Detroit Lions (Last Year: 7-9)

2008 NFL Draft Grade:

Good Moves: I love Cliff Avril at No. 92. He'll help the Lions get to the quarterback, which is something they haven't been able to do since Robert Porcher retired ... Andre Fluellen was a decent pick five selections earlier, though slightly a reach ... Caleb Campbell is more than a PR move; he'll definitely be a factor in Detroit's defense in a year or two ... Kevin Smith was a decent pick atop Round 3, though I probably would have gone with Tashard Choice.

Bad Moves: It's tough to predict the draft with idiots like Matt Millen running the show. Gosder Cherilus was a bit of a reach, but it seemed as though everyone reached for linemen. My biggest problem was Jordan Dizon in Round 2. How in the world is Dizon going to play middle linebacker at 225 pounds? And why draft Dizon in the second round when you could have taken him in the fourth? I'd say I was surprised to see Dizon go that early, but this is Millen we're talking about. Maybe Dizon proves me wrong, but the fact will always remain that he was a major reach ... Not a big fan of Kenneth Moore and Jerome Felton in the middle rounds.

Grade give on 4/28/08: C



2008 NFL Draft Picks:

17. Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College
When the Lions traded back to 17, I thought they were daring because the Cardinals could have plucked Rashard Mendenhall off the board. Turns out the Lions were just dumb as usual. Hello, Matt Millen! Ever hear of Jeff Otah? He's from Pittsburgh, a city that has a winning football team. This is getting ridiculous. Millen should spend less time blackmailing William Clay Ford and put forth more effort toward the draft and free agency. Look, Gosder Cherilus might be a solid tackle in the NFL, but Detroit reached for him when there were better options on the board. (Pick Grade: D)

45. Jordan Dizon, OLB/ILB, Colorado
Next year, some cunning Lions fan should sneak into Detroit's war room and put laxatives in Matt Millen's coffee. With Millen dropping a deuce on the can, maybe the Lions will actually make a decent pick. Jordan Dizon? He was a fifth-round prospect, at best. What exactly does Millen have on William Clay Ford? I'm very curious. (Pick Grade: F)

64. Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida
A minor reach, but this is nothing compared to what Matt Millen has done recently. Jamaal Charles and Tashard Choice probably would have been better options. Not bad though; Kevin Smith should be able to displace Tatum Bell. (Pick Grade: B)

87. Andre Fluellen, DT, Florida State
Another reach by Matt Millen... I didn't see that one coming! (Pick Grade: C)

92. Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue
Wow, a great pick by Matt Millen? He must have been in the bathroom; I'm glad to hear some cunning Lions fan took my laxative idea seriously. You have to love edge rushers from Purdue, and defensive end is a major need for Detroit. (Pick Grade: A)

136. Kenneth Moore, WR, Wake Forest
It must have hurt Matt Millen to draft a receiver so late. Kenneth Moore is a bit of a reach in Round 4; there are better options available. I don't think receiver's much of a need either. (Pick Grade: D)

146. Jerome Felton, FB, Furman
Millen, if you're going to take a fullback, take one of the better fullbacks on the board. Just a tip. (Pick Grade: D)

216. Landon Cohen, DT, Ohio
I'm thinking Matt Millen forgot his draft board in his hotel room and just picked a random guy on the ticker. (Pick Grade: C)

218. Caleb Campbell, SS, Army
Great pick. Even if Caleb Campbell doesn't amount to anything - though I think he will - he'll be a fan favorite. (Pick Grade: A)





Season Summary:
Everyone laughed at Jon Kitna when he said that he would be shocked if the Lions won less than 10 games in 2007. Everyone felt dumb when the Lions were 6-2. Then, they were 6-3. And when the season came to an end, everyone even felt more stupid for thinking Matt Millen and company turned it around. So basically, Detroit made everyone feel like an idiot for four months. I can only imagine what their fans feel like.

