General NFL / Lions draft discussion
April 27th, 2021 at 11:23 AM ^
Sorry, that does not make much sense. If you think the Lions need the "next QB" in a few years, kicking the can down the road while the Lions suck doesn't do anyone any good - as I wrote earlier you might as well draft a QB now, have them take their lumps with the rest of the team so when the talent increases around them they're ready to go. And if Goff is "good enough" in three years at age 29, why would you consider drafting a QB?
April 27th, 2021 at 11:45 AM ^
While I agree with some of your points you are missing a key dynamic that has evolved within building a NFL team. Due to contracts, a QB is essentially the last building block to pick as you can lock him in for 5 years at a favorable contract and invest the cap in other positions. So as rebuild goes, you get 2-3 years to stock pile talent, then make a move for a rookie QB to 'plug in' and take advantage of the 5 year window. The expectation is that you pick a QB that can get up to speed quickly thus maximizing the 5 year window.....
The Lions are not in a position to draft a QB this year, they need draft picks this year (and next) and will be targeting a QB in the '23 or 24' draft pending how the rest of the team's talent is stock piled.
April 27th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
I'd push back on that belief a little bit. Tom Brady hasn't been on his rookie deal in a long time and the teams with his cap hit have done very well for themselves.
Look at Pat Mahomes deal: he's the highest-paid player in the NFL and guys are taking less money to sign in Kansas City (Chris Jones, Joe Thuney, Jarran Reed) so they can play with him and win.
Also, cap space is really only a factor when you're hitting the free agency market, which is notably how winning teams are not assembled.
I disagree wholeheartedly.
1) When NFL teams flatline and do not have anything resembling a young, future Pro-Bowl QB, they almost always go draft one in the first round. Do you really think the Jags are going to pass up Lawrence this year or whomever that is next year or the year after that to "stock pile talent"? No chance.
2) If we go by your QB's five year window method and you allot until year two of having the QB before you expect them to operate at an above average level, you're basically saying the Lions won't compete until possibly 2026. I'm sorry, but no ownership group in the NFL should be hiring a front-office staff with the expectation it will take 5 years to build a contender. Shit, the dumb-ass Lions went 0-16, drafted a QB, took Suh the year after, brought in Kyle Vanden Bosch, Burleson, Huston and Tulloch and 3 years later made the playoffs.
April 28th, 2021 at 12:31 PM ^
Here is how I look at it, no QB the Lions are going to get is a sure thing. Goff is young enough and talented enough that there is a reasonable chance that he winds up being "the guy". When you compare him to the QBs in this class, other than Lawrence is there anyone else who is significantly better bet than Goff to have a great NFL career? Personally I don't think so, now maybe I'm wrong and all of Wilson/Lance/Fields will be amazing NFL QBs but given the long list of first round QB busts I'm willing to roll with Goff.
This may be controversial but I'd personally love if Fields fell to the Lions at 7 and they took him. I think he is going to be a star. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense because of Goff's contract restructuring, but other than that it is a fit if you are looking 2-3 years down the road to be a contender with a rookie contract star QB. If you think he can be a pro bowl player I think you have to take him.
My second favorite scenario is trading down to New England, grabbing a 1st rounder in 2022, and taking Parsons or an OL.
I think taking a WR or TE is not that smart when you are rebuilding. Leave it for the 2nd or 3rd rounds. So, my least favorite scenario is if it goes like this in the first 5: Lawrence, Wilson, Jones, Fields, Sewell. That would leave 1 of Pitts, Chase, Slater, Waddle, or Smith probably- and I don't think any are great fits. Maybe someone would want to trade up for Lance in that situation.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:03 AM ^
Give me Slater all day in that situation. Immediately slides in as the starting RT and solidifies a group that already has some good young pieces into the teams strength. Has the potential to switch with Decker and become an all-pro pass protector for years on the left side as well.
Anything that results in a trade down scoring Micah Parsons I'm all for. Anything regarding Justin Fields ending up on the Lions will make me vomit. The Lions are in so deep at this point they have to trade down for any reasonable offer; they have massive holes at LB, Safety and WR. They also have small holes at CB and right tackle. Simply put, it is going to take two good drafts and two years off-season moves to make this team competitive so you might as well hoard as many picks as possible.
Thanks, Quinntricia.
The Lions are too sad for me to actually form a BPONE. Can't be bothered to care that much. If the Lions ever win a playoff game, then I'll watch the next round. That's the level of interest the Lions have earned from me over the decades.
The NFL is made to have parity unlike college, you can flip a team in 1/2 years. They do a great job of keeping bad teams fans invested. Lions just suck at hiring the right people.
Grab Sewell at Seven and don't even blink if he somehow falls into your lap.
Trading down involves two teams and I just don't see who the takers are going to be at that spot unless someone just HAS to have Fields.
The Lions trade down even when they keep their assigned pick.
