If you were an NFL GM in Detroit...

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Originally Posted by ragecage

My deal is, Drew Bledsoe was always my favorite player, Brady got us a SB, but I was still sad to see Drew go. If I have to through this again with Brady, I cant be a Pats fan anymore. I get too attached to players I guess.

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I can't imagine this at all. I'm the complete opposite. My teams always come before the players on them.

Two very good examples:

I fell out of love with Mike Piazza practically overnight when he was traded. Nothing against him, but he wasn't a Dodger anymore, so I didn't care for him.

I've hated Brian Urlacher for a couple years now, especially since he bitched about money and got a contract extension which totally ripped the team off.

I'll always put the team over the player. Especially when it's a lost cause and nothing I can do anything about (Piazza), where I'll just continue to root for the team and hope that the best decision was made... or when it's a case of a player going from great to average and holding the team hostage based on nostalgia, tenure and status (Urlacher).

Players move on, decline, retire. Teams will always be there (in most cases).

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Originally Posted by justanewguy

I can't imagine this at all. I'm the complete opposite. My teams always come before the players on them.

Two very good examples:

I fell out of love with Mike Piazza practically overnight when he was traded. Nothing against him, but he wasn't a Dodger anymore, so I didn't care for him.

I've hated Brian Urlacher for a couple years now, especially since he bitched about money and got a contract extension which totally ripped the team off.

I'll always put the team over the player. Especially when it's a lost cause and nothing I can do anything about (Piazza), where I'll just continue to root for the team and hope that the best decision was made... or when it's a case of a player going from great to average and holding the team hostage based on nostalgia, tenure and status (Urlacher).

Players move on, decline, retire. Teams will always be there (in most cases).

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I hear ya, but I am weird so I guess my logic goes with the territory :).

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Originally Posted by ragecage

A team this bad would have many holes. I would try to trade down for a couple of firsts and work on the offensive line, because I think they are the most important group on a team as well as cheaper and a safe bet.

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lol i didnt even look at posts and put this OL but rage is right... trade down

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Originally Posted by RedsoxRockies

But Culllpeper is Old.

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agreed but they are not going to be good for minimum 3-4 years so why draft the QB now and have him get killed behind a terrible OL?

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Originally Posted by RedsoxRockies

QB, they kinda sorta need someone, like Lecroy, or Bradford, or Tebow

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Lecroy, eh? Who is this Lecroy you speak of?

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Originally Posted by 5DiMaggio

Bradford's a sophmore people!

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RS Soph means he's 3 years past HS & draft eligible


The only way to answer this question is to wait until franchise tags have been applied to see what free agents will be available at what positions. That said, the Lions will obviously be best served trading down (depending on which, if any, teams have multiple 1st rounders...haven't & won't bother looking it up)


Also, Brady simply won't be traded.

Ideally, I'd try and move down. Problem is, nobody wants to move UP to #1 if there isn't a Franchise type prospect sitting there, and I don't know that there is a guy of that caliber in this draft.

So, facing that, it's a draft cliche but it works...take the best guy you can. Detroit's roster is one gigantic hole...they need EVERYTHING, so just draft the best guy up every single pick they have.

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Originally Posted by 5DiMaggio

Bradford's a sophmore people!

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Yep, since he redshirted him, like Crabtree can declare for the draft since its been 3 years since they were in HS.

I would cut everyone other than Calvin Johnson and Ernie Sims and start over.

I'm going to have to say QB. Bradford is looking like he will enter the draft. But to be honest...this team is a LONG way away from competing so maybe starting at the OL isn't a bad thing and waiting for a franchise QB to come out is good.

But QB is something that is such a crap shoot. Brady in the sixth round. Akili Smith #1 Overall type of thing.


I think Bradford or Stafford will be good NFL QB's but you can never tell how they will take it.

For now...I'm going to say QB. But we'll see as we get closer to the draft...and the combine happens.

You have to pick the best player available. Too many holes to say "we need a ...".

You can't force a QB to be the number one pick, just because you need a QB. That's not good value.

The offensive and defensive lines are high priority and some athleticism on defense.

They could use some talent at defensive tackle, they need a pass rush, they need ANYONE who can cover, they need a left tackle...all of these are good possibilities if there isn't a QB they think is worthy.