Offseason Moves:

Lions sign RB Artose Pinner

Lions re-sign QB Dan Orlovsky

Lions re-sign DT Langston Moore

Lions re-sign G Stephen Peterman

Lions re-sign CB Stanley Wilson

Lions cut CB Patrick Body

Lions re-sign CB LaMarcus Hicks

Lions re-sign S Greg Blue

Lions sign OLB Alfred Fincher

Lions sign OLB Gilbert Gardner

Lions re-sign DE Corey Smith

Lions cut SS Kenoy Kennedy

Lions cut RB Kevin Jones

Lions cut DE Kalimba Edwards

Lions sign S Kalvin Pearson

Lions cut C Blaine Saipaia

Lions re-sign RB Tatum Bell

Lions re-sign OT George Foster

Lions sign CB Brian Kelly

Lions sign DT Chartric Darby

Lions re-sign CB Travis Fisher

Lions re-sign RB Aveion Cason

Lions sign G Corey Hulsey

Lions sign TE Michael Gaines

Lions re-sign TE John Owens

Lions receive CB Leigh Bodden and a 2008 third-round pick from the Browns for NT Shaun Rogers

Lions re-sign CB Keith Smith

Lions sign FS Dwight Smith

Lions cut CB Fernando Bryant


Offseason Needs:

1. Cornerback: The Lions have one of the worst secondaries in the league, and are in dire need of an elite No. 1 cornerback. Mike Jenkins at No. 15, anyone? Traded for Leigh Bodden; signed Brian Kelly; re-signed Travis Fisher and Keith Smith
   
   
2. Nose Tackle: Shaun Rogers probably won't be back next year, meaning Detroit will have a 340-pound hole in the middle of its defensive line. Unless the Lions reach for Red Bryant in the middle of the second round, I have no idea where they're going to acquire a valid replacement. Drafted Andre Fluellen; signed Chartric Darby
   
   
3. Middle Linebacker: Paris Lenon sucked at middle linebacker in 2007. With a first name like that, I can't say I'm surprised. If the Lions can't find a solid strongside linebacker, Lenon could move there, prompting Matt Millen to draft someone to man the middle early in the draft. Both Jerod Mayo and Curtis Lofton are options in Round 2. Drafted Jordan Dizon
   
   
4. Strongside Linebacker: Boss Bailey, an unrestricted free agent, is gone in all likelihood. Not that it matters much anyway; Bailey is an underachieving bust. The Lions could be looking linebacker in the first two rounds of April's draft.
   
   
5. Strong Safety: Kenoy Kennedy is yet another liability on Detroit's horrendous defense. Drafted Caleb Campbell
   
   
6. Running Back: With Mike Martz fired, I doubt the Lions are going to throw the ball 80 times for every run. They're going to depend more on a ground-based attack, meaning they'll have to acquire a potent runner. Kevin Jones, while a solid change-of-pace back, shouldn't be a starter. The Lions can get one in the third round (Ray Rice, Tashard Choice) or simply sign a solid guy in free agency. Drafted Kevin Smith; re-signed Tatum Bell and Aveion Cason; signed Artose Pinner
   
   
7. Left Tackle: Jeff Backus should probably be moved inside. If the Lions acquire a premier tackle this offseason, they'll have two really good ones with Jonathan Scott playing on the right side. Another possibility is signing Alan Faneca and keeping Backus protecting the blind side. Drafted Gosder Cherilus
   
   
8. Return Specialist: A few years ago, the Lions had a dynamic return threat in Eddie Drummond. That's not the case anymore. They should focus on acquiring one this offseason.
   
