Detroit Lions Draft 2K13: The Results

Well fans, another draft has come and gone and I’ve got two words to describe this years new crop of Lions: Bigger and Faster. In all my years of trying to predict how this team will draft, I don’t think I’ve ever seen them stay the course as they did this year.  Not counting the punter, Sam Martin from Appalachian State (a pick by the way I don’t mind because he’s cheap and he can’t be any worse than Nick Harris) they got bigger and longer players for both sides of the ball which is an absolute necessity playing in the loaded NFC North.

I think I like the Larry Warford pick the best mainly because the guy is a beast.  At 6-3, 333 lb. Warford is going to be like Andre the Giant in the middle of that line.  Having Bush and Leshoure cutting through the mudholes Warford will create will be a definite boost to the Lions terrible running game.  In addition to Warford, the Lions added Corey Fuller, a WR from Virginia Tech with 4.4 speed and another blocking tight end, Michael Williams from Alabama.  He reminds me of a younger Will Heller so I don’t expect much from him catching the ball, more so from blocking and helping the run game.

Defensively, everyone wants to breakdown the Ziggy Ansah pick.  A guy who has only played American football for two years will be the premier pass rusher for the Lions this season.  He’s longer, faster and more athletic which is all well and good if he pans out.  NFL Experts compare him to a Jason Pierre-Paul of two years ago which is great if that’s the player the Lions drafted.  If Ansah doesn’t mature into that type of player though, we could have another big bust on our hands.  The other DE they drafted was Devin Taylor, from South Carolina.  He played opposite of Jadaveon Clowney and at 6-7, 276lb. with 4.7 speed and 36 in. wingspan, the Lions on paper successfully upgraded their D-Line.

They also took CB Darius Slay from Mississippi State.  He recorded the fastest 40 time in the combine but is coming off a leg injury.  Slay has great speed and is a press corner, something the Lions have lacked for a long time.  He, paired with Chris Houston actually makes for a decent secondary.  Add in the FA signing of Glover Quin and the Lions might actually defend the pass this year.   

They also got a running back from Notre Dame, Theo Riddick, but he played for ND so he sucks and won't make the team.

Bottom line, the Lions drafted for needs.  They got bigger and faster and made sensible picks as opposed to going with the “best player available” approach.  The Lions have to hope that the value and talent of each draftee will work out because they were not in a “sure thing” draft position.  We’ll all have to wait a few more months before we can see these guys in action but on paper, I think they did a good job.  Winning starts from within your division.  The Lions have gone 33-87 over the last 10 years in the NFC North so the Lions have got to TCB in their division before looking at the bigger picture.  Optimism runs high for football fans this time of year.  As we inch closer to OTA’s we’ll get a better idea of what it means for the 2013 Detroit Lions.

On a sidenote, the Red Wings made the playoffs for a 22^nd straight year and Eric Fisher was the #1 Draft Pick.  Fire Up Chips and Fire Up Fisher!