1a. Matthew Stafford (QB)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 225
College: Georgia
Conference: SEC
Hometown: Dallas, TX
High School: Highland Park

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.81 seconds
Vertical Jump : 30.5 inches
Broad Jump : 107.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.06 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.47 seconds

What I think:

 The Lions hopefully have their quarterback of the future , they have been searching long enough.The main problem the Lions seem to have in getting a quarterback is giving him the proper weapons and protection. Though there was some debate about whether the former Bulldog would be their guy, the team wrapped up negotiations on a six-year, $78 million contract, with $41.7 million in guarantees. As a classic pocket passer with excellent arm strength, he gives the team a legitimate quarterback to build an offense around. Now he needs to learn how to scramble in the backfield.

1b. Brandon Pettigrew (TE)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 263
College: Oklahoma State
Conference: Big 12
Hometown: Tyler, TX
High School: Lee

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.83 seconds
Bench Press : 22.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 33.0 inches
Broad Jump : 118.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.12 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.37 seconds

What I think:

 The Lions bypass bigger defensive needs to pick up the best tight end prospect in the draft. Pettigrew is an outstanding pass catcher with even better skills as a blocker. Though he lacks the speed to stretch the middle of the field, he's a big-time weapon capable of serving as a solid complement to Calvin Johnson in the passing game.He may develop into the posession receiver the Lions have desperately needed to convert those 3rd and 4 situations.The blocking skills will help the running game , but he is not a left tackle , and the Lions didn't draft one to protect the most expensive player in NFL history. 

2. Louis Delmas (CB)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 202
College: Western Michigan
Conference: Mid-American
Hometown: North Miami Beach, FL
High School: North Miami Beach

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.5 seconds
Bench Press : 12.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 37.0 inches
Broad Jump : 126.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 6.67 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.17 seconds

What I think:

 The Lions pick up a hard-hitting safety with the first pick in the second round. Delmas has a knack for sniffing out ball carriers, and he's a productive tackler near the line of scrimmage. With the Lions attempting to become a more tough and physical team, Delmas fits in well as the enforcer in the secondary. The only problem I have with this pick is that the Lions have other players that have been drafted in recent years at this position , and Delmas will move to the front of the line.More undeveloped picks.

3a. DeAndre Levy (OLB)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 236
College: Wisconsin
Conference: Big 10
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
High School: Vincent

Combin Results
Bench Press : 19.0 reps
Broad Jump : 119.0 inches

What I think:

 The former Badger is an athletic linebacker with good straight-line speed and toughness. He's an above-average blitzer off the edge and flashes the ability to stack lead blockers in the hole. He gives the Lions a developmental linebacker with good special teams potential.Martin Mayhew may also think that he is the answer for the Lions at the MLB position.Time will tell. 

3b. Derrick Williams (WR)
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 194
College: Penn State
Conference: Big 10
Hometown: Greenbelt, MD
High School: Eleanor Roosevelt

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.68 seconds
Bench Press : 15.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 33.0 inches

What I think:

 The Lions pick up a quality two-way contributor in Williams. The former Nittany Lion has outstanding return skills and is a potential third or fourth receiver in the Lions' lineup.The Lions have been collecting wide receivers like they are gold , and will have 11 of them on the roster when this pick signs a contract , unless they make some early cuts , and they might.This is a 5th round pick for this team , so I don't understand the plan here.

4. Sammie Lee Hill (DT)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 329
College: Stillman
Conference: Southern
Hometown: West Blockton, AL
High School: West Blockton

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 5.17 seconds
Bench Press : 27.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 28.0 inches
Broad Jump : 109.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.89 seconds

What I think:

At the Senior Bowl, Hill left everyone talking. He's big, strong and fast. When you take a player from a small school like Stillman, there's a learning curve. Hill needed a destination where he could develop, and that's a strong suit of new Lions coach Jim Schwartz. This is a Cortland Finnegan-type pick -- a player Schwartz helped to develop at Tennessee.This is also the position the Lions should have looked at earlier in the draft , maybe at least 1 pick earlier.Hill is one of the crucial picks in this draft , and the Lions will need him to start and contribute as soon as possible. 

