Detroit Lions: Who to Pick in 2009 NFL Draft?

Breaking down the 0-16 Lions' selection

Dec 20, 2008

The Detroit Lions are almost locks to finish with the worst record in the NFL in 2008.

But who should the NFL's worst franchise take with the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft? The team has needs at just about every position making it a tough choice: QB, OL, DE, DT, MLB, CB, and yes, even the WR positions all need to be addressed in the NFL Draft.

Detroit Lions 2009 Draft Pick Possibilities

Many names have been thrown around regarding the Lions' pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, coming up in April.

The names mentioned the most often are two quarterbacks and an offensive lineman. The QB's include Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Matthew Stafford of Georgia while the offensive lineman is Andre Smith of Alabama.

Sam Bradford: The Lions' Next QB Draft Pick?

Sam Bradford just won the Heisman and he's only a sophomore but he redshirted in his first year so he would be eligible for the NFL Draft. The Lions can pick him if he decides to come out, but odds are that he will stay at Oklahoma and that is a wise decision.

The Lions can do better in the NFL Draft than Bradford because Bradford is a bit too skinny and while his stats are phenomenal, he plays behind an NFL-caliber offensive line at Oklahoma and hasn't been tested under pressure yet.

Plus, watching his film, scouts for the NFL Draft feel that Bradford hasn't faced situations where he needed to fit the ball into a tight window yet. That's what the NFL is all about.

Matthew Stafford to the Lions?

Stafford has a strong arm, perhaps the strongest in the draft, and he's also a good athlete who can run a little bit and escape defenders in the pocket if necessary.

If he comes out he might be a good gamble with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft for the Detroit Lions. But perhaps the Lions should look elsewhere after the Joey Harrington disaster from a few years ago than the QB position in the draft.

Andre Smith a Possible Detroit Lion Pick

Andre Smith would give the Lions something they desperately need: a piece of the foundation of a good offense that is almost a sure thing. Smith is a big, athletic left tackle prospect who would help solidify a Lions line that has been brutal for about 10 years or so.

The Lions got a decent right tackle in Gosder Cherilus last year, potentially at least, in the NFL Draft, and adding another massive run blocker like Smith would be a wise move for a team that completely neglected the offensive and defensive lines in most drafts under Matt Millen and instead got burned when they went for flashy skill players like Charles Rogers and Mike Williams among others.

The Lions might decide it's time to build from the inside out for a change in the 2009 NFL Draft and getting a guy like Andre Smith with the first pick might help catapult the team forward oin 2009 on the heels of a possible 0-16 season.

The copyright of the article Detroit Lions: Who to Pick in 2009 NFL Draft? in National Football League (NFL) is owned by Nick Meyer. Permission to republish Detroit Lions: Who to Pick in 2009 NFL Draft? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Comments

Dec 21, 2008 2:52 PM

Bill Tsiu :

The Lions should be able to find a good GM and Head Coach considering that they have an owner who is loyal to a fault.They have a lot of great picks to play with in the 09 draft and they are not completely bare at talent on both sides of the ball./btw, saw some cool widgets at statbeast. Take a look!

Dec 22, 2008 8:52 AM

Guest :

I've watched Matthew Stafford play most of his college career
in person here in Georgia. At times he looks like a dominant
passer. Other times, he badly misses the deep pass. Frankly,
he needs another year in college.

Dec 26, 2008 6:53 PM

Guest :

Lions definately need to take Bradford if he comes out. But again, if Bradford knows he'll be picked up by Detroit...he could easily opt to stay another season on the college level. Unless of course, the Lions fire there entire staff from the G.M. thru the coaching staff and have a promising G.M. and staff that looks like they'll rid the loser players and have the personal that really knows how to build a team. But we as Lion Fans know that the Fords are not capable of chosing a real G.M. that hires a real staff. So watch Bradford either fall to the wayside of the Lions and they pick up another loser with the Staff that bought this team to a 0-16 season. It's ashame that the Fords own the Lions...isn't it?

Dec 27, 2008 1:05 PM

Guest :

The lions need to take andre smith with the first pick and go defense with the rest of there picks there team needs to start at one part of the teams defense or offense at a time.Hey build the defense and then next year build the offense i,ve been watching the lions for ever and im getting tired of my football season to end so quickly.DONT PICK A QUARTERBACK IT NEVER WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 28, 2008 8:28 PM

Guest :

I have been a Lions fan for over 30 years. I have stuck with the Lions throught the thick and thin of it all. Keep your heads up guys. There are plenty of us out her that would love to be a athelete in the NFL. I hope they spend their #1 draft pick on a safety, corner back or a offensive lineman. All of this is one year late if you ask me. I think Jake Long would have been the best thing for the Lions. Jake Long played for the University of Michigan and was a great player. I'm sure he would have gave the QB the time they need to make good decisions and helped out with their running game. I bet he would have kept the Ford Stadium packed. Like I said this was one year late.

Dec 29, 2008 8:40 AM

Guest :

They need to start by doing WHAT EVER IT TAKES to get bill cowher. Then draft a OT after that the next few picks need to be D they cant stop anyone.