They will draft a WR.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:05 AM ^
Sadly true.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
There’s a lot of research that says most great OL come from mid round picks. Rare is the OL that’s worth a top 10 pick. Only a few of those over the past 12 years have been worth the high pick.
Are you telling me that a large number of people come from a large initial data set? It seems almost impossible to imagine that you would get more All Pro Linemen coming from a subset group of 20-30 players every year vs. 1 or 2. This feels shocking...
Sewell or Slater would be awesome! More picks would be awesome! Waddle would be awesome!
Everything is awesome!!!
I don't think Slater is getting enough love on here. He is an elite OL prospect who seems is pushing Sewell for a lot of peoples top OL this draft. Rare prospect who seems to have a high floor with an equally high ceiling. Im still taking Sewell over him if theyre both on the board but Slater at 7 really turns the offensive line into a large strength that should last for years to come.
Dream scenario to me would be trading down to 9 with Denver then still landing Slater. I don't want absolutely anything to do with a WR top 10; even Chase. The WR class is ridiculously deep and a 1st round talent will be available at the top of the 2nd.
I oddly have faith in the new regime right now. They have been making smart, level-headed moves that are entirely preparing for the future. I think they resist the allure of a flashy playmaker and instead look for a franchise foundational piece in the trenches.
April 27th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
Faith is a dangerous thing...I feel you though
April 27th, 2021 at 12:14 PM ^
Talk to me in a week and it will probably be all gone haha
The question on Slater isn't if he's good, it's whether or not he can play tackle in the NFL. He's only 300lbs (Sewell is 330), and if you view him as more of a guard, then the positional value isn't there to take him in the top 10 (Quenton Nelson was the Calvin Johnson of guards and went #6 overall);
His athleticism is on another level compared to some of the other G/T prospects like Vera-Tucker. That is why at this stage hes viewed as a tackle that could be a guard if things don't work out. I agree that if you don't think he can play tackle then he isn't worth a top 10 pick. I think he can though. Not too worried about the weight as his job would be more to stymie edge rushers than move DT's.
Personally, I would agree with you that Slater can play tackle, I was simply sharing the argument that some have leveraged against him on why his stock isn't higher.
I think Carolina is a threat to take him or another tackle at 8. I could see a team falling in love with Darrisaw and taking him high. But he is another prospect I really like if the Lions were to trade down. Though I don't feel very confident he would still be on the board if the Lions traded with say New England with the Chargers & Vikings sitting in front of them.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:02 AM ^
Hoping for: trade down
Hope doesn't happen: Micah Parsons at 7
The pick I'd make if they stay at 7 (assuming the first six picks are Lawrence, Wilson, Jones, Pitts, Sewell/Chase): Rashawn Slater
April 27th, 2021 at 10:07 AM ^
Does a 1,000 yd RB matter in the NFL anymore?
April 27th, 2021 at 10:11 AM ^
Depends. If its a RB by committee, then no. If its a one back offense like the Titans/Cowboys, then yes. A 1000 yd RB gives you balance and opens up your passing game as well
Let's ask Derrick Henry.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:38 AM ^
Trade down. Draft defense. Grab a receiver in the 2nd round.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:46 AM ^
7. Detroit Lions (5-11)
- Trey Lance, QB, North Dakota State (6-4, 226 pounds)
The Lions can't be ruled out for taking a new top rookie quarterback for offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn to develop, despite the trade for Jared Goff. Here's a curveball should the board not get shaken up before this pick. as the much younger, much higher-upside Lance can be stashed well as a rookie before he becomes a starting dual threat. Given Detroit's future first-round haul, it is rebuilding all-around with two seasons down the line in mind
The Lions did add John Dorsey to the front office specifically for his eye for QB's. He drafted Baker Mayfield (looks like the best choice in that draft so far) and Patrick Mahomes in his time with the Browns and the Chiefs. He also had a lot to do with reshaping the Browns roster into a playoff caliber roster.
Question is, does Dorsey see a prospect at the QB position worth taking besides Lawrence/Wilson? We will find out Thursday night.
April 28th, 2021 at 11:18 AM ^
No offense to Baker, but Lamar Jackson was the NFL MVP a season ago.
No offense to lamar or baker.
Josh Allen has clearly separated himself from the pack, thus far.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:52 AM ^
This just shows how little I pay attention anymore, but I didn’t recognize any of the players mentioned in this thread other than Michigan alum, Fields, and Trevor Lawrence.
April 27th, 2021 at 10:58 AM ^
Penei Sewell has played just two seasons of college football.
If he's drafted within the top ten picks, will that make him the highest drafted player with the least amount of experience? Manziel also only had two seasons of college under his belt, but he was taken at #22.
Not even in his own draft class... Trey Lance is less experienced (19 games to 21 for Sewell) and Lance only competed at the FCS level.
