Martin Mayhew and his worst moves as Detroit Lions GM

After an exhaustive analysis of the moves of GM Martin Mayhew, here are his worst moves:

1. Drafting Eric Ebron # 10 in the 2014 Draft over DT Aaron Donald.

This was the final nail in the coffin. Mayhew did not exercise the 5th year option on Nick Fairley and he knew he was not going to re-sign Suh. Si.com called Donald far and way the best DT in the NFL.

2. The Jahvid Best Trade. 2010 draft

Traded back into the first round to nab best. Best was concussed in his last game at Cal. Many teams had taken him off their draft board. He gave up picks that became CB Chris Cook, DE Everson Griffin to division rival Minnesota.

3. Trading up for Mikel LeShoure in the 2011 draft.

I give a little leeway to Mayhew on this one because LeShoure torn his Achilles and lost 2 steps. Lions traded picks that became OG John Moffitt and All-Pro CB Richard Sherman to Seattle.

4. Inability to find quality CB in the draft and free agency.

Ready for this list:

Jahi Word-Daniels, Jack Williams, Marcus McCauley, Prince Miller, Will James, Anthony Henry, Kevin Hobbs, Philip Buchanon, DeMarcus Faggins, Amari Spievey, Dante Wesley, Jon Wade, Nathan Vasher, Paul Pratt, Eric King, Tye Hill, Eric Wright, Brandon McDonald, Anthony Madison, Aaron Berry, Alphonso Smith, Jerome Murphy, Patrick Lee, Jacob Lacey, Drayton Florence, Ron Bartell, Kevin Barnes, Chris Houston, Jonte Green, Chris Greenwood, Cassius Vaughn, Josh Thomas, Mohammad Seisay, Danny Gorrer, Josh Wilson, Rashean Mathis, Quandre Diggs, Nevin Lawson, Dwight Bentley, Alex Carter, Darius Slay.

Played CB for the Lions under Mayhew.

Quality starters: Houston, Slay,Mathis.

Quality slot CB; Wright

5. The guys he signed to play safety next to Louis Delmas:

List # 2
Marvin White, Deangleo Smith, Ko Simpson, Marquand Manuel, John Wendling, Amari Spievey, Randy Phillips, CC Brown, Ricardo Silva, Chris Harris, Vincent Fuller, Erik Coleman, Don Carey, Tyrell Johnson,

Notice Amari Spievey is on both lists.

6. Selecting Nick Fairley over Robert Quinn in the 2011 draft.

Fairley was dropping fast in the draft after questions about his character surfaced. Quinn was coming off a tough year at UNC but blew up the combine, This blog rated Quinn over Fairley.

7. Trading 2 2015 draft picks for Haloti Ngata.

Ngata was washed up and reported out of shape.

8. Selecting Brandon Pettigrew, Derrick Williams and Aaron Brown with the Roy Williams trade.

Trading Roy was genius. Selecting those guys not so much.

9. Bringing in thugs to Detroit.

Fairley, LeShoure, Titus Young, Johnny Culbreath, Aaron Berry, Amari Spievey.

Lost count of the number of arrests.

10. Signing Calvin to a 7 year $113 million contract in 2012

gave us one great year and one good. Now a possession WR. Let go of the wrong guy. Should have kept Suh.