Sadly, they actually COULD use a wideout, too. :D

There isnt a clean cut #1 out there but that doesnt mean you cant trade down. You just dont get as much value in return. But as long as you can get a mid 1st and a 3rd out of the deal it would still help plug the big time holes they have.

I agree if you cant start with the OL, start with the DL...start with the trenches.

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Originally Posted by justanewguy

I'd just shoot myself.

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Quiet guffaws...

Well, I just saw this thread. First off, look at the free agency. If they can find a good QB there, then take him. Draft an OL with the first pick, a tackle or end with the second first round pick. They have a fine LB and CB crew with Bodden & Sims. Their receiving core is fantastic with Johnson, Furrey, & McDonald who can all catch. Our needs are a DL, DE, QB, and OL. We can probably get help for at 2 if not 3 of those positions with the draft and free agency.

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Originally Posted by TheBigBomber

Well, I just saw this thread. First off, look at the free agency. If they can find a good QB there, then take him. Draft an OL with the first pick, a tackle or end with the second first round pick. They have a fine LB and CB crew with Bodden & Sims. Their receiving core is fantastic with Johnson, Furrey, & McDonald who can all catch. Our needs are a DL, DE, QB, and OL. We can probably get help for at 2 if not 3 of those positions with the draft and free agency.

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Free agency is iffy when it comes to QB's. Cassel may be resigned by the Patriots just in case Bradys leg is never the same.

Mcnabb is a possibility but the way he has been playing lately I wouldn't count on it. The rest of the guys are backups who once were starters people like David Carr.

The Lions need someone young at QB...someone they can build a team around. This team is not going to be good next year or the year after. They can't focus all their heart on free agency of aging quarterbacks.

Cassel would be the best bet in free agency for a QB. He's still slightly young.

Draft Matt Stafford. He most closely resembles the likes of Peyton as he's from the SEC, has great size, great skills, and plays in the conference that plays more like the NFL than any other conference.

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Originally Posted by TheBigBomber

Well, I just saw this thread. First off, look at the free agency. If they can find a good QB there, then take him. Draft an OL with the first pick, a tackle or end with the second first round pick. They have a fine LB and CB crew with Bodden & Sims. Their receiving core is fantastic with Johnson, Furrey, & McDonald who can all catch. Our needs are a DL, DE, QB, and OL. We can probably get help for at 2 if not 3 of those positions with the draft and free agency.

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Bodden by himself does not equal a good CB group. And the fact a backup level talent like Paris Lenon is STILL a starter for this team shows how godawful the linebacking situation in this team is aside from Sims.

This team needs a complete rebuild. They need to get out from under some of the outright stupid contracts they've signed (Corey Redding, DeWayne White, Brian Kelly, etc.) and just go young...as has been said already, Detroit is NOT going to be competitive next year, so get every YOUNG player you can and build from the bottom up.

I don't think the Pats will seriously consider trading Brady.
1. It'd be aterrible PR move, alienate quite a few angry fans.
2. With Cassel as QB, they're a viable division contender, but I don't think they're a bona fide championship contender. With Brady, I think they are.
3. Can anyone imagine Brady playing for the Lions? It'd be like the apocalypse! Oh man, that'd be awesome, except I'm a Vikings fan, so it really wouldn't be!
So, unless Brady is truly much worse after the injury than before, I see no viable reason to trade him. Especially since, to keep Cassel, they'll have to pay him the big bucks, and they still don't know how he performs under pressure in the playoffs.

Thing is, New England's defense is falling apart. They ignored that ancient linebacking corps for too long, and now it's a mess. Mayo's a fantastic young player...and that's it. I mean, come on, if you're pulling Junior Seau out of retirement and starting him that very week, you are officially hard up for talent. Bruschi's all but finished. Adalius Thomas has been a bust for the Pats. They need a major talent infusion in that area (and could use another corner as well)...extra draft picks would certainly help.

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Originally Posted by dickay

It take a LOT of luck however....and the wrong pick can send them into many more years of futility. If I were in their shoes, I'd trade down for sure (if I couldn't land Brady). The #1 pick is so dang expensive. Problem is....its not always easy to trade out of that #1 slot as alot of teams don't want the high expensive risk either. Unless there's a clear cut #1 (which often their isn't)...you're better off trading down if you can get good value for it.