   
9. Tight End: Another result of Martz being let go is that Detroit will have to obtain a legitimate tight end to go over the middle of the field. Jermichael Finley could be around in Round 4. Re-signed John Owens; signed Michael Gaines
   
   
10. Defensive End: No one on the Lions had more than seven sacks in 2007. They could use a premier pass rusher, but given their other needs, this is way down the list because Dewayne White and Jared DeVries aren't terrible. Ikaika Alama-Francis, meanwhile, will be given a chance to compete. Drafted Cliff Avril; re-signed Corey Smith
    
    

Detroit Lions Free Agents:

Salary Cap (As of Feb. 15): $23.50 million

1. Stanley Wilson (RFA), CB. Age: 25.
   Re-signed with Lions (1 year, $927,000).
   
   Stanley Wilson needs to get out of Detroit's Tampa-2 scheme. He could be pretty good elsewhere.
   
   
2. Fernando Bryant, CB. Age: 31.
   Signed with Patriots (1 year)
   
   The Fernando Bryant release was a bit of a surprise to me. He turns 31 in March, but he's not that bad.
   
   
3. Stephen Peterman (RFA), G. Age: 26.
   Re-signed with Lions (1 year)
   
   Stephen Peterman replaced Damien Woody early in the season and did a solid job considering he was subjected to Mike Martz's idiotic blocking schemes.
   
   
4. Travis Fisher, CB. Age: 28.
   Re-signed with Lions (3 years, $9 million)
   
   Travis Fisher is an OK corner who would make a solid backup on some team. Nothing special.
   
   
5. Kenoy Kennedy. Age: 30.
   Like Sammy Knight, Kenoy Kennedy can still be a solid reserve, but should not be in any starting lineup.
   
   
6. Damien Woody, G. Age: 30.
   Signed with Jets (5 years, $25.5 million)
   
   Damien Woody was benched mid-season, but was forced back into the lineup when Jonathan Scott went down. Woody's a marginal lineman who doesn't deserve the money he's going to be asking for. He is, however, versatile and would make a solid backup.
   
   
7. Keith Smith, CB. Age: 28. Re-signed with Lions (2 years, $5 million)
8. Kevin Jones, Lions. Age: 26.
9. T.J. Duckett, RB. Age: 27. - Signed with Seahawks (5 years)
10. Tatum Bell, RB. Age: 27. - Re-signed with Lions (1 year, $1.6 million)
11. Boss Bailey, OLB. Age: 28. - Signed with Broncos (5 years, $17.5 million)
12. Teddy Lehman, MLB. Age: 26. - Signed with Buccaneers
13. Langston Moore (RFA), DT. Age: 27. - Re-signed with Lions (1 year)
14. Kalimba Edwards, DE. Age: 28. - Signed with Raiders (2 years, $5 million)
15. John Owens, TE. Age: 28. - Re-signed with Lions (1 year)
16. Corey Smith, DE. Age: 28. - Re-signed with Lions (1 year)
17. Idrees Bashir, S. Age: 29.
18. Aveion Cason, RB. Age: 29.
19. Blaine Saipaia, C. Age: 30.
20. J.T. O'Sullivan, Lions. Age: 29. - Signed with 49ers (1 year, $645,000)
21. Barry Stokes, OT. Age: 34.
22. Troy Walters, WR. Age: 31.
23. Dan Orlovsky (RFA), QB. Age: 25. - Re-signed with Lions (1 year)

Divisional Rival History:
Chicago Bears: Prior to this season, the Bears had won four meetings in a row. Well, that's done with. How did the Lions sweep Chicago?
Green Bay Packers: The Lions' ineptness has no limit. The Packers have won 13 of the last 15 meetings.
Minnesota Vikings: Pure domination. The Vikings have somehow won 16 of the past 18 meetings.



Features to be Posted This Offseason:

1. Detailed season preview
2. Fantasy football projections
3. Positional rankings
4. Daily updates on free-agent signings

More 2008 NFL Offseason Pages:

DAL / NYG / PHI / WAS
CHI / DET / GB / MIN
ATL / CAR / NO / TB
ARZ / SF / SEA / STL

BUF / MIA / NE / NYJ
BAL / CIN / CLE / PIT
HOU /IND / JAX / TEN
DEN / KC / OAK / SD


Back to the 2008 NFL Offseason Page

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