2011 Detroit Lions Draft Preview

Lions Needs

1. Cornerback

The need here is for a starter and a nickelback. Chris Houston is UFA, Eric King, Tye Hill and Brandon McDonald were not tendered.

Lions Players under contract

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Berry, Aaron	Pitt	CB	2	udfa 2010	2	fa	1	1	1	1
Smith, Alphonso	Wake Forest	CB	2	Trade 2010	3	2nd	27	10	12	10
Vasher, Nathan	Texas	CB	1	Fa 2010	8	4th	87	51	14	5
Williams, Jack	Kent State	CB	1	W 2009	4	4th	22	0	1	0
Miller, Prince	Georgia	CB	E	PS 2010	2	FA	4	0	4	0
Pratt, Paul	Nevada	CB		UFL 2009	4	fa	2	0	2	0

Alphonso Smith

                                            Aaron Berry

2. Linebacker

Lions have need for starters at both will and sam. Julian Petersen was cut, Zack Follett has a career threatening neck injury and Landon Johnson is a UFA with a lot of mileage. Bobby Carpenter is UFA but could be brought back.

Lions players under contract

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Dizon, Jordan	Colorado	LB	1	2nd Rd 2008	4	2nd	28	0	28	0
Ekejiuba, Isaiah	Virginia	LB	1	UFA 2010	7	FA	73	0	9	0
Levy, DeAndre	Wisconsin	LB	1	3rd rd 2009	3	3rd	27	21	27	21
Campbell, Caleb	Army	LB		7th 2008	2	7th	3	0	3	0
Palmer, Ashlee	Ole Miss	LB	e	W 2010	3	FA	30	7	16	5

Chris Carter, Doug Hogue have visited Allen Park.

3. Offensive Line

The need here is for young player at tackle and the interior line.

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Gerberry, Dan	Ball State	OC	1	UDFA 2009	3	Fa	0	0	0	0
Raiola, Dominic	Nebraska	OC	3	2nd Rd 2001	10	2nd	156	140	156	140
Peterman, Stephen	LSU	OG	3	Fa 2006	7	3rd	58	54	55	51
Sims, Rob	Ohio State	OG	4	Trade 2010	6	4th	61	50	16	16
Backus, Jeff	Michigan	OT	1	1st Rd 2001	11	1st	160	160	160	160
Cherlius, Gosder	Boston College	OT	2	1st Rd 2008	4	1st	43	40	43	40
Fox, Jason	Miami	OT	2	4th Rd 2010	2	4th	4	0	4	0
Ugoh, Tony	Arkansas	OT	1	fa 2010	5	2nd	37	27	0	0

4. Wide Receiver

Lions need a playmaker outside to compliment Calvin and Nate.

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Burleson, Nate	Nevada	WR	4	UFA 2010	9	3rd	104	78	14	14
Johnson, Bryant	Penn State	WR	1	UFA 2009	9	1st	123	74	30	23
Johnson, Calvin	Georgia Tech	WR	2	1st rd 2007	5	1st	60	55	60	55
Moore, Michael	Georgia	WR	1	Udfa 2010	2	fa	0	0	0	0
Toone, Tim	Weber State	WR	1	7th Rd 2010	2	7th	0	0	0	0
Williams, Derrick	Penn State	WR	1	3rd rd 2009	3	3rd	18	1	18	1

                                            Tim Toone

 

5. Running back

Lions need a 10-12 carry guy to go with Jahvid Best.

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Best, Jahvid	Cal	RB	4	1st Rd 2010	2	1st	16	9	16	9
Brown, Aaron	TCU	RB	1	6th Rd 2009	3	6th	21	2	21	2
Johnson, Ian	Boise State	RB	1	fa 2010	3	FA	0	0	0	0
Morris, Maurice	Oregon	RB	1	UFA 2009	10	2nd	128	33	28	10
Felton, Jerome	Furman	RB	R	5th Rd 2008	4	5th	42	16	42	16

                                          Aaron Brown

Lions will likely target this area in the middle and late rounds. Mikel LeShoure

6. Defensive End

Not a glaring need on paper but by far the strength of the draft is here. A blue chip DE could fall to #13. He would be added to a rotation with VandenBosch, Avril and LJ.

Player	College	Pos	con	Hw Acquired	Year	Draft	G	GS	L G	LS
Jackson, Lawrence	USC	DE	2	Trade 2010	4	1st	43	24	11	0
Vanden Bosch, Kyle	Nebraska	DE	3	UFA 2010	11	2nd	120	105	11	11
Young, Willie	NC State	DE	2	7th Rd 2010	2	7th	2	0	2	0
Turner, Barry	Nebraska	DE		W 2010	2	FA	3	0	1	0
Avril, Cliff	Purdue	DE	R	3rd Rd 2008	4	3rd	41	28	41	28

Greg Romeus has visited and figures to go in the 3^rd or 4^th round depending on medical.

Lions Picks

#13

Lions will take highest rated player at CB, OT, DE. If a blue chip player does not fall to them, they will trade back targeting a corner or OT.

Targets

Player	Pos	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	225	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Smith, Aldon	DE	Missouri	6040	263	4.78		20	34	910	4.5	7.19
Jordan, Cameron	DE	Cal	6041	287	4.78		25	30	909	4.37	7.07
Quinn, Robert	DE	North Carolina	6040	265	4.7	4.58	24	34	1006	4.26	7.13
Smith, Tyron	OT	USC	6050	307		4.98	31	29	901	4.68	7.48
Bowers, DeQuan	DE	Clemson	6033	280		4.9	22	34.5	902		7.1
Amukamara, Prince	CB	Nebraska	6000	206	4.43		16	38	1008	4.08	6.97

Tyron or Aldon Smith would be their choice. If neither fall, Quinn and Bowers have red flags but high talent. Amukamara would be an option but I do not think he is a top 20 player.