6. Aaron Brown (RB)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 196
College: TCU
Conference: Mountain West
Hometown: Katy, TX
High School: Mayde Creek

What I think:

NFL.com thinks he could become a backup to Kevin Smith in Detroit.The Lions signed Maurice Morris for that purpose.NFL.com also thinks he may have special team value as a return man.How many kick returners do the Lions need to draft?They have been signing players like Chris Hannon for that purpose since January , and they also drafted a WR earlier in this draft for that purpose. 

 

7a. Lydon Murtha (OT)
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 306
College: Nebraska
Conference: Big 12
Hometown: Hutchinson, MN
High School: Hutchinson

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.89 seconds
Bench Press : 25.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 35.0 inches
Broad Jump : 110.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.06 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.34 seconds

What I think:

 Murtha is the kind of player who you put on your team and keep him on the roster to develop. He's got good size and comes from a good offensive line system in Nebraska. He has the potential to become a contributor for the rebuilding Lions.Of course , most of us know how the Lions develop draft picks.If they don't like you , you have no chance , and will not play.For that very reason , I am on the fence with this pick , unless the Lions think he can see time on the offensive line right away , and maybe play a few different spots. 

7b. Zack Follett (OLB)
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 236
College: California
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Clovis, CA
High School: Clovis

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.75 seconds
Vertical Jump : 37.0 inches
Broad Jump : 117.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 7.31 seconds

What I think:

 Follett may lack coverage skills, but he's a highly competitive player and loves football. He has tremendous work ethic and passion. He's going to play with great intensity and could be a good special teams player for the Lions. He may bring along the risk of injury , but could add some punch to the kicking coverage. The Lions have a ton of OLBs , so if he sees the field , it will be because of an injury to a starter.

7b. Dan Gronkowski (TE)
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 255
College: Maryland
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Amherst, NY
High School: Williamsville North

Combine Results:
40 Yard Dash : 4.68 seconds
Bench Press : 26.0 reps
Vertical Jump : 33.0 inches
Broad Jump : 122.0 inches
3 Cone Drill : 6.92 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle : 4.26 seconds
60 Yard Shuttle : 11.72 seconds

What I think:

 Gronkowski is a big, strong guy who ran pretty well at the combine. He comes out of a good program in Maryland and is a good blocking tight end. He's the second tight end taken by the Lions after Brandon Pettigrew (Round 1, No. 20 overall).Ok , so thats 2 tight ends in this draft , bringing the total to 6 tight ends on the roster. I don't understand this pick at all , you just don't pick a TE to be a posession receiver in the 7th round , and there were still a few picks out there that could have helped this team.They will be Undrafted Free Agents , and the Lions will have to compete with other teams to sign them now.

 

Overall this draft does have 3 possible starters , with Sammie Lee Hill being the swing man.He will need to be productive as soon as possible in order for this draft to have any impavct on the upcoming season.

I expect Stafford to ride the pine for at least 8 games , so he is not one of the impact players for this year.

 

 

I think you are being generous. Not so much to the picks, but to the organization.

Pettigrew is fine, that is true, but a TE? What rebuilding team gets a TE in the first round? He won't be blocking for Culpepper, he'll be out on his route waiting for the pass that never comes from the sacked or scrambling QB. He can block for the run, but Kevin Smith could use the help inside more than on the edge. This guy is a luxury.

I'm a MAC guy, so it hurts a little to say this about Delmas, but he's in for an eye-opening when he tries to stick people at the line like he did at Western. I know it is a tradition around here to draft safeties in the second round, and I'm a traditional kind of guy, but seriously? Was it in the plan all along to hope for an undersized defender from a small school? "Well, it's the second round, better take another safety." I know he plays big, I've seen him a few times, but safeties are (apparently) a dime a dozen in Detroit.

Look, it gives me no pleasure to talk about my team this way. I'm 48 years a die hard fan. Why can't I ever get what I want-- a team that knows that winners play in the trenches and don't spend what little you get on one unproven guy?

I have to agree , hairydoyle

Nice site. I think this could be a boom or bust draft. I'm worried about Derrick Williams and Deandre Levy. One is a fumble machine and classic underachiever, the other was listed on most teams draft boards as a 4th round or lower pick (some had him in the 7th). Are the Lions scouts that good to go against the flow? Hmmm