Matt Millen may have left one hell of a black cloud over the Detroit Lions franchise, but Martin Mayhew is doing his damndest to restore the roar in Motown. Just as everyone expected and hoped, the Lions took Ndamukong Suh with the #2 pick in last night’s first round. [pic via POD comments, click to enlarge]
They weren’t done with just the House of Spears, though. Mayhew ordered Chinese for the entire draft office and told them to get ready for a long night of work. After poring over the phones for a few hours (or a few minutes, who knows), the Lions struck a deal with Minnesota to jump back into the first round. Minny got the Lions second round pick (#34 overall), their 4th round pick, and one of the 23 seventh round picks Mayhew picked up this offseason via other trades. The Lions got Minnesota’s 4th round pick in the deal as well, though it’s a lot later than their own was.
The Lions bolstered their rushing attack by picking Cal RB Jahvid Best with the 30th pick. Best was a can’t-miss back out of Cal before getting injured in the middle of last season. Before his injury, Best was looking like a legitimate Heisman front-runner and the unquestioned #1 RB prospect of this year’s draft. For what the Lions gave up, I absolutely love this deal. Kevin Smith isn’t the answer for the Lions, and Best will provide the home-run threat the kitties need out of the backfield. Best will wear #44, likely for the number of touchdowns he’ll score for Detroit next season. I’ll be right back, I gotta go refill my Kool-Aid.
LION ROARS
The Vikings must not think much of Best, because they certainly didn’t rob the Lions on the trade.
Roar of the Lions:
Mayhew didn’t make a killing like a luck[y] Ozzie Newsome did, but he was right on the button as far as the going values for moving up. If anything, he was on the lower end of the scale price wise.
There’s one thing we know for sure. Aaron Brown will be playing for another NFL team next year. The Lions just drafted a far, far better version of him.
And the MVP of the night, The Lions in Winter:
…thanking God for Detroit drivers as I hurtle down a “55 mph” road at 75 while getting passed on both sides.
Amazing.
Suh, the breathtakingly powerful keystone of a rebuilt defensive line, gives us hope that the Lions will no longer bleed to death in the fourth quarter, surrendering game-winning drives when pluck and effort crumble at the hands of power and strength. He gives us hope that the Lions will not be Kleenex on third down—no more containing an offense twice, only to helplessly allow their march to the end zone to continue. He gives us hope that finally, finally, the Lions defense has a player that can disrupt an offense, and force them to adjust to us.
Double amazing. Ty even has video of Ford Field during the Suh selection.
Ndamukong, you’re our savior. Don’t fuck it up.
Other NFL news after the jump…
ANDY REID LOVES GRAHAM CRACKERS
Ok, I have no idea what Reid actually likes to eat (besides “a lot”), but Michigan alum Brandon Graham was picked at #12 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles. Some think Graham was a bit of a reach at that point, but the Iggles had to pick someone that would be able to abuse Donovan McNabb twice a year until he retires, and I don’t think there was anyone in the draft better for that than Mr. Graham.
The Eagles just leapt up 11 spots to draft Brandon Graham 13th overall… [m]ay he destroy the universe from Philadelphia, where we always knew the end of civilization would originate from.
WHO ELSE GOT DRAFTED?!
Sam Bradford. Duh.
Some fat guys. Ok, cool.
Not Jimmy Clausen. Lucky, he gets to spend another night with Erin Andrews.
Michael Irvin Dez Bryant. Not sure why that number wasn’t retired (do they even retire numbers in the NFL?)
Tim Tebow. WHAT?!
SPECIAL D4L REPORT
Late last night, after all the other Lions bloggers went to bed, the Lions picked up a new wide receiver. Remember that Detroit4lyfe is breaking this news to you first, presenting the newest Detroit Lion: Guillermo.
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