Round # 2

I believe the Lions will target a LB here. A corner is the next possibility.

Player	Pos	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	bench	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Carter, Bruce	OLB	North Carolina	6020	241			25
Wilson, Martez	OLB	Illinois	6040	250	4.49		23	36	1004	4.28	7.04
Smith, Jimmy	CB	Colorado	6020	211	4.46		24	37	1003	4.06	6.93
Harris, Brandon	CB	Miami	5095	191	4.53		13	35.5	905	4.12	6.77
House, Davon	CB	New Mexico State	6005	200	4.5	4.35	14	33.5	901	4.12	6.65
Dowling, Ras-I	CB	Virginia	6013	198	4.46	4.4	19	38	1008	4.26	6.85

Carter is coming off a December ACL injury. Wilson is stiff but can play SAM. Smith is a character risk with skills. Harris has ball skills and can flip the hips. House is a sleeper with size and speed.

Round # 3

A CB, running back or guard should be taken here.

Player	Pos	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	bench	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Brown, Curtis	CB	Texas	5115	185	4.53		10	39.5	1008	4	6.59
Burton, Brandon	CB	Utah	5115	190	4.53	4.54	18	32	910	4.07	6.93
Carmichael, Rashad	CB	Va Tech	5095	192	4.56	4.44	13	33	1001	4.06	6.69
Rackley, William	OG	Lehigh	6033	307		5.39	29	27	803	4.78	7.91
Leshoure, Mikel	RB	Illinois	5115	232	4.59		21	38	1002	4.4	6.82
Carter, Chris	OLB	Fresno State	6011	248	4.62			36	906	4.34	6.88
Little, Greg	Wr	North Carolina	6024	231	4.53	4.53	27	40.5	1010	4.19	6.8
Jones, Taiwan	RB	E. Washington	6000	198		4.33		39.5	1100	4.08	6.9

Round # 4

Running back, Wide Receiver or Offensive Line

Player	Pos	AS	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	bench	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Carter, Delone	RB	EW	Syracuse	5088	225	4.56	4.48	27	37	1001	4.07	6.92
Murray, DeMarco	RB	sb	Oklahoma	6000	214	4.41		21	34.5	1004	4.18	7.28
Brown, Vincent	Wr	sb	San Diego State	5113	187	4.71	4.58	12	36	1001	4.24	6.64
Gates, Edmund	Wr	sb	Abiline Christian	5115	192	4.37		16	40	1102	4.13	6.82
Hogue, Doug	OLB	EW	Syracuse	6024	235	4.63	4.62		36	1001	4.57	7.09
Pinkston, Jason	OT	sb	Pitt	6034	317	5.47	5.28	22	26.5	802	4.91	7.8
Brewer, James	OT	sb	Indiana	6062	323	5.27		25	26	804	4.81	7.84
Foster, Mason	OLB	sb	Washington	6011	245	4.75	4.7	22	31	902	4.42	7.14
Jones, Greg	OLB	sb	MSU	5117	242	4.75	4.74	21	31.5	909	4.27	7.27
Brown, Jalil	CB	sb	Colorado	6002	202	4.53	4.46	24	35.5	908	4.1	6.85
Romeus, Greg	DE		Pitt	6050	264			24

Round # 5

Player	Pos	AS	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	bench	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Arkin, David	OG	EW	Missouri State	6047	302	5.36		25	29	807	4.63	7.6
Vereen, Shane	RB	JR	Cal	5102	210	4.5		31	34	907	4.28	6.95
Harper, Jamie	RB	JR	Clemson	5110	233	4.59	4.44	24	36.5	1003	4.39	6.94
Mims, David	OT	EE	Virginia Union	6082	331		5.32	29		806	4.8	8.1
Irving, Nate	ILB	sb	NC State	6012	242		4.77	27	32.5	811	4.25	6.98
Sheppard, Kevin	ILB	sb	LSU	6021	250		4.79	22	33.5	902	4.28
Rogers, Justin	CB	EW	Richmond	5103	183	4.5	4.4	14	33	906	4.2	6.69

Round # 6-7

Player	Pos	AS	College	HT	Wt	40	40pd	bench	VJ	Broad	20sh	Cone
Bellore, Nick	ILB	EW	CMU	6010	245	4.84	4.76	23	32.5	901	4	6.98
Harvey, Mario	ILB	tx	Marshall	5112	257		4.46	27	32	905	4.19	7.13
Brown, Chykie	CB		Texas	5112	190	4.5	4.38		39	1000	4	6.5
Teague, Jason	CB	EE	TCU	6020	184		4.54	14	36	1004	4.09	6.78
Scott, Da'Rei	RB	EW/sb	Maryland	5107	211	4.34		19	34	909	4.2	7.15
Powell, Bilal	RB	sb	Louisville	5103	207		4.54
Ridley, Stevan	RB	JR	LSU	5110	230	4.66	4.72	21	36	910	4.16	6.78
Royster, Evan	RB	EW/sb	Penn State	5116	212	4.65	4.54	20	34	905	4.18	6.78
White, Johnny	RB		North Carolina	5100	209	4.56	4.53	21	32.5	909	4.31	7.07
Pilares, Kea	Wr		Hawaii	5098	201		4.42	19	40.5	1005	4.11	6.85
Salas, George	Wr	sb	Hawaii	6011	210	4.56		15	37	1000	4.1	6.65
Sampson, Demarco	Wr		San Diego State	6020	204		4.42	14	35.5	1000	4.26	6.93
Toliver, Terrence	Wr	EW	LSU	6035	212	4.59	4.64		33.5	1002	4.03	6.48
Durham, Kris	Wr	tx	Georgia	6052	214		4.43	17	35