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with a good offensive line even a mediocre QB can do good. minnesota has a great line and look at the way thier quaterbacks are playing and their win loss record. sure they have AP but the lions have a good running back in kevin smith.

I would go for a QB ONLY if Bradford, Stafford, or a franchise caliber QB came out, if not I would build the O-line/D-line. Then next year you nab Colt McCoy or you look in the later rounds for an NFL quality QB that was successful in college.

lol i can only Name Ernie Sims on the Detriot Defense
which mean their D sucks

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Originally Posted by lebsoccer02

I would go for a QB ONLY if Bradford, Stafford, or a franchise caliber QB came out, if not I would build the O-line/D-line. Then next year you nab Colt McCoy or you look in the later rounds for an NFL quality QB that was successful in college.

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McCoy will get knocked b/c of his size, part of the reason he isn't coming out this year is cause he wouldn't be one of the first 4 or 5 QBs taken

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Originally Posted by DarthJaker

lol i can only Name Ernie Sims on the Detriot Defense
which mean their D sucks

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well if a front-runner hasn't heard of any of their defenders, then they must indeed suck (sorry DJ, just call em like I seem em)

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Originally Posted by lebsoccer02

I would go for a QB ONLY if Bradford, Stafford, or a franchise caliber QB came out, if not I would build the O-line/D-line. Then next year you nab Colt McCoy or you look in the later rounds for an NFL quality QB that was successful in college.

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Colt's size is a huge issue in the NFL. Bradford and Stafford are better pro prospects then McCoy.

The thing is if the Lions truly wanted to take a OL/DL first round. Then focus on defense second round they could find a sleeper in Tebow in the later rounds possibly if he goes out.

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Originally Posted by OregonDuck1989

Colt's size is a huge issue in the NFL. Bradford and Stafford are better pro prospects then McCoy.

The thing is if the Lions truly wanted to take a OL/DL first round. Then focus on defense second round they could find a sleeper in Tebow in the later rounds possibly if he goes out.

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exactly. the best thing in your 1st 2 rounds is to take a QB and a OT. Look what it did with Miami (excluding that the QB isn't starting) and Atlanta. If your franchise QB isn't there look at one of the OT's that are in the draft that are supposed to be amazing. the kid from Ole Miss, Alabama and Virginia. Even Chris Wells would be a great HB to build around.

If Tebow comes out this year you'd probably be better off taking that OT 1st and then possibly Tebow with the late 1st they got from Dallas. Honestly in the 3rd/4th round you could go and get Harrell. People may call him a system QB but he can still throw the ball.

A 2 round haul this year for the Lions of Tebow/Bradford/Stafford, Oher/Smith/Munrow, a core defensive player would be considered significant. Honestly based on some of the projections I've seen I'd take one of the OT's 1st, later in the 1st take the best player available, then take Tebow round 2 pending he comes out. I think it'll make a lot more sense once we know what's going on with Tebow/Bradford/Stafford...even if they all stay (which i'm pretty sure stafford will declare) you could even look at a 1 year filler or go with orlovsky and co. again and look to take one of those 3 or colt mccoy next year. The draft has a lot of high end talent this year. Only thing it's a little lacking in is a franchise runner, but kevin smith looks like he could be good and in the 4th or 5th round you could grab a 2nd back like Tyrell Sutton, C.J. Gable, Ian Johnson, Javorskie Lane...they would all be good options.

This is a great draft for a team like the Lions to have a large sum of picks. That trade with Dallas was terrific for the building process.

if their new gm takes tebow in the first round (either first round pick) he'll be fired on the spot...not trying to start a will tebow be a good nfl qb or not argument, but if you know he'll still be there for your 2nd round pick (hell, likely even your 3rd), then you have no need to take him in the first & therefore a bad pick (like how the Chargers traded up for Jacob Hester last year...its great that you wanted him, but you knew he would fall to you in the draft anyways, so it was a bad value pick)

true...typically the QB's get over valued anyways but with all the QB issues in the NFL this year a QB may be a more valuable asset and you could see a team moving up from the early 2nd to the late 1st round if they didn't take a QB in round 1. I guess it all depends on how/when the QB's are taken. If Bradford, Tebow and Stafford all declare you could see 2 of them go real early (top 3-5 early) and then there's a huge drop off after those guys to Tebow then another steep drop off. Like I said it really depends on the strength of the draft with the QB's when we find out who declares and what the buzz is throughout the war rooms on draft day.

