With the 2010 NFL draft less than a week away, the Lions will soon be on the clock, deciding what to do with their first round pick (second overall). The Matt Millen days are over, so Detroit fans should rest assured that they won’t be hearing WR phenom Dez Bryant’s name called. Martin Mayhew, the Lions current GM, has several fitting options to consider, including trading down from the second slot, should there be an interested team. With the St. Louis Rams currently slated to pick first overall, many draft projections have them selecting a quarterback. With that said, the following three lineman should all be available once the clock starts ticking for Detroit.
- Ndamukong Suh – DT – Nebraska – 6’4″ – 307lbs
Pros:
If you haven’t learned to say this name yet, after the intense hype surrounding Suh following his senior season, you will soon. The Nebraska defensive standout was a 2009 Heisman finalist and winner of the Bronko Nagurski award given to the best defensive collegiate player in the nation. He was also recognized as being the AP player of the year. He recorded over 20 sacks and 200 tackles (56 for a loss) in the last two seasons. Detroit finished dead last in overall defense last season, achieving the dubious honor of being the only defense to allow an average of more than 30 points per game. Selecting Suh might be a no-brainer for Detroit, assuming he’s still available after the Rams first selection.Cons:
The Lions top brass must keep in mind that although Ndamukong (which means “House of Spears”), has had recurring issues with knee injuries during his collegiate career.
- Gerald McCoy – DT/DE – Oklahoma – 6’4″ – 295lbs
Pros: The fact that he’s able to play different positions on the line based on who selects him, speaks volumes to his athleticism. Listed as a defensive tackle, which he would play in a 4-3 defense, most teams believe he’ll also be able to excel as a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. McCoy is touted as being quite fast for his size, which assisted him in compiling 14 1/2 sacks in his three year Oklahoma career. Named a first team All American in both 2008 and 2009, he’d be an instant starter on defense, should Suh happen to be selected first.
Cons: As his tackle totals imply (just 83 total in three seasons), McCoy is not an elite run stopper. His stats in comparison to Suh’s are sub-par. Before writing this piece, I was certain that McCoy and Suh would both be logical choices, but when you compare their career stats side by side, the difference in the two is startling.
- Russell Okung – OT – Oklahoma State – 6’5″ – 307lbs
Pros: Simply put, the man is beastly. He’s also quite duarable, starting 34 straight games for the Cowboys. Okung is known as being a physical tackle, excelling in both run and pass protection. The Lions ranked a meager 24th in sacks allowed last season, with 43. If the Lions focus is on improving the offense, they’ll look no further than Okung. Defense may win games, but it’s hard to chalk one up in the win column, if your quarterback spends more time on the ground than on his feet. I’m sure Matt Stafford is lobbying for an O-Line addition, yet Detroit’s defensive woes pointed out earlier in this article just might mean Okung will slip to Kansas City, who has the fifth overall pick.
Cons: Okung has been criticized for his slow foot speed, which is critical at the NFL level.
Whatever route Detroit decides to take in the first round, if they land any of these three players, Lions fans should feel comfortable. Like any good GM at this time of year, Mayhew isn’t showing his cards just yet. Tune in to the draft next Thursday (first primetime draft), to see which direction they decide to take.
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