What draft pick from this year will have the biggest impact?

[jdeb]

I think over all, Van Noy is going to end up being the best selection in this draft. If he would have entered the draft after his junior year, he would have been a first rounder. He is going to cause havoc off the edge and behind the line of scrimmage. He would have been perfect in last years defense when playing zone, he is excellent in pass coverage but the bonus is he can play in any scheme. For me, he is the complete package. He is really going to help the pass coverage overall and Lord knows we are going to need all the help we can get there.

 

[dubbsco]

I would be so much more excited if they drafted Dennard and Van Noy. Suddenly the secondary gets a lot better. But then they went Matt Millen, Joe Dumars smartest guy in the room and took Ebron.

 

[tomdalton22]

I would be so much more excited if they drafted Dennard and Van Noy. Suddenly the secondary gets a lot better. But then they went Matt Millen, Joe Dumars smartest guy in the room and took Ebron.

I agree with this 100%. The defense is what needs help.

 

[LKP]

4 of the first 6 draft picks defense this year. Added Ihedigbo
3 of first 4 last year defense. Added Quin, kept Levy

Dennard can grow but he's a rookie and we needed that mismatch weapon. Tate alone wasn't mismatching anyone. Give me BPA Ebron and Mathis over Dennard/not having a speedy TE.

 

[dubbsco]

Because having a speedy TE is an absolute necessity for an effective offense.

 

[dubbsco]

Here, let's end this discussion now:

2014- Seattle Seahawks TE: Zach Miller
2013- Baltimore Ravens TE: Dennis Pitta
2012- New York Giants TE: Jake Ballard
2011- Green Bay Packers TE: Jermichael Finley
2010- New Orleans TE: Jeremy Shockey
2009- Pittsburgh Steelers TE: Heath Miller

Want me to keep going? Those teams need some exceptional TE that creates all these amazing mismatches? Nope. Those guys are all reliable TEs, make the catches that are thrown their way. The idea that you need to burn a top 10 pick on a tight end is sickening. But that's the Lions, gotta be the smartest guy in the room. As much as I can't stand Brandon Pettigrew, he's enough to win you a championship. You don't need 19 TEs that each do different things.

 

[LKP]

Because having a speedy TE is an absolute necessity for an effective offense.

It doesn't hurt. And when you have no slot WR or one that is always injured, Ebron helps alot.

Finley is a speedy TE. Saints had Moore in the slot. Giants had Manningham who made a huge catch in the Super Bowl. Ravens had Jacoby Jones and Pitta is good.

Yes you need that third weapon reliable downfield weapon to help win a Super Bowl. Lions got it now.

 

[dubbsco]

You are right, it doesn't hurt. That's why it's a luxury pick.

Lions needed to make a pick that addresses their weakest area. Instead, they went with a pick that "doesn't hurt." There's the problem.

 

[LKP]

You are right, it doesn't hurt. That's why it's a luxury pick.

Lions needed to make a pick that addresses their weakest area. Instead, they went with a pick that "doesn't hurt." There's the problem.

Slot WR/speedy TE was their weakest area other than versatile LB. They got that in Van Noy too. Then it was adding depth at center, DE,DT,CB and a kicker.

Slay,Mathis,Bentley,Greenwood,Vaughn, Green can get it done at CB. A rookie CB doesn't beat out Slay or Mathis IMO. Slay has better measuralbes than Dennard, fits the scheme and has valuable experience and showed progress as a rookie. The veteran presence of Mathis on the field is needed.

 

[jdeb]

Slot WR/speedy TE was their weakest area other than versatile LB. They got that in Van Noy too. Then it was adding depth at center, DE,DT,CB and a kicker.

Slay,Mathis,Bentley,Greenwood,Vaughn, Green can get it done at CB. A rookie CB doesn't beat out Slay or Mathis IMO. Slay has better measuralbes than Dennard, fits the scheme and has valuable experience and showed progress as a rookie. The veteran presence of Mathis on the field is needed.

I would not be surprised if Slay is not the starter game 1. He was pretty bad last year, even for a rookie.

 

[LKP]

I would not be surprised if Slay is not the starter game 1. He was pretty bad last year, even for a rookie.

Slay did well at the end and got better. He fits the scheme better, has great size and speed and every story about him is him doing much better in OTAs/mini camp. He's got the experience needed. Slay is starting barring injury.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Slay did well at the end and got better. He fits the scheme better, has great size and speed and every story about him is him doing much better in OTAs/mini camp. He's got the experience needed. Slay is starting barring injury.

Well you know he's getting injured..the m.o. of this team and his injury will be the reason we didn't win 10-11 games. Him and Broyles..lol.

 

[dubbsco]

He doesn't have the experience needed. Guy played in like 10 games. Bizarre that someone like Dennard or Clinton-Dix takes 2-3 years to develop, but he's ready to go now.

 

[Mitchrapp]

My choice if you wanted to give Stafford a weapon, draft Dennard at 10 and get a WR in round 3. Problem solved ..

 

[dubbsco]

Come on Mitch, you know the Lions had to draft a luxury in the top 10. 4 TEs taken in 25 years in the top 10, why not us?

 

[dubbsco]

Tons of guys they could have had in the 3rd round that would fit the bill as a compliment to Calvin and Tate. They had to have that below average center who did not grade well at all to sit on the bench for 2014.

 

[mhughes0021]

Tons of guys they could have had in the 3rd round that would fit the bill as a compliment to Calvin and Tate. They had to have that below average center who did not grade well at all to sit on the bench for 2014.

My dreams of donte moncrief in Honolulu blue crushed by mayhew...because he felt the need of a back up TE is more important than a starting defender and the need of a back up center is more important than a WR.

 

[dubbsco]

I was just going to say that. If the top 3 picks were Dennard, Van Noy, and Moncrief, this draft would be an A+. Instead, they went with the luxury TE, and a backup center.

 

[Mitchrapp]

My dreams of donte moncrief in Honolulu blue crushed by mayhew...because he felt the need of a back up TE is more important than a starting defender and the need of a back up center is more important than a WR.

You would think as much as we all, even lkp, bag on Durham that we'd get a third WR. Durham still going to get decent amount of targets..

 

[LKP]

You would think as much as we all, even lkp, bag on Durham that we'd get a third WR. Durham still going to get decent amount of targets..

Not with Tate outside or Ebron in the slot. Or Ebron outside, Tate in the slot. Or Broyles in the slot and Tate outside. Durham may not even make the team.