The 2011 NFL Draft took place over the weekend and it was no secret that the Detroit Lions had some personnel needs on their team that they would need to address during this draft. But the Lions seemed to go in the opposite direction with their first three selections in the draft selecting players for positions that already have two-to-three starters in place at that position. So without further ado here are the newest members of your Detroit Lions.
Pick #1 (13 overall) Nick Fairley/DT/Auburn
draft grade: A
A big athletic pass rushing defensive tackle from this years national champion Auburn Tigers. He is a physical specimen at 6'4 291lbs, and he performed well at the scouting combine this year running a 4.84 40, 31" vertical and a 113" broad jump marking him as one of the fastest most athletic big men coming out of the draft this year. I know a lot of people wanted the corner or in failing that a pass rushing defensive end at this pick but i think if Fairley can get his work ethic together and his mind right then we could be looking at the Lions having the most dominant defensive line for the foreseeable future.
Pick #2 (44 overall) Titus Young/WR/Boise State
draft grade: B-
This pick was one of the picks what made every Lions fan want to throw their controller through their tv. With plenty of good corners and linebackers still on the board the Lions decided to not fill a need but rather to pick a player to bolster one of their positions of strength on their team with the speedy sure handed Young. After seeing some film on Young i have started to warm to the thought of having this speedster running around down field forcing opposing team secondaries to deal with his vertical threat and freeing up some space for Megatron. Now he is a small guy measuring in at a generous 5'11 and 174lbs (im sure his weight was taken after thanksgiving break) and he did play in what most people would call a weak conference out in the WAC for Boise State. But just watch this guy play and try to tell me he isn't impressive as a receiver and return man using his 4.43 speed.
Pick #3 (57 overall) Mikel Leshoure/RB/Illinois
draft grade: D
This was the other pick that made Lions fans pull their hair out and have flashbacks of someone with the initials MM making the picks for their team. I still do not like this pick especially since the Lions traded up giving up two picks to get this running back when again they could have stood pat where they were and gotten one of the outside linebackers that were still on the board. Yet again instead of drafting a player in a position of need the team went to add to a position of strength. Mikel Leshoure is a fairly large back standing at 6'0 227lbs, he has speed for a big back clocking a 4.56 40 and has some good strength to go with that speed to get through first contact and looks to be a good receiver out of the back field. We will see if his performance will validate the amount that the Lions gave up to get him in the draft.
Pick #4 (157 overall) Doug Hogue/LB/Syracuse
draft grade: C+
I think most fans including myself would have liked to see the Lions take a linebacker one to two picks before they selected Doug Hogue from Syracuse. A senior backer the measured 6'2 235lbs at the combine and ran very well putting down a 4.63 40. Watching his combine workout video shows that he could be good in the coverage game which would be a great addition to the defense since the pass coverage in the linebacking core has been lacking in the past seasons.
Draft Pick #5 (209 overall) Johnny Culbreath/OT/South Carolina State
draft grade: C+
This could end up being one of those pics that is quickly forgotten about or one that will be remembered as "hey remember when the Lions stole Johnny Culbreath in the 7th round". Culbreath is 6'5 280lbs tackle that could help anchor that tackle position and provide some needed depth on that offensive line and possibly develop into a starter down the road. Again this is a pick that probably should have been made ahead of taking a wide receiver or a running back but thats the way the Lions management and coaching staff wanted to go in this years draft.
It will be very interesting to see who the team will go after now when the free agent market finally opens up when the NFL lock out is lifted sooner hopefully rather than later. If the Lions go out and get a high impact free agent corner and/or line backer then i think all will be forgiven for some of the draft decisions that some fans are viewing as the wrong decisions right now. One thing that i dont think any Lions fan can argue with is that for the first time in a long time we can actually talk about how these newly drafted players can legitimately help use win more games next year and isn't that what we have been wanting?
Goodnight from the greatest sports city in the world and shout out to the brave bad ass soldiers who went and gave Osama Bin Laden a what for killing him with a headshot.
Drew in the D
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