Jan 1, 2009 2:56 PM

Guest :

The Lions have the 1st and 20th pick, so that is helpfull for re-building an outstanding team for the 2009 season and beyond. But my use the 1st pick instead trade down and get some more top picks in the first and second rounds. Besides the top pick always asks for top dollar and last I read Mr. Fords company isnt doing so well, so he gets to build a winning team for Detroit without breaking the bank. Along with draft choices the free agent market had some great pick-ups that allow a great combination of rookies, young but experienced and veterans that will guide the growth of the team. Noticing the messages posted at this time are short I will cut this short for now but in the near future I will post my thoughts on how the Detroit Lions should use the draft and free agents for the 2009 football campaign. I can also be contacted via email at Madnavymedic02@yahoo.com
Thank you for reading my thoughts

Jan 2, 2009 7:43 AM

Guest :

I believe that we should start with the offensive line with oher or smith. Any qb qill be no good without a line. Then with our 20th pick from dallas we should go qb with maybe a mark sanchez if he comes out or even stafford if he is still there who knows we all remember how late quinn went. Then after those picks you start building up your deffense

Jan 8, 2009 3:57 PM

Madnavymedic02 :

I have seen my previous posting hasn't been added yet but at the end of it I mentioned one of the Lions previous QB's by the name of Eric Hipple as a quality QB. I know that he didn't have great stats but the one big stat was getting the team into the playoffs and a few playoff wins. I am mentioning Eric Hipple so that he will come out of long retirement to re-guide the Lions, ah No. I brought up Eric Hipple as an example that lower or non drafted QB's can make great contributions to teams. With that in mind this is my thoughts on the up coming draft and team functions. Do not draft a QB, if it preceived as a must then draft one in the 4th or later rounds. Release Daunte Culpepper, I am sure a good gentleman and during his career had some god to great stats but he is not playing to the level that his peers around him expect and the fans expect. Dan Orlovsky is a four year player that could excel and should be given the chance to. Drew Stanton made some at times while starting qb at Michigan State and since he played at MSU he can draw some the die-hard MSU if he should win the starting job or comes off the bench when the starter is injured. Jared Zabransky is currently on the free agent market. While he was at Boise State he had ups and downs, BUT in the big games he led his team to the win. He was undrafted then picked up by the Texans then signed with the Steelers for atime before his current status as a free agent. With three young qb's, two are currently on the roster, one with actual starting experience the other as backup and a new addition that brings some fire to the mix. I will cut this again short but I will post another on my thoughts about draft choices.

Thank you for reading my thoughts.

Jan 10, 2009 9:39 AM

Madnavymedic02 :

Number one pick through out the draft, what player positions are the Lions needing the most? Offensive line so drives can be sustained with the end result being points on the score board, preferably the touchdown version rather then field goal. A solid mixture of younger less experienced players in tandem with older more experienced players is the optimum here. Why? because players come and go as their contracts, it would be great to get long term contracts on outstanding o-line players but in reality that is rare. Which o-line players in the draft, well if the next coach is a pass-happy coach then a stand out left tackle would be in order. But a ground grinder coach would make the choice(s) be more toward guard and center. In the last draft the Lions got a solid tackle so with the first two or three picks garnished more o-line then one guard and one center would spread out the outstanding yet inexperienced o-line for the veterans to teach and guide. Continuity is so critical for o-line and by having three o-line positions being drafted relatively close and having the opportunity to practice and grow that will have long term benefits. G Duke Robinson Oklahoma, G Herman Johnson LSU, C/T Max Unger Oregon, C Jonathan Luigs Arkansas, C Alex Mack California, G Trevor Canfield Cincinnati and G/T Andy Levitre Oregon State. I know I left out some others and the reason why is because these gentlemen are graduting and that means that they stuck with college even if they had the chance for come out early. That principle says alot about them which may or may not transfer to the Lions but initial signs are that they would.

Thank you again for reading my thoughts

Jan 10, 2009 10:47 AM

Madnavymedic02 :

With the current level of high draft underclassmen coming out for this years, it shouldnt be too hard to get a deal to drop down to the fourth or fifth slot along with a few more first, second or third round picks. With the current excitement about Falcons rookie qb Matt Ryan and that lightning can or will strike again this year makes the chances of swapping and getting more spots. On the converse, it will be suggested why shouldnt the Lions use that selection and pick that next lightning strike? How many times did Matt Ryan get sacked during his rookie season? 17 times, LT Baker first round pick Falcons 08, LG Blalock second round pick Falcons 07, C McClure seventh round pick pick 99, RG Dahl undrafted, RT Clabo undrafted. O-line was in place for the qb being either a rookie or veteran. Are the Lions, the Falcons, NO but the fundaments of the game are the same regardless of team.

Jan 10, 2009 12:20 PM

Madnavymedic02 :

Jan 13, 2009 10:43 AM

Madnavymedic02 :

Depending on the next coach, in addition to solidifing the o-line the wildcat formation could bring some excitement to the Lions. With this in mind there could be four qb's on the roster with the fourth qb also playing as the third or fourth wide out, maybe as a slot reciever. The player that could excel at this could be UWV Pat White. I don't know if the incoming head coach is to split time as defensive coordinator or not but there currently isnt one listed on the Lions NFL website. There are several top quality defensive players not only in the draft but also in free agency. The d-coordinator will determine what type of defense will be ran. Myself I am more of an aggresive scheme based off of the three four, so my thoughts on defensive choices are more toward blitzing with bumping corners. I will go ahead and cut it at this because of the uncertainity of defensive coordinator.

Once again thank you for reading my thoughts

Jan 13, 2009 1:34 PM

Madnavymedic02 :

The Giants have been hounded by the football analysts that they were not the same team without Plaxico Burress so if their GM feels the same then it would be a good bet the Giants will try to land a big name draft choice being Jeremy Maclin six foot one inch, Michael Crabtree six foot three inches or Louis Murphy six foot two inches too make up that difference. The Redskins at thirteen and Saints at fourteen could take a swap to pick further down, it would be better to get to pick four to six but thirteen or fourteen isnt bad and the Giants get their Burress replacement.

Jan 13, 2009 2:12 PM

Guest :

THE LIONS SHOULD USE ALL THEIR DRAFT PICKS ON USC DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

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