an elite return man who can make tacklers miss.

However, he has poor technique when pressing at the line and generally failed at disrupting the receiver's route and the quarterback's timing. While this is coachable and he should be able to build his strength more to improve, the Lions would prefer to draft a cornerback who specialised in press coverage. They play predominantly man coverage, and this is where Minnifield needs to improve.

Minnfield is an elite zone coverage cornerback much like Asante Samuel who understands what he needs to do, can close quickly and gets his hands on the ball. Although his style does not suit perfectly what the Lions do in the secondary, he has real talent, and the Lions would be happy to accommodate him and put him in off coverage if he turns out anything like Samuel.

Luke Kuechly (LB): Boston College

Kuechly is severely underrated thus far for the 2012 Draft. Scouts have downgraded him to a late first rounder because of his lack of athleticism and blitzing ability, but to me he is an ideal middle linebacker for any 4-3 defense, especially the breed that the Lions play.

Kuechly has made his name as a run stuffer for Boston College in his first two seasons with the program. He has played both outside and middle linebacker in his two years in college football and made over 150 tackles in both of those seasons.

He makes most of his tackles at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield, and while he is not an explosive hitter like Vontaze Burfict or Manti Te'o, he is a very solid wrap up tackler who does not miss many or get blown over.

He is also very able in both man and zone coverage. He is not fast enough to run with speedy running backs but is very fluid for a linebacker and can run well with pass catchers.

He is even better in zone, where he can lean on his experience as a high school safety. He is comfortable in his zone and can close on passes. He also has safe hands when he gets to the ball.

The biggest knock on Kuechly is his overall athleticism. While he is better than advertised, he still does not have great power to shed blockers and cannot run down fast players from behind. However, his instincts are off the charts, and he is always in position to make plays. I have no doubt that he would continue this at the professional level.

He fits the Lions even better. He is not a great blitzer, but he would very rarely be asked to do that in the Lions defense. Also, the strength of the defensive line would help to keep him clean and be able to flow to the ball and make tackles like he has in college.

Finally, Schwartz loves versatile linebackers who can play multiple positions. Kuechly has performed at an elite level inside and outside so far in college.

Manti Te'o (LB): Notre Dame

The star of the Notre Dame program looks to be the second best linebacker in the 2012 draft class behind Luke Kuechly and another mid to late first round linebacker.

Te'o combines decent instincts, elite athleticism and good size (255 lbs) to make a potent package for a middle linebacker. He is agile, fast and strong, which allows him to play sideline to sideline and close in a hurry on the ball.

Against the run, he deals out big hits whenever he has the chance, although he does seem to struggle wrapping up against bigger backs. He is around the ball most of the time, however he is sealed off from plays too much for an elite linebacker when offensive linemen block him. He struggled to disengage from blocks and seemed to be overwhelmed by powerful guys.

Although he does not play a lot of coverage, he shows off his athletic ability when he drops. He is fluid and fast enough to run with tight ends and running backs in man coverage. Although not as proficient as Kuechly in zone, he still has good awareness and closing quickness.

He is nothing more than a passable blitzer who relies on his speed to get to the quarterback, but he would not be required to utilise this part of his game much in the Lions defense.

Unlike Kuechly, Te'o would not be able to play outside linebacker, so by drafting him, the Lions would also have to move DeAndre Levy to the outside. However, while Te'o would not read the game as well as Levy in his rookie season, his athleticism and powerful hitting would make him a valuable asset. He also has the bulk to develop into a Pro Bowl middle linebacker, something that Levy will probably never achieve.