(04-27-2012 07:34 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  Lions have to address defense in the 2nd round (and probably the 3rd). I'm not a fan of Reiff, or drafting right tackles in the first round. Would've much rather traded down or taken Decastro, but no biggie, as long as they get a good corner in the 2nd or 3rd. I want Brandon Boykin from Georgia. Undersized, but a physical corner (think Antoine Winfield) and a very good athlete. He'd probably start from day one.

I haven't studied it too much in detail but CB was 'feast or famine' - get one of the top 3 prospects (which the Lions didn't do) OR draft a bunch of them (which the Lions did) and hope to get lucky.

My guess is that CB drafting was the WEAK point of this year's Lions' draft.

It was like buying lottery tickets as a retirement strategy...

ERIC PAGE FROM TOLEDO SIGNED WITH THE DENVER BRONCOS AS A FREE AGENT RECEIVER CANDIDATE.

HOPE THOMAS SIGNS WITH SOMEONE SOON!

(04-28-2012 09:54 AM)EagleSam Wrote:  I guess Mayhew is living and dying by his "BPA" strategy. I reaalllyyyy don't get the Broyles pick at all. Lots of people thought he was a 3rd-4th round talent BEFORE he tore his knee up. I loved the kid as a college receiver, but he's short and thin (and injury prone), and those receivers typically don't last long in the NFL.

Looks like it will another long year for our back 4. Unless this Dwight Bentley kid is a 3rd round super steal and can start right away, we appear to have downgraded the secondary, which was terrible to begin with.

Actually, he had a second round grade before his injury. I don’t love the pick, but Broyles is a heck of a player. He is the all time receptions leader at Oklahoma.

Wes Walker was “short and thin” when he came out of Texas Tech. Guys like Broyles general stick because they good routes and catch everything that comes near them.

Aside from Welker and maybe Brandon Lloyd, what short guy with average speed has really stood out in NFL in the last decade? Guys like Steve Smith and DeSean Jackson are burners, so they don't count. Broyles wasn't fast BEFORE he hurt the knee. No one knows how that will affect his quickness and ability to cut. Funny that you compare him to Welker...an undrafted free agent in 2004.

And how do you know Broyles is a good route runner? He played in a basic spread offense in college. We have no idea how he'll translate to an NFL playbook.

I liked Broyles a lot at Oklahoma, but this was a terrible pick on paper. Even if he turns into a really good slot receiver (which is his ceiling...not something you look for that early), it's a luxury pick for a team that can't yet afford to make such a decision. We aren't the Steelers. Our back seven on defense was, and still is a mess. There were quite a few nice prospects to be had at Broyles spot, but we chose to go with unnecessary depth. I see no defense for that selection.

and Todd McShay rates:

"Detroit Lions

Impact pick: WR Ryan Broyles (second) --"

I also believe that someone, maybe Kiper, had him with maybe 1st round round grade, if healthy.

Opinions are all over the lot but the pros, Kiper and McShay, seem more positive than the fans....

(04-30-2012 10:03 PM)EagleSam Wrote:  Aside from Welker and maybe Brandon Lloyd, what short guy with average speed has really stood out in NFL in the last decade? Guys like Steve Smith and DeSean Jackson are burners, so they don't count. Broyles wasn't fast BEFORE he hurt the knee. No one knows how that will affect his quickness and ability to cut. Funny that you compare him to Welker...an undrafted free agent in 2004.

And how do you know Broyles is a good route runner? He played in a basic spread offense in college. We have no idea how he'll translate to an NFL playbook.

I liked Broyles a lot at Oklahoma, but this was a terrible pick on paper. Even if he turns into a really good slot receiver (which is his ceiling...not something you look for that early), it's a luxury pick for a team that can't yet afford to make such a decision. We aren't the Steelers. Our back seven on defense was, and still is a mess. There were quite a few nice prospects to be had at Broyles spot, but we chose to go with unnecessary depth. I see no defense for that selection.

Here is Todd McShay:

He likes that the Lions did NOT reach for a CB in rounds 1 and 2 (there was 3 really good ones but after that a void).

He likes Bentley in the 3rd round. Good ability and value.

The only question was whether or not one likes Broyles as the 2nd round pick. Some like it. Some might have gone for Konz (C-Wisconsin), etc.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=7872063...id=2378529