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Originally Posted by RedsoxRockies

I would think he would be top 5 pick material. I am not a football expert, so why wouldn't you want him? Am I missing a big detail?

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Tebow has alot of flaw in the realms of a pro style QB --

-- He doesn't throw an accurate ball and struggles with throws.
-- He has a poor motion, which if you watch leads to alot of "ducks'
-- He dosen't go through his progressions well and has trouble with any routes where the ball dosn;t go to the primary reciever.
-- dosnt set feet well (leading to accuracy problems)


Few people think he even projects as a QB in the NFL and anyone who takes him has a project ahead of them.


Obviously the best thing todo for Det is to trade down -- but again they wont get any takers -- and taking the "best available" player may be the best option -- if all things were equal - I'd focus on DL/LB early and OL/RB toward the middle rounds.

Best thing for them is to get a OL and then sign the soon to be free agent ex con Vick.

they'd be better off drafting Tebow then signing Vick....atleast with Tebow there's potential to be an NFL quarterback. Vick has proven that he's not a very good QB. He's a good runner, not a QB.

It would also be a bad PR move on Detroits part, the only team I could see signing Vick would be Oakland.

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Originally Posted by lebsoccer02

they'd be better off drafting Tebow then signing Vick....atleast with Tebow there's potential to be an NFL quarterback. Vick has proven that he's not a very good QB. He's a good runner, not a QB.

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Don't want to be a grammar nazi, but there's a huge difference here between then & than

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Originally Posted by etothep

if their new gm takes tebow in the first round (either first round pick) he'll be fired on the spot...not trying to start a will tebow be a good nfl qb or not argument, but if you know he'll still be there for your 2nd round pick (hell, likely even your 3rd), then you have no need to take him in the first & therefore a bad pick (like how the Chargers traded up for Jacob Hester last year...its great that you wanted him, but you knew he would fall to you in the draft anyways, so it was a bad value pick)

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Agreed. Tebow is not projected to be a first round pick so wasting a first round pick on him would be terrible for the GM....a Matt Millen move.

Harrell in the late fourth/fifth rounds would be a good pick up for a possible third string. Tebow would be great third round. But you got what 4 picks in the first two rounds? Take an OT first...then start building that defense....then the later rounds take a QB. If Tebow turns into a sleeper pick or Harrell turns into a sleeper pick you look like a genius....if not you always got next year to get your QB.

The Lions won't be good whether or not they get a QB. We know that. So if they build from the bottom and get a team already good like Baltimore their rookie QB can step into a team that can succeed right away.

If Detroit's new GM doesn't do anything in his power to try and land Matt Cassel, the team doesn't even want to try. He's still quite a young QB, but he's proven. Plus, getting him lets you focus your rntire draft on the lines and a decent corner.

Do all you people ignore the fact that Bradford is a sophmore and can't declare for the draft....

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Originally Posted by 5DiMaggio

Do all you people ignore the fact that Bradford is a sophmore and can't declare for the draft....

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Actually, what matters is that he has to be 3 years out of high school to be draft eligible. I believe he redshirted for a year, and has then played for 2...that makes for 3 years.

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Originally Posted by Arctic Blast

Actually, what matters is that he has to be 3 years out of high school to be draft eligible. I believe he redshirted for a year, and has then played for 2...that makes for 3 years.

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Wasn't he a true freshman last year?

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Originally Posted by 5DiMaggio

Wasn't he a true freshman last year?

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I THOUGHT he was a soph who had a redshirt year...I could be wrong, though.

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Originally Posted by 5DiMaggio

Wasn't he a true freshman last year?

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No he was a redshirt freshman last year. If we're wrong Mel Kiper has been telling us lies since September 3 about who the top QB in the draft is.

He much like Crabtree is a redshirt sophomore.

SOURCE: OU BIO PAGE

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In 2008, as a redshirt sophomore, Bradford became the second sophomore to win a Heisman Trophy. Bradford also holds the NCAA record for touchdown passes by a freshman, with 36.

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You guys are right, he's a redshirt.