April 27th, 2021 at 11:30 AM ^
TRADE! TRADE! TRADE! They only have 6 picks this year and need an infusion of young talent. The latest reports in have been reading is that SF is going to take either Jones of Lance. The Falcons are looking at either Pitts or Chase. Cincy wants Chase but will 'settle' for Sewell. That leaves the Dolphins and I don't think they are going to take a QB (my guess is one of the Bama receivers).
That leaves DET with the 7th picks and Fields plus either Lance or Jones (I hope Jones). Denver, NE, Wash all need a QB (maybe Philly but they did spend a 2nd on Hurts). NE has the most draft capital to trade up. Denver can play chicken stating they would take either one.....
Ideally to me, trade with NE pick up some additional picks and take either Parsons of another CB....
April 27th, 2021 at 11:42 AM ^
I don't think the Lions can make a bad choice, unless they reach for a defensive player at 7. Even then, we have holes throughout the whole roster at every position group. Hope we trade down and get more picks, but this should be a pretty laid back draft in terms of the Lions. Hard to go wrong with any position in any round.
April 27th, 2021 at 11:59 AM ^
It will be interesting to see where this guy goes:
"When Meinerz arrived at the Senior Bowl, he expected Day 1 to be rough. He was going to play football, which he hadn’t done in more than a year, and he learned the night before he was going to play center, which he had never done. He thought he would be fighting for his life on every snap.
He wasn’t. He looked across the line at defensive linemen wearing helmets from teams such as Washington and Texas, and Meinerz pushed them around. He realized he was as good as, if not better than, the players from bigger schools."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/04/27/quinn-meinerz-nfl-draft-prospect/
Wow thats really interesting! Unfortunately the Lions need more help at the Tackle position than the interior of the line.
April 27th, 2021 at 12:05 PM ^
I like the idea of Sewell and having one of the best young lines in the NFL for years to come.
April 27th, 2021 at 12:07 PM ^
I'm not a Lions fan so I don't know what their needs are, but #7 seems like prime position to trade it to some team desperate for a QB who just watched a bunch go off the board and scoop up a lot of draft capital in the process
April 27th, 2021 at 12:13 PM ^
If Fields is there Lions have to take him.
Yes, I know, Goff. Yes, I know, OSU.
But he is clearly an elite talent at the most important position on the field. Lions can’t pass that up if they have a shot at him.
Fields and Nico in the Honolulu Blue and Silver.
April 27th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
The Lions should absolutely take Fields or Lance if they are there.
- The QB classes for 2022 and 2023 aren't considered as strong as this one, unless you find names like Sam Howell, Spencer Rattler, or Kedan Slovis to be particularly exciting (or someone comes out of nowhere).
- Drafting a QB without trading up protects all the future first-round picks the Lions have been stock-piling. Do you know what would put a dent in the Lions building a future winner? Having to make a San Francisco-type move where you give up three first-round picks to move from the teens into the top 3.
- If Goff plays as well as some Lions fans think he can play, then he'll have trade value next offseason and the Lions could recoup a day 1 or 2 pick for him from a QB-desperate team.
- It would also make the Lions a worse team for next year, leading to a higher pick the Lions can then trade down for another team looking to move up for a QB.
Agreed. I think a lot of people are sleeping on the idea of snagging one of these QB’s if they fall to us. I think it would be a smart move, especially by a new coach who I believe was given a 6 year contract. Goff isn’t our future. The best case scenario is he does well enough to trade him for some picks and we already have our future QB on a rookie contract, plus all of those first round picks still in hand.
My guess is
Falcons take pitts at 4
Bengals take Chase at 5
Dolphins take Sewell at 6
Screwing the lions over for an overreach knowing we do not want to draft a QB
so were forced to take a Bama WR or Slater
only if Todd Gurley didnt score that TD we would of been drafting 3rd and could of got that massive haul from san francisco
instead we will overreach at 7 for another bust
Nobody is trading up at 7 for a qb when they can do so at 8 with carolina
You'd make a terrible gm... you realize teams would trade up with the lions so someone else can't trade up and get a QB? It doesn't matter that the Lions aren't going QB. There have still been talks of Carolina possibly drafting a QB as well.
we got too much money tioed up in goff to take a Qb this season
why trade to 7 when you can trade at 8 for cheaper
The panthers not taking a qb at 8. not a chance.
they probably would like to get Slater at 8 i would assume give more protection for
Darnold
its gonna go the way i said and we can only hope for a trade down but we
are gonna be stuck a 7 and forced to make a pick
Hopefully I am wrong but I doubt it.
I don't know if my heart could take another TE 1st rounder. Think Fred Sanford and the big one. I couldn't believe it when they took Hockenson in the 1st. If they can't trade back take one of the OT's.
We lions fan hope a qb is still there, and we take the best offer and trade down. We are still a whole defense away from competing.
Every decision the Lions have ever made outside of Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders has been wrong. Nearly every instinct they've ever had has been wrong.
So my idea? Go all George Costanza here. Whatever you want to do on Thursday night, do the exact opposite.